The government will decide this morning whether to raise the alert level in Dublin over other parts of the state under Dublin’s new Medium Living with Covid-19 five-year plan as serious concerns remain about the level of infection in the capital.
Despite the twenty-fold increase in the number of cases in a month in the capital, the question is whether to keep Level 2, the best of the five level plans, at the second level or raise it to Level 3.
However, if it is kept at level 2, additional restrictions in Dublin, with a population of 1.4 million, will be subject to additional restrictions, including delays in the re-opening of wet pubs scheduled from September 21, and a new measure that only members can say will allow one home to visit another. It is also understood that all visits to residential care and nursing homes are being discontinued.
However, another situation discussed by the senior ministers last night was the appointment of Dublin to Level 3, but a change in some of the stricter restrictions associated with higher levels.
The situation in Dublin was aggravated by the initial focus of five hours of meetings between the cabinet subcommittee on Kovid-19 and three party leaders, Taoist Michael Martin, tenist Leo Varadkar and Green Party leader Emon Ryan.
“They were long meetings,” senior government sources said. “Dublin is a serious concern.”
Officials said it would be “premature” to give Dublin a more serious Level 3 status as a full analysis of the situation in the capital has not yet taken place.
“Every indication is very worrying,” the source added.
The Cabinet will give final approval to the project this morning, including additional steps for Dublin.
High concerns
Varadkar yesterday hinted at the impact of concerns on the situation in Dublin on the project. He referred to a twenty-fold increase in cases in a few weeks, declaring that capital needed more control and “different response” than other parts of the country.
“While this has not yet led to a significant increase in the number of people hospitalized or in ICUs or deaths, the truth is that if we do not reach the top it will go that way,” he said.
Patients admitted to the hospital
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPET) reported 208 corona virus cases confirmed last night. There were no new deaths.
The number of patients admitted to the hospital increased from 36 to 60 from the beginning of the month, and the number of intensive care units increased from six to 11.
For the first time since spring, the Covid-19 incidence in two areas of Dublin has risen above 100 marks per 100,000 population, according to new figures.
The latest epidemiological report from the Center for Health Care Monitoring (HPSC) puts the 14-day virus outbreak at 107.5 per 100,000 in Dublin South East and 116 in Dublin North West.
The time required to isolate those with Covid-19 is reduced from 14 days to 10 days.
According to the new guidelines, patients who test positive are advised to isolate themselves for at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms.
Meanwhile, Donald O’Keefe, chief executive of the Licensed Winters’ Association, said the reopening of non-food Dublin pubs was unbelievable.
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