The easing of COVID restrictions over Christmas will be cut short.
Ireland will enter a phase of 'Level Three Plus' from between the 28th and 30th of December.
It means people won't be allowed to travel between counties or have visitors from more than one household from a few days after Christmas.
Restaurants and pubs that serve food will also shut before the new year.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin says it's in reaction to the rising number of cases over the last few weeks:
"Non essential retail will stay open."
"This is a max Level 3 we're looking at."
"We'll have to watch and monitor it because we want to evaluate that, can we maintain some of those services, as we move into January and February."
"In every phase of these restrictions we refine them, and we work to keep as much of the economy open as possible. "
The Taoiseach confirms NPHET has recommended closing hospitality & restricting house visits from Dec. 28th. Doesn't answer how long Level 3+ will last. Won't be holding the cabinet meeting to decide earlier than Tuesday
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) December 18, 2020
We Cannot Afford To Celebrate Christmas And NYE
The Taoiseach says there's a very strong likelihood that restaurants and pubs will have to close after Christmas, before the new year.
The Chief Medical Officer has warned that the country cannot afford to celebrate both Christmas and the New Year; and so NPHET has made its recommendations on that basis.
President of the Restaurant Association of Ireland is Mark Mc Gowan.
"It's clear we need a scapegoat, and that scapegoat seems to consistently come back to hospitality."
"I really think that's unfair, gravely unfair on 250,000 employees that have an insecure job at the minute."
Senior Government Official Liz Canavan is warning people that restaurants that offer multiple table bookings or let you stay late to drink are not doing you a favour.
"If you're dining out and someone offers you a multiple table booking, or extra drinks after your meal."
"They're not doing you a favour."
"They're simply increasing the chances that you'll become a close contact of someone who later tests positive for the virus."
It's unclear what date the business will be told to close once again, but an announcement will be made before Christmas day.
