Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said he does not expect any fresh coronavirus restrictions before Christmas – slapping down public health chiefs who say Ireland must take action if case numbers hit 400 a day.
The Taoiseach said the figure of 400 daily cases – identified as the cut-off by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) in a blistering letter last week – was "very abitrary."
And he added that Ireland, the best country in Europe on its seven-day cases average, is unlikely to face new measures before the festive period.
Mr Martin's comments, given in an an interview with the Irish Times, appear significantly at odds with NPHET's current analysis of the situation facing Ireland.
He said the Government is not just watching daily figures on new cases – it's also analysing hospitalisations, ICU admissions and deaths.
All of these factors will be taken into account before any decision is taken on imposing new restrictions, he said, adding that "we don't anticipate having to do it before Christmas."
Ireland today moved down to Level Three restrictions, after a gruelling six-week period of Level Five measures that brought the country to a virtual standstill.
Today, retail outlets all over the country are opening their doors once again, with shoppers back on the streets around the country.
Restaurants and gastropubs can serve customers from this Friday onwards, though so-called 'wet pubs' – those without a kitchen or chef on the premises – will not be allowed to open their doors.
On Friday, announcing the plan for December, the Taoiseach admitted that lockdown had been "mentally exhausting" for people across the country, adding that people must now take personal responsibility for keeping the virus in check.
"Every contact counts," said Mr Martin, who insisted that the Government "has considered carefully the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team."
He added: "This cannot and will not be the kind of Christmas we are used to, but it will be a very special time when we will all be able to enjoy some respite from the hardships of 2020 and in particular the last six weeks."
