Country to move to Level Five on Wednesday night
The entire country is to be put on Level Five restrictions from Wednesday night until the end of November, the Taoiseach has officially confirmed in a live broadcast in the past few minutes.
The Cabinet agreed the move earlier today to ramp up restrictions for a period of six weeks in a bid to curb growing Coronavirus numbers and ease pressure on our hospital system during the busy Winter period.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the plan is about striking a balance between protecting lives and livelihoods.
"Further action is now required... If we pull together over the next six weeks, we will have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in a meaningful way," he said urging everyone to follow the rules for the next six weeks.
He is asking people to "dig deep" and "persevere".
Under the plan, creches and schools will remain open, though they are due to break up for the Halloween holidays this Friday for a week.
All non-essential businesses are to close; though the construction sector will remain open; and people will only be allowed to exercise within five kilometres of their homes.
People will be able to meet up outdoors with others from one other household for things such as exercise, within the 5km limit.
Weddings will stay at 25 guests until the end of the year.
The GAA inter-county championships, elite sports and horse racing will be permitted to take place during the Level Five restrictions.
Many non-essential retail outlets and hairdressers will have to close, although most of these already closed in County Cavan last Friday when the county was placed on Level Four. Pubs and restaurants will only be able to serve takeaway. Off-licence opening hours are to be further restricted under the plan.
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment is to be restored to €350 a week for those who were earning €400 a week or more. Wage subsidy rates are also to be improved in line with PUP rates following discussions at Cabinet.
The aim among ministers is to try to ensure businesses are back up and running before Christmas. It's also hoped the country could return to Level 3 by the end of November, and Level 2 in the days before Christmas.
Earlier today, 1,031 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed by the Department of Health, taking the total number of cases since the outbreak began in February over 50,000. No further deaths were reported today.
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