An Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that Level 5 restrictions will remain in place until December 1 despite a significant decrease in Covid-19 cases.
Level 5 restrictions came into effect on October 21 and are expected to remain in place for a total of six weeks, ending on December 1. However, a review is expected after four weeks and with case numbers dropping, it had been hoped that a change of status could be made.
The Taoiseach has now poured cold water on that prospect by telling the weekly meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on Wednesday that 'the full period was needed to reduce the numbers sufficiently for the Christmas period and beyond,' as reported by
The Irish Times.
Meanwhile, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told Fine Gael members that 'there would be no review of the Level 5 restrictions until at least four of the six weeks had passed'. Varadkar is quoted as saying he had 'discussed the issue in a meeting with Mr Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan on Monday evening and they agreed that any easing of individual restrictions such as clothes shops or gyms would dilute the public message'.
Under current Level 5 restrictions, only essential retail outlets can remain open and visits to other people's homes are prohibited, except for family reasons such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people, or as part of a support bubble. You can read about the restrictions in full
here.
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