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Tuesday 20 October 2020
Cabinet signed off on the measures earlier today.
There are 34 people in ICU, and there have been 20 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
Government leaders met today to discuss the recommendation to move to Level 5.
Michael Martin will meet Leo Varadkar and Eamon Ryan about that very question later today.
The Government will now have to decide if it will accept NPHET’s recommendation.
Ireland coach says the health and safety of the country has to take priority over the completion of a rugby tournament.
The Labour senator is calling for the introduction of support bubbles through Covid restrictions – not just for older people, but for everyone who lives alone in this country.
A number of stark figures were given at tonight’s Department of Health briefing.
NPHET is meeting this afternoon to consider additional Covid-19 restrictions.
Dr Mary Favier said the health service here faces a greater challenge due to resourcing deficiencies.
The VFI wants off-licence opening hours to be shortened and minimum pricing to be introduced.
Stephen Donnelly issued a statement in the Dáil this evening to clarify the timeline last weekend.
Level 3 restrictions are in place nationwide, after the Government rejected NPHET’s recommendation on Sunday to move to Level 5.
The latest figures were confirmed by the Department of Health this evening.
HSE CEO Paul Reid said that some hospitals may have to start deferring or cancelling procedures.
Donnelly is to make a statement about the sequence of events prior to NPHET’s Level 5 recommendation later today.
NPHET last night reported five deaths from Covid-19 in Ireland and 611 new cases.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said the Level 5 recommendation “came out of the blue” on Sunday.
Last Thursday, there were 122 hospitalisations and 20 people in ICU.
NPHET also warned of a potential 1,500 new cases of the virus every day by November.
The latest figures were confirmed by the Department of Health this evening.
The recommendation became public on Sunday night, but the government rejected it yesterday – instead deciding that the entire country should enter Level 3.
NPHET had recommended the entire country move to Level 5, but this advice was rejected by the government.
Professor Sam McConkey says he understands the thinking behind yesterday’s decision by Government, but believes it won’t be enough to stop the second wave of Covid-19.
The Tánaiste and other ministers have been outlining the reasons why over the past few hours.
Some ministers said they only learned about the mooted new restrictions on Twitter.
Dr Tony Holohan warned in a letter last night of a “significant and deteriorating” epidemiological situation.
Leo Varadkar said the government and NPHET “have to get back on the same page”.
The Taoiseach addressed the nation this evening.
The latest figures were confirmed by the Department of Health this evening.
Professor Sam McConkey believes case numbers will continue to rise if the Government rejects NPHET’s advice.
The Restaurants Association of Ireland has said the government should reject Nphet’s advice.
NPHET has recommended that the entire country enter Level 5 – the highest level of Covid-19 restrictions.
Under Level 5 restrictions, schools would remain open but most other businesses would be closed
A NPHET source said that the “projections are very bad” and that there needs to be a “major shift”.
The latest figures were confirmed by the Department of Health this evening.
Making the tough decisions in government during a pandemic is not easy, says O’Callaghan.
A report into the attendance of Supreme Court Judge Seamus Woulfe at the infamous Golfgate dinner said he “switched off from news coverage” while away.
New Covid-19 cases were confirmed in every county today, with 442 new cases.
At a briefing this evening a number of examples were described where the virus was spread in social settings.
AN POST INTENDS to allow free postage to and from residents in nursing and care homes ahead of an expected tightening of restrictions on social movement.
Senders are advised to write ‘FREEPOST’ in capital letters on the envelope where they would usually put a stamp.
A statement from An Post said that the decision was made “recognising the increasing restrictions across the country” with a view to “bring a little joy”.
Fewer people send letters nowadays, opting for other forms of communication such as email, but some have started sending letters and postcards again amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
We want to know: How often do you post letters?
Poll Results:
Share your story: voices@thejournal.ie
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