DUBLIN: The National Public Health Emergency Team has recommended to the Cabinet for a Level 5 proposal to impose lockdown across the country. The country was shocked to hear the suggestion that the entire country should move to the highest possible level of control.
The recommendation follows an NPHET meeting this evening as COVID-19 cases are on the rise across Ireland. The NPHET assessed that a major change is needed before things get too bad.
The committee members told reporters that the government would have to take action to prevent it from escalating into extraordinary dangerous situations in the coming days.
However, NPHET is concerned that the government will not accept the Level 5 recommendation.
At this stage, some higher political circles are hinting that the government is not ready to move to Level 5 all at once.
Government sources said the majority of ministers were shocked and opposed such a move – adding that the government may have to reject the NPHET recommendation.
The government is unlikely to accept the advice to go to the fifth level in view of social and economic changes.
If that happened then Ireland would be the only country in Europe to approach COVID-19 in such a drastic way. Will lead to serious repercussions in Ireland.
A section of government ministers also speculated that the Level 5 closure could cause permanent economic damage.
However, several sources said that even if the government approves the move, it will only be implemented for four weeks.
The three government-led party leaders will meet with Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan tomorrow.
Currently, two counties in the country – Dublin and Donegal – are in Level 3 and the rest of the country is in Level 2. The Department of Health yesterday confirmed 364 new cases in Ireland, 100 of which were in Dublin.