Coronavirus: Dublin tightens restrictions while UK ‘second wave’ arrives

The Irish Government last night has announced plans to tighten its coronavirus restrictions in Dublin.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Sep 2020, 22:27 BST
Updated 19th Sep 2020, 04:16 BST
Handout photo issued by Julien Behal Photography of Taoiseach Micheal Martin during a media briefing on the Irish government's 2020 Brexit Readiness Action Plan. Picture date: Wednesday September 9, 2020. See PA story IRISH Brexit. Photo credit should read: Julien Behal Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.Handout photo issued by Julien Behal Photography of Taoiseach Micheal Martin during a media briefing on the Irish government's 2020 Brexit Readiness Action Plan. Picture date: Wednesday September 9, 2020. See PA story IRISH Brexit. Photo credit should read: Julien Behal Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Handout photo issued by Julien Behal Photography of Taoiseach Micheal Martin during a media briefing on the Irish government's 2020 Brexit Readiness Action Plan. Picture date: Wednesday September 9, 2020. See PA story IRISH Brexit. Photo credit should read: Julien Behal Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

Only pubs that serve food and restaurants with outdoor facilities may be permitted to open, while sporting events will also be prohibited.

Irish premier Micheal Martin announced that Dublin would move to risk level three of the Government’s blueprint plan to deal with Covid-19.

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He warned that without further “urgent and decisive action” there was a very real threat that Dublin could return to the worst days of the crisis.

“But this is not inevitable. I understand how frustrated people are, how much we all want to put this pandemic behind us. But we have to remember, it is still deadly and we have to take action,” he added.

Under the new restrictions six visitors to private homes, including gardens, will be permitted from one other household only. All organised indoor gatherings have been banned and outdoor gatherings should have a maximum of 15 people. The restrictions come after health experts warned of a spike in cases across Dublin.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said last night that the UK is “now seeing a second wave” of Covid-19, adding: “It’s been inevitable we’d see it in this country.”

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Mr Johnson said he did not “want to go into bigger lockdown measures” but that tighter social distancing restrictions might be necessary.

It is understood a new three-tiered set of restrictions is being considered. Tier one would focus on social distancing, tier two would see curfews on hospitality venues and a ban on meetings between households and tier three would involve even stricter rules.

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Related topics:Micheal MartinBoris JohnsonGovernmentCovid-19Northern Ireland