At midnight tonight, Ireland will enter a new phase of lockdown, with level five restrictions set to come into force for a six-week period.
The decision has been taken by the Government in response to ominously mounting case numbers over recent weeks.
Many businesses and households are fearful of the effects – social and economic – of another national shutdown.
But many experts say it’s the only option available as hospitals struggle to cope with rising numbers.
Here’s what you need to know today about Ireland’s Covid-19 situation.
Lockdown to come in at midnight
The stroke of midnight tonight will see the imposition of level five restrictions, with a 5km radius in place and all non-essential retail closed for six weeks.
As of tomorrow, everyone – with a few exceptions – will be asked to stay at home.
There’s likely to be a penalty for those who don’t adhere to the 5km restrictions – but schools are staying open (for the moment at least).
Yesterday, Chief Medical Officer urged people to obey the rules, which he said can get the country down to fewer than 100 cases by December.
NPHET update
Professor Philip Nolan, a key member of Ireland’s National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), said today we should be able to see evidence that level five restrictions are working in three weeks time.
Professor Nolan said it could take a week or two for case numbers to “top out” – at several hundred higher than we’re currently seeing.
He added that the country needs to get “back to where we were in April or May” when it comes to social distancing.
And he warned that until a vaccine is found, people in Ireland will have to socialise differently than they’ve done in the past.
Latest from Paschal Donohoe on small businesses
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has moved to reassure small businesses across the country that the Government will support them over the next six weeks.
Mr Donohoe said today is a “tough, tough day” for local businesses, but pointed out new changes to the wage subsidy scheme that are designed to help employers.
He also said he expects that Ireland will move back to level three in December, with the enhanced wage subsidy scheme and the Covid Restriction Support Scheme set to be maintained up to January.
