Lockdown restrictions will likely last for the first two months of the year, according to Tanaiste Leo Varadkar.
The Fine Gael leader says we should operate on the basis that the current restrictions will be in place for the first two months of 2021.
This is despite the fact that the Government will reassess the situation on January 12th.
Mr Varadkar said the virus has spread very rapidly in recent weeks, so doesn't rule out a more positive update come January.
But he says the safest thing to do is to assume we'll be in lockdown for two months.
Varadkar says the goal now has to be to "delay" the spread of the virus – even if it may not be possible to get the R number below 1.
This is in the context of a new strain of the virus that the Government fears could already have hit our shores.
"On this current trajectory, it's likely that we'll exceed 1k cases a day before Xmas – and 2k before New Year's", the Tanaiste said.
He added "it may be necessary" to close non-essential retailers if there are issues around the sales.
He says the Government is relying on shops to help avoid large gatherings for sales in the next week.
