As the Covid-19 situation in Ireland continues to spiral the country is now facing yet another lockdown as a raft of new measures are expected to be implemented.
Cases continue to surge across the country following the easing of restrictions in the run up to the Christmas period.
And now it's expected a host of new restrictions will be implemented from as early as this week as a result of the surging cases.
On Tuesday another 727 were confirmed as health chiefs warned that a number worrying trends continue to emerge as the situation spirals.
Dr Tony Holohan's comments on worrying trend
Yesterday the Chief Medical Officer laid bare the severity of the spirally level of cases as he warned that "disease trends are gravely concerning."
The top doctor added that nearly 4,000 cases had been confirmed in the last seven days alone.
Dr Tony Holohan also urged people to limit their contacts as Christmas approaches.
He said: "The situation has deteriorated rapidly in recent days. A total of 3,837 cases have been notified in the past 7 days.
"The five day rolling average has increased from 339 on 17 th December to 616 on 21 st December, an 82% increase. It is now as important as it was back in March to limit your contacts and protect your loved ones.”
New lockdown
The country was dealt a blow yesterday after it emerged that a raft of new coronavirus restrictions are likely be to be implemented as early as this week.
All hospitality - including pubs and restaurants - is set to close on Christmas Eve.
Hairdressers, cinemas and galleries are all gone too from the close of business on December 24.
It has not been decided when the new lockdown will finish.
And the ban on all travellers coming into Ireland from Britain has been extended to New Year’s Eve.
The shock proposals have been agreed by the three Government leaders, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Green leader Eamon Ryan.
They will be presented to the wider Cabinet for official approval at a special meeting scheduled for 8am on Tuesday morning.
Update on new strain
While there was much dower news yesterday things more looked more positive in regards to a new Covid strain that has been tearing through the UK.
The new strain has sparked a number of countries, including Ireland, to close their borders to people from Britain as a result.
However yesterday Dr. Cillian De Gascun, Medical Virologist and Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, said it has not yet been identified here.
He said: "To date, the novel SARS-CoV-2 UK variant has not been detected in Ireland.
"However, as we know the variant has been circulating in the UK since September, therefore we cannot exclude the possibility that the variant is already in Ireland.
"We are prioritising the sequencing of cases with confirmed or suspected links to the UK.”
Meanwhile the World Health Organisation said there was no need for major alarm about the new more infectious strain of the coronavirus.
