IRELAND COULD remain under most Level 5 restrictions until mid-May, the Taoiseach has suggested.
The country is already set to remain under tight restrictions until at least 5 April when there could be some easing of the rules, however with 631 new cases reported yesterday it is highly unlikely they will be eased in any significant way.
The government will meet the week before the 5 April deadline to decide what direction the country will take for the following six weeks up to mid-May, and it seems that the construction industry may return, the 5km rule could be eased and people may be allowed to meet up outdoors, but there will not be much else eased.
Speaking in the Dáil yesterday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin acknowledged that Ireland was taking a "very conservative and cautious approach" because the B117 strain of the virus "creates a different situation", causing over 90% of all cases in Ireland.
The English variant, known to be far more transmissible, is "not like the first wave or the second wave, this variant ... spreads much more rapidly than the original iterations of the virus," he told the Dáil.
"That is what is informing, yes a very conservative and cautious approach."
He added that the public "don't quite get" the impact the British B117 variant was having on Ireland's fight against the disease.
Ireland has been under Level 5 restrictions since late December, with household visits banned, people unable to go further than 5km from their homes and all non-essential businesses closed.
Yesterday a further 631 cases and 47 deaths were announced.
