The entire country has been placed onto level two Covid-19 restrictions under a new government plan.
It means the current restrictions will be in place for another three weeks, however further measures are being introduced in Dublin.
They include not allowing drink-only pubs in the capital to re-open.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar says the situation in the capital is worrying and that the level of the virus circulating in the county has increased by more than ten-fold in the last two months.
He says the positivity rate is around 3.5 per cent compared to around 2 per cent in the rest of the country;
"It this continues it may not be possible to keep the virus out of our hospitals, nursing homes and factories...we'll experience a second wave of hospitalisations, people needing admission to ICU and sadly more deaths" he warned.
Dublin restrictions
Given concern over the incidence of Covid-19 in Dublin, and based on NPHET’s recommendations, Cabinet has agreed that additional measures will apply in the county:
- No more than two households should meet at any given time, and people should have a maximum of six visitors from one other household to their home. Socialising can continue at indoor or outdoor public venues, but only with people from their own household or one other household, and in groups of no more than six.
- Pubs and bars not serving food should remain closed beyond September 21st.
- Higher and third level institutions should consider enhanced protective measures.
- Those living in Dublin should be encouraged to limit travel outside the region, and only meet one other household when outside the county.
Also under the government's medium-term Covid-19 roadmap, spectator sport is returning with some small theatre and musical events also getting the green light.
The government is also adopting the European Commission's new traffic light system for foreign travel.
