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DUBLIN: Ireland announced some of Europe’s toughest COVID-19 restrictions on Monday (Oct 19), closing non-essential retail stores, limiting restaurants and pubs to carry the service, and telling people not to travel to more than five miles from home.
Ireland imposed one of the longest lockdowns in Europe during the first surge in coronavirus cases and eased restrictions at such a cautious pace that drink-only pubs in Dublin had not reopened when a surge in infections led to a tightening of the restrictions.
This time, schools will remain open and essential services such as construction will be allowed to continue, Prime Minister Micheal Martin said, as he moved the country to the highest level of restrictions, Level 5, for six weeks starting at midnight Wednesday. .
Hotels can stay open, but only if essential workers need their rooms.
“The evidence of a potentially serious situation that will emerge in the coming weeks is now too strong,” Martin said in a televised speech, two weeks after rejecting what was then seen as a surprise call from health chiefs to move on to Level 5, which marks the first time ministers went against his advice.
Martin said the government’s goal was to return to Level 3 by December 1. That would allow all retailers to reopen and restaurants to serve 15 outdoor customers. Even then, another lockdown in 2021 could not be ruled out, he added.
“WE NEED A VACCINE”
While countries struggling with high infection rates like Belgium, the Netherlands, and France have closed bars, restaurants and imposed a nightly curfew, none have such strict travel restrictions within the country.
It hit Northern Ireland the hardest last week, closing schools for two weeks and restaurants for four, though most retailers remain open. In Wales, people have been asked to stay home in a two-week lockdown “firewall” announced on Monday.
On Sunday, Ireland broke its single-day record of novelties for the fifth time in nine days, and has the 12th highest rate among the 31 countries monitored by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
To cushion the blow, the government will increase the amount it contributes to coronavirus-related unemployment payments and wage subsidies until January 31. Last week’s budget, the largest stimulus package in state history, introduced much larger grants of up to € 5,000. (US $ 5,884.50) per week for closed or abused businesses.
The supports will cost around 1.5 billion euros over six weeks, according to a forecast that around 150,000 people will be temporarily laid off in addition to the 40,000 laid off in the past two weeks, Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said.
The unemployment rate, including those for the emergency payment, stood at 14.7 percent last month. The Finance Ministry predicted that the economy could contract again next year if there is a prolonged period of strict restrictions.
“We can do it this year, we can do it next year,” Martin said of financial support for the economy, adding: “We need a vaccine next year.”
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