A full Level 5 lockdown is on the cards before the new year, as the Cabinet meets today over “galloping” Covid figures. The Government is likely to close all non-essential shops and services, reintroduce 5km restrictions, and extend the UK travel ban. “People have not been following the rules, and the figures are through the roof,” said a Government source last night. Last night the Department of Public Health urged people in one of the country’s worst hit regions to “avoid large social gatherings of any kind for New Year’s celebrations”. There have been 800 positive coronavirus cases in Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary combined over the past two weeks, the Department of Public Health Mid West said.

Source: Irish Independent December 30, 2020 02:34 UTC