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The hospitality industry is being singled out and treated like a scapegoat as the Government considers tightening restrictions nationwide after Christmas.
That s according to Mark McGowan, President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland.
There is a very strong likelihood that restaurants and gastropubs will be closed for New Year s Eve, the Taoiseach said today.
Micheál Martin said people can still have a meaningful Christmas but said that on foot of NPHET recommendations, it is likely that further restrictions will be in place after the festive period.
His comments came after the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said we can t afford to do Christmas and New Year s in the normal way this year.
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There is a very strong likelihood that restaurants and gastropubs will be closed for New Year s Eve, the Taoiseach has said.
NPHET has recommended the measures while also advising that the number of households allowed to mix should be reduced after Christmas.
It warned that the virus is spreading faster than it anticipated after easing restrictions at the beginning of the month.
Speaking to
Newstalk Breakfast this morning, the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said we can t afford to do Christmas and New Year s in the normal way this year.
The trend upwards in cases is starting to accelerate and causing concern for public health officials, with Dr Holohan not ruling out further restrictions in January.
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Image: Shutterstock/fizkes
Image: Shutterstock/fizkes
NEW MEASURES ON household visits and inter-county travel take effect today, allowing people to move between counties and visit up to two other households indoors.
This is aimed at allowing people to see family and friends over Christmas, likely seeing some people for the first time in several months due to the tightening of restrictions.
The anticipated period of going from tomorrow to the 6th of January would be shortened, he said.
Martin said that the Cabinet would meet on Tuesday to discuss the recommendations and make a decision. He said it would give people time to prepare for any changes.
He added that the government was taking the situation very seriously .
When asked by RTÃ s David McCullagh when he expects to see the restrictions, Martin said it would likely be after Christmas but before the end of the year.
The news means that new restrictions on hospitality and household visits are expected before New Year s Eve.
32 of the cases have been confirmed in Donegal.
The 14 day incidence rate per 100,000 population now stands at 94.2 - which is up from 88 in yesterday s figures.
In Donegal, the rate of infection is up slightly to 246.9 per 100,000 people.
200 covid patients are being treated in hospital, while 31 of those are receiving intensive care.
The Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan is warning that unless people limit their contacts now, the virus will experience exponential growth in January.