Covid-19 Ireland: Big Level Five lockdown update as Minister shares decision expected next week

Ireland's Level Five lockdown is likely to be extended beyond the end of the month, a senior Minister has confirmed.

The country is currently battling to suppress a third wave of coronavirus infections as cases continue to stay stubbornly high.

And Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath explained that the Level Five measures that are currently in place are likely to stay.

He told Newstalk Breakfast that he didn't see much change by the end of the month.

Grafton Street during the Covid 19 Coronavirus pandemic in Dublin's city Centre (Collins Photo Agency)

Mr McGrath said: "The Cabinet Covid committee will meet on Monday of next week and we will get a full update from NPHET, from the CEO of HSE, from all public health experts and discuss scenarios at that point and make a recommendation to the full Cabinet meeting on Tuesday of next week.

"But I think it's fair to say that no-one expects there will be a widespread re-opening of the economy.

"We need to drive these numbers down much further."

On whether a reopening date could be set, he added: "That will be a decision for government next week and we will try and give people as much notice as we possibly can so they can plan their lives."

It comes after Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said last night that we "cannot afford to drop our guard" in the battle to suppress the virus.

He said: “While we are starting to see the early results of our collective efforts to minimise the transmission of the virus, we are very sadly reporting an additional 93 deaths today.

"We cannot afford to drop our guard against the very high levels of infection that remain in the community at present.

"Covid-19 ICU and hospitalisation numbers are of critical concern to us, representing a very significant pressure on our healthcare workers and on the provision of acute medical and surgical non-Covid care.

"We need everyone to stay at home, other than for essential reasons.

"The more that each individual follows this advice in their everyday lives, the more we can drive down the spread of Covid-19 and minimise the impact on vital healthcare services, patients and frontline workers.”