Ireland’s government has been advised to introduce the highest level of Covid-19 restrictions across the country in a bid to halt the spread of the virus.
The National Public Health Emergency Team recommended that all 26 counties be elevated to level five restrictions for the next four weeks, effectively taking them back into full lockdown.
The move is thought to have been prompted by a rise in coronavirus infections across the country and across all age groups, with one source telling the Irish Times that ‘everything is going in one direction’.
More than 1,000 new cases were reported at the weekend while the number of hospital admissions also jumped from 136 to 154.
The proposal is understood to have shocked the government, since the majority of the country is under Level 2 restrictions, with no area currently above Level 3.
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Ireland’s chief medical officer (CMO) Tony Holohan (pictured) chaired a meeting as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise
At Level 2, indoor gatherings are allowed with a ‘rule of six’ in place, while restaurants and pubs are allowed to open with the same restrictions.
At Level 3 – currently in place in Dublin and Donegal – indoor gatherings are banned with visitors only allowed from one other household. Restaurants and pubs also remain open, with enhanced restrictions.
However, if the country were to jump to Level 5, then all gatherings would be banned except for weddings and funerals, with people told to stay inside except to exercise.
Pubs and restaurants would be closed except for takeaway, while all sporting events would also be cancelled – effectively meaning another nationwide lockdown.
Ministers are expected to meet with members of the NPHET today to discuss the proposals further, before making a decision.
Once source told the Irish Independent: ‘This has surprised Government, given its societal and economic indications.’
The advice, sent to Government in a letter on Sunday night, would need to be approved by Cabinet.
It is expected that the three party leaders in Government will seek a meeting with the CMO on Monday to discuss the matter.
It comes as a total of 364 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Ireland by NPHET.
There were no new deaths associated with the virus.
As of 8am on Sunday, 134 people with Covid-19 were in hospital and 21 people were in ICU beds.
Eamon Ryan (pictured) said he believed the rest of the country could avoid being placed in level three restrictions if the public adhered to the Government’s measures
More than 600 new cases of the virus were confirmed on Saturday, the highest daily figure in more than five months.
The move coincides with the head of health protection at the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland warning that a circuit-breaker lockdown there was ‘almost inevitable’ if Covid-19 cases continue to increase.
Dr Gerry Waldron described the rise in the infection rate in the region as worrying.
Earlier, the leader of the Green Party said there had been no discussion in the Irish Government about a nationwide lockdown, rather it wanted to work on a county-by-county basis.
Instead he believed Dublin and Donegal could avoid moving to level four restrictions if people follow Covid-19 public health guidelines.
Eamon Ryan also said he believed the rest of the country could avoid being placed in level three restrictions if the public adhered to the Government’s measures.
‘What we’re seeking to do here is not to eradicate the virus, I don’t think that’s going to be a viable option, but to stabilise it,’ he told RTE’s The Week In Politics.
‘I think that there is real concern when you look at other counties – it is rising very fast. We need to do the simple things, reduce the number of people we meet, avoid social contact.
‘If we all do that we can avoid going to level four, other counties can avoid going to level three and I hope that Dublin can get back to level two, and Donegal too.’
He added that he believed it was possible that the infection rate could be stabilised, but he admitted that everyone was ‘fearful’ when the daily numbers continue to rise.
Mr Ryan also said that if counties moved to level four restrictions, the schools would stay open.
‘I think, no matter what, I think the Government is committed, that it is important,’ he said.
He added: ‘The international evidence is that it can be done safely and I think our schools have done a good job in terms of making it safe for our students.’
Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said on Friday that the numbers reported over the past week represented a significant escalation in the profile of Covid-19 in Ireland.
People of all ages, in particular those over the age of 70 and those medically vulnerable, were advised to limit their social contacts to a small core group for short periods of time, while remaining socially distanced.