Ireland’s government has agreed to return the country to the highest level of coronavirus restrictions from midnight on Wednesday.
Cabinet ministers agreed with the measures to contain COVID-19 during a meeting at Government Buildings in Dublin.
It means Ireland will go to Level 5 coronavirus restrictions – the most severe – which had been recommended by health experts to halt the surge in COVID-19 cases.
The new restrictions, which come under the government’s Living with Covid plan, will be in place until 1 December.
Although the Cabinet has agreed to a review of the restrictions after four weeks, the Irish Times reports.
Reports say that the measures will stop short of a full national lockdown – as schools are reportedly set to remain open, and elite-level sports will be allowed to continue.
Although, non-essential retailers and hairdressers will close and pubs and restaurants will only be able to serve takeaways.
Prime Minister Micheal Martin is set to address the nation this evening, with Sky’s Ireland correspondent Stephen Murphy previously describing the measures as a “surprise move”.
Image: Restaurant owner Paul Cadden fears he will have to let go of up to 20 staff
Some of the restrictions differ from what the government set out would happen under Level 5.
According to RTE News, construction will keep going and people will be able to go out to exercise within 5km of their homes.
No visitors to private homes are permitted but outdoor meetings with one other household for things such as exercise, and within the 5km limit, are allowed.
The original Level 5 plan said no social or family gatherings should take place in other settings.
Weddings will remain capped at 25 guests until the end of the year, instead of going down to six.
A reduction in off-licence opening hours is also reportedly under consideration.
The government is thought to have been influenced by a letter from The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) which suggested a three-week lockdown wouldn’t control the virus for very long.
Which tier is my area?
According to reports, Nphet advised a six-week lockdown would keep the virus at bay for the month of December including Christmas.
Ministers are hoping the restrictions will ensure businesses are up and running by Christmas.
It’s also hoped the country could lessen restrictions to Level 3 by the end of November, RTE News reports.
Paul Cadden, owner of the Saba restaurant chain in Dublin, said he will have to let staff go as a result of the announcement.
He told Sky News’ Ireland correspondent, Stephen Murphy: “I’ll have to lay off 20 staff in the coming days.
“The whole industry is really shocked tonight, although it had been on the cards all day.
“The industry put the shoulder to the wheel and helped flatten the curve throughout this, so it’s a really tough blow.
“We’re very fortunate here, delivery and collection is our model and that will help bring us through.
“I’d just say to people to please get out there, order deliveries, buy vouchers and support your local restaurant so they’re still around next year.”
Analysis: By Ireland correspondent Stephen Murphy
Just two weeks ago, the Irish government rejected expert advice to move to Level 5 restrictions. That now looks like a bad error in judgement.
In the past fortnight, the surge in Irish Covid-19 cases has gathered pace with frightening speed. In the last week, the record for daily cases in Ireland has been broken four times.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) had no choice but to again urge the government to go to Level 5 – but now for a longer period of six weeks. This time, the government has acquiesced.
Parallels are inevitably being drawn with Ireland’s harsh lockdown of the spring. But the new restrictions differ in their scope, with schools to be kept open and protections for industries like construction.
It’s not quite as bad as the first lockdown, and the Irish government certainly won’t use the word, but try telling a weary public that as the winter kicks in, and families are kept apart, businesses go to the wall, unemployment soars and people are kept to a 5km radius of home on pain of being fined.
If it looks like a lockdown and talks like a lockdown, the odds are… it’s another lockdown.
Will it be worth it? Well, the government has been forced to take this drastic step due to those soaring case numbers, as well as the growing pressure on the health system, at a time of the year when it comes under immense strain at the best of times.
The public, for the most part, can see the rationale behind this move. What it wants now is a cogent, and well-communicated, exit strategy. There has to be an end in sight.
And the question will linger for Micheal Martin’s government: If they had taken the expert advice a fortnight ago, could this have been avoided?