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Irish Mirror

National

Sam Roberts

Five key Covid-19 Ireland updates: Leo Varadkar lockdown claim, Dr Holohan warning and cases surge

It has been another dramatic day as Ireland fights to suppress a third wave of coronavirus infections.

A staggering 6,521 more cases were confirmed by the Department of Health today, and there is no end in sight to the surging numbers of infections.

While Leo Varadkar admitted that the hospitality sector is likely to remain closed until April in a huge blow for the industry.

Here is everything you need to know:

1. Leo Varadkar lockdown claim

Pubs, restaurants and hundreds of other businesses are set to remain closed until April.

The hammer blow was issued by Tanaiste Leo Varadkar just hours after Ireland was placed under even more strict lockdown measures.

Mr Varadkar said he was advising the "vast majority" of businesses that they would be closed for the next three months.

"We will review the situation on the 30th of January, and make decisions with regard to the 1st of February", he said.

A pint of Guinness at Slattery's pub during the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic in Dublin's city centre (Gareth Chaney/Collins)

"But the message I'm giving the business, and the bast majority of businesses, is that if you're open, you'll stay open.

"But if you're closed, it's probably best to plan for the probability that you'll be closed for the first quarter of this year."

Speaking on RTE's News at One with Bryan Dobson, he added: "We're here to help. We'll spend a billion euros every month, in January, February and March if necessary, on the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme at the current rates, on the weekly CRSS grant at the current rates, and also the Pandemic Unemployment Payment."

The Tanasite said that some businesses may be able to reopen from February if cases begin to drop significantly.

He explained that this would be done in reverse to how things closed, meaning construction would be first in line to return, followed by non-essential retail and so on.

2. Surge in new cases

A total of 6,521 more people in Ireland have tested positive for coronavirus, while 10 further deaths were also confirmed.

It brings the number of infections here to 127,657 since the pandemic began.

The latest figures were announced by the Department of Health this evening.

Dublin was the hardest-hit region in the country with 2,174 cases, followed by Cork with 571.

Members of the Gardai on College Green, Dublin during the Covid 19 Coronavirus pandemic. (Collins Photo Agency)

There were 382 new infections in Limerick, 342 in Waterford, 315 in Wexford and the remaining 2,737 cases are spread across all other counties.

3. Dr Tony Holohan alcohol warning

Dr Tony Holohan has said that he would "welcome" any measures that would help reduce the consumption of alcohol.

The Chief Medical Officer admitted that alcohol has helped play a role in the spread of Covid-19.

On whether off-licence opening hours should be cut, Dr Holohan said: "This virus loves alcohol. That is a concern to us in the way in which we consume alcohol and the pattern of use of alcohol in this country is a challenge.

"Any measures that would help in terms of the reduction of our consumption of alcohol in the context of this infection would be very, very welcome.

"Anything that can be done to address the or the role alcohol may be playing in terms of creating the social opportunities, the dropping of the guard that we all need to keep up, anything to address that would be welcome."

4. Leaving Certificate U-Turn

The Government has scrapped plans for Leaving Cert students to attend classes three days a week.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin announced a raft of new lockdown measures on Wednesday, which included the closure of all schools for at least the month of January.

But final year students sitting State exams in the summer would still be allowed to attend classes in person.

The move was met with major backlash, with teacher's union ASTI earlier urging its members "not to co-operate" with the plan.

The union said it wasn't consulted before the announcement, and that it hasn't been given assurances that schools are safe for staff and students.

Sources told the Irish Mirror that the government is set to make the announcement shortly.

ASTI President Ann Piggott earlier said: “The ASTI has repeatedly sought sufficient assurances that schools are safe for students and teachers at this time, in the context of the new variant of Covid-19 circulating in the community and the alarmingly high numbers.

“We engaged with the Department of Education and with public health officials today. Unfortunately, the assurances we sought have not been forthcoming.”