We're now nearly three weeks into Level Five restrictions, and the country is playing a waiting game amid ongoing deliberations between Government and public health officials over Ireland's Covid-19 measures.
What's clear to everyone is that our lockdown – which is scheduled to end on December 1 – has been calamitous for local businesses around the country, with many out of work as the Government continues to tell us to stay at home where possible.
Retailers have been dealt a hammer blow by the restrictions. At a time when they're normally at their busiest, things have ground to a virtual standstill, and many are sounding the alarm ahead of the Christmas period.
We're all anxious to see what level Ireland will move to at the start of December, with Stephen Donnelly raising the hopes of the public when he suggested we could get back to Level Two if case numbers get low enough.
But Dr Tony Holohan has dismissed speculation that retailers – including Penneys, Smyths and thousands of others around the country – could be allowed to open up early, even as case numbers continue to fall.
The Chief Medical Officer said public health bosses will not be giving advising the Government on an early return to in-person retail, and added that we'll have to see "where we are" after December 1 before making a call on where to go next.
Dr Holohan's comments come as reports emerge that nearly 4,000 businesses have registered for the Government's Covid Restriction Support Scheme in recent weeks.
And Taoiseach Micheal Martin has also cast doubt over the possibility of an early lockdown exit – something called for by retailers in recent days.
"My view is that we went into this for the six-week duation," he told RTE News last week.
"Why? To get the numbers really down, to a very, very low level – so that we could have maximum flexibility then for December and beyond."
The Taoiseach said the plan is to "get a long stretch out, in terms of both bringing back the economy, reopening society and enabling people to get back to work – particularly in areas like non-essential retail."
When retail does return, some are seeking extended opening hours for beleaguered businesses. Penneys, for instance, has said it would welcome any extension to its opening hours when Level Five restrictions are lifted.
But planning rules could scupper plans for 24-hour openings, the Irish Independent reports.
“Where there is a condition in relation to opening hours, then any changes to the opening hours would be subject to a planning application to amend them,” a spokesperson for Fingal County Council said yesterday.
