New: Taoiseach says NPHET has recommended restrictions to hospitality before the end of the year

The Health Minister has described the current situation as “precarious” and said that he had a “long and sobering” discussion with Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tony Holohan today

The Taoiseach has said this evening that the relaxing of restrictions until the 6th of January is now under threat.

Speaking on RTE’s Six One, Michael Martin warned that the National Public Health Emergency Team has recommended to Government that the rise in cases of the virus means that the period of relaxed restrictions may now be shortened to the end of the year.

This evening it was confirmed that there are 484 new cases of Covid-19 and a further 3 people have died. The latest breakdown shows 150 cases in Dublin, 45 in Wexford, 40 in Cork, 32 cases in Donegal, and 29 in Limerick.

There have now been 2,143 deaths in Ireland linked with Covid-19, along with 77,678 cases of the virus.

At the Department of Health press conference today, it was also revealed that there have been 30 new admissions into the country’s hospitals in the past 24 hours alone.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tony Holohan said tonight that “the virus is moving quickly throughout the country, in all age groups.”

Concerned

The Taoiseach says that NPHET will be recommending restrictions to hospitality before December 31st “so concerned are they in relation the rising numbers, and also restricting household visits to one before the end of the year, that’s one household could visit another.

He also pointed out that “the anticipated period of going from tomorrow to the 6th of January would be shortened.” The government is expected to take the recommendation “very seriously” and will be in a position to make a decision when it meets on Tuesday.

The news comes after a confirmation that referrals for tests are up and GPs have reported an increase in the number of people presenting with flu-like symptoms.

The number of contacts per person testing positive has also jumped from 2.8 to 3.6

Image via RTE.ie