Ireland looks set to be placed under new restrictions ahead of what was previously planned as cases continue to surge across the country.
Following six weeks under Level Five restrictions the country breathed a sigh of relief when it was announced that those restrictions would be eased slightly for the Christmas season.
It was originally planned that there would be a possible reintroduction of restrictions on January 6 however it seems that given the recent concerning trends that more restrictions will be introduced before 2021.
Here's what we know so far
NPHET has continued to express concerns about Covid trends emerging following the easing of restrictions.
On Thursday evening Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said that the virus is spreading throughout the country, in all age groups.
He added: “We are now getting reports of outbreaks in social settings including workplace settings, Christmas parties and funerals. I cannot stress enough how important it is to limit your interactions now.
The consequences of not doing so will be exponential growth in January, a substantial increase in hospitalisations and risk to life.”
Meanwhile professor Philip Nolan warned we could see as many as 700 to 1,200 cases per day being confirmed if the current trends continue.
What did Micheal Martin say about restrictions?
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said more Covid restrictions will likely come into play before the end of the year.
Mr Martin delivered the blow after NPHET has recommended that the government should implement restrictions on the hospitality sector and a cap on the number of households mixing down to one other home before the end of the year.
Mr Martin told RTE News that the government will take these recommendations “very seriously” and said people can expect more restrictions “towards the end of the year, I think before New Years Eve is how I would put it.”
However, he said the government will make a decision on Tuesday about what exact restrictions will be reintroduced "and the specific nature of the restrictions will have to be decided on by the government.”
Leo Varadkar's comments
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said a decision will made on the raft of measures that will be introduced after Christmas by Tuesday.
The Fine Gael leader, who denied it would be effectively a Level 5 lockdown told RTE’s Prime Time ‘alarming’ recent figures had meant a change was necessary.
He said: “The difficulty is that the numbers have started rising again, particularly in the last couple of days.
“So, what NHPET is recommending is that we would reimpose some restrictions between Christmas and New Year’s, not getting to the 6th of January, which is what we hoped.
Mr Varadkar, who agreed businesses needed certainty, added: “As the Taoiseach indicated earlier on the kind of restrictions we’d be thinking about imposing at a point between Christmas and New Year’s would be restrictions on hospitality, essentially closing hospitality again and limiting visits of one household to another household, but not a total ban on household visits.
“But, for example retail and personal services will stay open, [non-essential retail] will stay open.
“But, what will happen, on Tuesday the Cabinet will meet and we will be able to read and consider the advice from NHPET, advice from other bodies as well because we’d like to hear advice from other bodies too and we’ll also have four more days of numbers.
“That’s because there is a chance, nothing is inevitable, there is a chance that the numbers will stabilise over the next few days.
“It’s not likely, but it is possible.”
Mr Varadkar also stressed that swift action was required because if they waited until January to impose additional measures the restrictions “might be tougher and go on for longer”.
