Inter-county travel to end Stephen's Day, restaurants to close on Christmas Eve

Inter-county travel can continue until the end of St Stephen's Day, restaurants must close at 3pm on Christmas Eve and travel restrictions from the UK will remain in place until 31st December - these are among the moves to be implemented after today's cabinet meeting.

The Cabinet met today to agree the changes after the Cabinet sub-committee was briefed last night by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) where they set out the latest details on the pandemic.

It is believed case numbers will exceed 900 this evening.

The changes will allow people to stay where they are on 26th December and travel back to their own home later. However, there will be no new inter-county travel allowed after that date.

Household visits will be reduced to one other household from 27 December.

From 1st January no household mixing will be allowed except for compassionate reasons.

Hairdressers are to close on Christmas Eve. Non-essential retail will remain open and gyms for individual training only.

The number of wedding guest will be reduced to six from 2nd January. Public worship is to move online from 26th December.

Shops are requested not to hold sales and schools will return as normal after the Christmas break.

The restrictions agreed today are to be reviewed on 12th January.

Announcing the moves, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he was introducing the restrictions with a "heavy heart."

He said it was our responsibility to protect public health and well being.

"While it may not feel like it what we are doing now is saving lives."

Mr Martin says there is light at the end of the tunnel. Vaccines are on the way. The rollout will commence next week to our most vulnerable people. "We are mobilising an unprecedented national effort."