Ireland will introduce fresh lockdown measures from Christmas Eve amid fears the new variant of coronavirus is a factor in spiralling infection rates. Ireland is returning to the highest level of its Covid-19 response – Level 5 – with some adjustments, such as allowing shops to remain open. Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools could remain open for individual exercise. After 3pm on Christmas Eve, hotels will only be able to remain open for essential and non-tourism purposes. Aer Lingus has said it will not operate flights from Britain to Ireland while the ban remains in place.

Source: The Herald December 22, 2020 14:35 UTC