CMO spoke to Health Minister before and after NPHET's Level 5 recommendation
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said the Level 5 recommendation “came out of the blue” on Sunday.
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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.
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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.
Glynn said the restrictions on Dublin would only be taking effect this week.
“That’s in the context of 350 cases in Cork over the past fortnight,” said Dr Ronan Glynn.
The figures were released by the Department of Health at a briefing this evening.
Cases have been rising in Louth, Cork, Wicklow and Galway.
The latest figures were announced by the Department of Health this evening.
The latest figures were announced by the Department of Health this evening.
Public Health Officials last night confirmed 234 new cases – including 103 in Dublin – and two further deaths.
Currently around one in four cases are identified as community transmission.
Dr Ronan Glynn said this evening “it’s certainly not a strategy that will be adopted in this country”.
Ireland’s 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 is currently 70.4, with Dublin’s rate almost double that at 138.0 per 100,000.
The figures were announced by health officials this evening.
Cabinet has accepted NPHET advice without deviation, including recommendations on closing indoor dining.
NPHET’s advice will be considered by a new oversight group this evening with an announcement expected tomorrow.
“Hospitalisations are increasing and we’re sadly seeing people die,” said Professor Philip Nolan.
Moving Dublin to Level 3 would be a significant step, the Taoiseach said.
There have been 1,787 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland to date.
Pubs in all 26 counties were due to reopen next week but rising cases in Dublin mean some will remain closed.