Government to bring in more restrictions tomorrow: Minister
Higher Education Minister Simon Harris said the Government will act tomorrow with more Covid-19 restrictions.
The former health minister said the action will “decisive and nationwide”.
Minister Harris told RTÉ’s The Week in Politics: “It is clear now the virus is at such a level that a county by county approach is not sufficient.”
Minister Harris acknowledged it is a very anxious time for people, but he said Level 3 has not worked in getting the virus to where it needs to be.
A decision on whether or not to move the country into a full lockdown will be decided at a Cabinet meeting tomorrow.
Senior ministers and officials continued their considerations today about what approach to take regarding the recommendation by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to introduce Level 5 restrictions across the country for six weeks.
The Department of Health yesterday confirmed 1,276 new cases of Covid-19 – the highest daily increase in cases of the virus so far. Eight further deaths were reported. Of those deaths, five occurred this month while two took place in September and one related back to June.
The national 14-day indcident rate per 100,000 of the population has soared to 231 from just over 100 at the start of the month.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan briefed Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan and some senior ministers yesterday.
Mr Ryan later described the situation as “complex”, adding that the Government has to “balance up a whole range of areas” including the overall impact a full lockdown will have on society.
