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CABINET WILL MAKE a decision at the end of next week on how the country exits Level 5 restrictions in December.
It is understood that Cabinet will meet as usual on Tuesday, but that it is likely ministers could meet for a second time towards the end of next week so as to assess more up to date virus data.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) are due to meet next Thursday.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has indicated that he wants to give businesses a couple of days notice on what restrictions might be in place come 1 December, when Level 5 is due to end.
Speaking in the Dáil earlier today, the Taoiseach said the government is making plans to exit Level 5, “which we want to do at the end of this month”.
He reiterated that the government will take on board sectoral recommendations, particularly those in respect of worship and people’s opportunity to attend mass and other services safely during Advent and in the lead-up to Christmas.
“We want to get back to Level 3, but we will consider certain aspects of it because, as I said earlier, we have done a fair bit of work over recent months to ascertain as best we can the optimal triggers for the spread of the virus. We have worked to understand what particular events have been triggers and what has caused spikes in case numbers,” he said.
“We do not want to open up and then have very high numbers again in January or February. There will be a great focus on personal responsibility and the avoidance of large crowds both indoors and outdoors,” said the Taoiseach.
While the Taoiseach has already indicated that Level 3, with some modifications, is the December target for government, sources have said there is growing worry in government about the increase in case numbers.
There have been increasing calls from Opposition parties, as well as businesses for clarity around what will happen in December.
Retailers and publicans have called for urgent clarity, saying that they must re-open their doors in December.
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade, Employment and Workers’ Rights Louise O’Reilly today called on the government to provide clarity to businesses as to what the Christmas trading period will look like.
“It is necessary that the government keep businesses such as clothes and fashion retailers, pubs, restaurants, book and toy shops, and electronic goods shops informed about ongoing developments as we move through the Level 5 restrictions. They must have some clarity as to what trading for the Christmas period will look like.
“These businesses will have to roster staff, order stock, including perishable food and drink, introduce additional health and safety protections, and arrange opening and closing times, so it is essential that they know what trading will look like.
“Indeed, workers will also have to arrange their lives depending on what the festive period will look like,” she said.
Health Minister Stephen Donnolly said today that huge sacrifices have been made, and last week the reproductive number was down to 0.6. However, over the last week it is clear that people have become fatigued, he said.
Donnelly said based on NPHET proposals, case numbers should be 100 cases per day to get out of Level 5 in two weeks time. However, he said: “If we don’t hit the 100 it doesn’t mean we won’t come out of Level 5.”
He urged people to double down on their efforts over the next two weeks.
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The earths poles are slowly rotating so that Cork is the centre of the universe
@Tweety McTweeter: may god have mercy on us all.
@Robbie Delaney: god lives in cork!
@B9xiRspG: …. so that would make Cork heaven… Suddenly hell doesn’t seem that bad!
@Tweety McTweeter: Better get used to it,it may come as big surprise but not everything revolves around Dublin,in fact the London area is the preferred destination for many from the southern region,3 times in 30 years we been to Dublin and that aint going to change any time soon,thanks again M O L.
@Richard McCarthy: Maybe, just maybe he’s from Limerick or Clare or Meath or Galway etc etc. Or is it just your inferiority complex getting you down? That’s it isn’t it.
@Richard McCarthy: You mean you only go places you can fly to? Ye don’t have cars like boy?
@Tweety McTweeter: the poles don’t have to change for that you langer it’s been like that since the beginning of time!
Get a few proper destinations to fly to now lads and we’re laughing !
@Unsinkable No.2: More airlines would fly there if people would use it more, just to look to only a month ago Norwegian saying they won’t fly to the US from Cork during the winter due to very low demand.
People were up in arms while the Norwegian US flights from Cork went through 2-3 years of delays and the talk of how beneficial it would be and “how come Dublin gets all the flights??”. Then less than a year from being introduced, seasonality and freqencies are cut because of low usage.
@Shane Corry: I don’t think it’s as simple as airlines catering to demand. The bigger issue is that Ryanair and Aer Lingus don’t want to add routes as it just takes passengers off their Dublin flights. And both have a record of stamping on other airlines that have come in (Ryanair on Easyjet and Wizzair; Aer Lingus on Jetmagic). What that means is that the successful additions in recent years have come from foreign carriers connecting to a big base (Swiss to Zurich, Air France to Paris, Iberia to Madrid).
As for Norwegian, there are other issues at play. Aviation Analytics reckoned Cork was the most successful of their new routes
https://www.aviationanalytics.com/norwegian-overstretched/
However, the problem is at the Providence end where the airport is really struggling for them. And once they had decided to close that for the Winter, there was nobody to operate the flights to Cork regardless of whether it was making money. Basically, all routes to Providence, except Dublin, have been suspended. The difference for Dublin is that they have crew based there.
The shop 53 Degrees North was formerly known as 54 Degrees North and the band The 3 degrees started out as a quartet
@Pauliebhoy: I believe that shop is named after latitude rather than compass bearing.
Must apply to all airports….any others changing?
@Dan: When it happens depends on the exact orientation of the runway. This is far from the first instance in Ireland though, with Knock and Enniskillen having changed in recent years. How often it happens depends on where you are in the world. It’s not that frequent an event in Europe, but in Canada, which is close to the magnetic north pole it will happen a lot more frequently.
@Chris Mansfield: thanks Chris
I hope Gerald doesn’t stray off course going round his kitchen with the brush.
Cork city build on bog land that slowly sinking
@dick dastardly: you’ve never been to Cork airport let alone the city id say
Finally proof for all the non believers that the universe does actually base itself around the Rebel county
Well holy god….
sounds like an aprils fool. what about roads do they change there numbers too?
It’s the best we can do, meanwhile Dubland Airport gets a complete new runaway.
@Charles Coughlan: runway…
@Charles Coughlan: You had it right the first time. There’s a lot running away from Cork.
Don’t tell the flat earthers. They get really upset at the idea the earth is a round.
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