Details of the Level 5 measures to come into effect from Christmas Eve can be viewed here and are expected to remain in place for the first two months of 2021, but the Taoiseach rejected the suggestion that having to take such actions was a direct consequence of Level 5 measures having been lifted in early December.
âI think we had six weeks of Level 5 in this country, which resulted in Ireland having the lowest incidence rate in the European Union,â Martin said.
âSo the Level 5 restrictions worked and people deserved a break from the Level 5 restrictions.
âAnd we opened up, moderately, actually, as a society.
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Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan told the government Level 5 restrictions will be needed after Christmas due to the rising number of new Covid-19 cases.
Mr Holohan urged the Government to take action to stop the spread of the disease as a new strain of the virus emerged in Britain.
The recommendation was given to Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Covid-19.
A senior government source said Mr Holohan said “Level 5 restrictions will be needed at some date after Christmas.”
However, the government is understood to be considering Level 3 restrictions with additional measures for the coming week.
Consular Flights Being Arranged For Irish Residents In Britain
Mon, 21st Dec 2020 22:00
(Alliance News) - The Irish government has announced consular flights are being arranged for Irish residents stranded in Britain following the ban on flights into Ireland.
The republic imposed a ban on travel from Britain to Ireland for 48 hours from midnight on Sunday, after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancelled plans to ease Covid-19 restrictions on Christmas due to the spread of a new variant of the virus.
Ireland s Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney and Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said there would be at least two consular flights from Britain on Tuesday.
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Inter-county travel restrictions will be put in place againCredit: Alamy
The worrying rise in case numbers will put the Government under increasing pressure to introduce measures to quash the surge.
Admitting that the Government is “minded” to accept NPHET’s recommendations, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said no final decision would be made until Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.
He also moved to give assurance to the hospitality sector, recognising the “very serious implications” of shutting pubs and restaurants. DIFFICULT PERIOD
And he promised that the “Government stands ready to support the hospitality sector during this very, very difficult period.”
Under previous plans announced by the Government, inter-county travel and up to three households are allowed to mix until January 6.