Level 5 lockdown looms for Kilkenny and entire country
Kilkenny and the rest of the country may come under a Level 5 lockdown after health experts recommended the stark measure after a surge in Covid-19 cases nationwide.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is seeking a maximum lockdown nationwide for the next four weeks after a weekend in which almost 1,000 new infections were recorded.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan will meet with the chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan today.
The three Coalition leaders will meet chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan today to dscuss the deepening Covid crisis.
Under Level 5, people would be asked to stay at home, except to exercise within a 5km radius.
No visitors to homes would be allowed.
However, schools and creches would remain open with protective measures in place.
Restaurants and pubs would be allowed to open only for takeaways or deliveries and only essential retail outlets would stay open.
Unlike during the first nationwide lockdown, the over-70s would be expected to manage their own movements and would not be instructed to stay indoors.
The request for extra restrictions will first be considered by oversight committee headed by the country’s top civil servant, Martin Fraser. This group will also take into account the wider societal and economic impacts of another lockdown on the country.
The Cabinet subcommittee on Covid could then meet today. A meeting of the Cabinet could then rubber-stamp any proposals.
More details to follow.
