Ireland to resist lockdown, tighten COVID-19 restrictions: reports

A shopkeeper wearing a protective face mask closes one of her shop doors as the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) announced recommendations that the government implement the highest level of COVID-19 restrictions to Level 5, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in the City centre of Galway, Ireland, October 5, 2020. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Ireland's government has rejected a surprise recommendation by its health chiefs to go into lockdown and will instead tighten current COVID-19 restrictions, local media reported on Monday.

The National Public Health Emergency Team called for a leap to the highest level of COVID-19 restrictions, Level 5, late on Sunday from Level 2 controls that are in place in 24 of Ireland's 26 counties.

The government will instead propose moving the whole country to Level 3, a number of local media including state broadcaster RTE reported after a meeting between senior ministers and health chiefs. Ireland's cabinet is due to meet later on Monday.

A man wearing a protective face mask walks along Shop Street as National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) announced recommendations that the government implement the highest level of COVID-19 restrictions to Level 5, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in the City centre of Galway, Ireland, October 5, 2020. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Andrew Heavens)