A Government announcement on further measures is set to be made later today.
NPHET has advised the Government that new restrictions, including a 5pm closing time for pubs and restaurants, be introduced from next Monday and remain in place until the end of January, according to reports.
The news comes as Taoiseach Micheál Martin is expected to address the nation on Friday evening following fresh recommendations from public health officials designed to curb the spread of Covid in light of the Omicron variant’s emergence.
Multiple reports state that, in a letter to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan recommended a 5pm shutdown for pubs and restaurants, as well as for indoor sporting, theatre and cultural gatherings – including cinemas.
Also said to be advised was that capacity should be cut to 50% or 5,000 people for outdoor events.
Furthermore, it is expected that close contacts of a confirmed Covid case who have not received a booster vaccine dose will be asked to restrict their movements.
Now, however, it is also being reported that NPHET has recommended that the new restrictions should remain in place until 30 January next month.
It comes as the current restrictions in effect for Ireland were due to expire on 9 January.
Meanwhile, in a Twitter post on Friday, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that feelings of “anger, frustration, dismay, depression” could not stop the public from making “the right decisions” to keep people safe from the virus.
The Government is meeting Friday afternoon to consider NPHET’s proposals with the Taoiseach set to make an announcement at around 6pm.
We're all feeling anger, frustration, dismay, depression but that cannot deflect us from making the right decisions to keep our people safe #covid
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) December 17, 2021
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