The Cabinet is set to meet on Tuesday, December 29 to discuss the possibility of bringing forward the relaxing of Covid-19 restrictions.
Ireland is currently under Level 3 of Covid-19 restrictions with measures scheduled to remain in place until January 6. However, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that this date may be brought forward with Cabinet due to meet on December 29 to "assess the situation."
Appearing on The Tonight Show on Virgin Media last night, Mr. Martin said that he's "keeping an eye on the situation" ahead of looser Christmas restrictions coming into effect on Friday of this week. From this date, inter-county movement will be permitted again for non-essential reasons and large numbers are expected to travel to meet up with loved ones over the Christmas period.
Fears remain that this could lead to a spike in Covid-19 cases and an earlier than expected return to lockdown could be on the cards. Other countries in Europe such as Germany and the Netherlands are implementing stricter Covid-19 restrictions in the lead-up to Christmas. Meanwhile, it has been announced this afternoon that
Wales will move into stricter lockdown restrictions at 6pm on Christmas day. London is one of several areas of England that moved into tier 3 restrictions this week.
Earlier today, public health expert Dr. Gabriel Scally
suggested that Christmas family gatherings could be postponed to June, with the incentive of two extra Bank Holidays around that time.
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