Ireland may introduce fines for breaching Covid-19 rules

NPHET remain concerned about the rising Covid-19 cases

The Cabinet Covid-19 subcommittee is set to meet today to discuss the question of graduated fines for breaching Covid-19 regulations.

The system of graduated fines could include €50 penalties for not wearing face masks and €200 penalties for leaving your county when measures are in place. Not wearing a face mask on public transport currently warrants a fine of €2,500.

Fines for people who leave their county for non-essential reasons were confirmed as under consideration by Government on Wednesday by Taoiseach Micheál Martin. This topic will be discussed at the Cabinet Covid-19 Committee meeting on Friday.

The National Public Health Emergency Team met yesterday to say they remain deeply concerned about the rising number of Covid-19 cases after Government rejected its recommendation to move to Level 5 restrictions this week. NPHET did not recommend further restrictions following the meeting yesterday.

Yesterday, the Department of Health was notified of one further Covid-19-related death and 506 more cases. The number of Covid-19-related deaths now stands at 1,817, with 40,086 confirmed coronavirus cases in Ireland.

Photography by Unsplash.

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