Taoiseach We are returning to Level 5 after Christmas By Alison O Reilly
Taoiseach Michael Martin is unveiling new restrictions now at Government buildings.
Under a new Level 5 after Christmas, the plans include:
Households will be reduced to one other household from 27th December.
Restaurants and gastro pubs must close on Christmas Eve at 3pm.
Hairdressers are to close on Christmas Eve.
Travel restrictions from the UK will remain in place until 31st December.
The Cabinet has agreed that people can travel beyond their county until the end of St Stephen s Day.
From 1 January no household mixing will be allowed except for compassionate reasons.
970 more cases of Covid-19 and 13 further deaths By Alison O Reilly
The number of people in ICU is 28, down 1 from yesterday.
The latest spike in the daily figures come as the country is to return to Level 5 restrictions with adjustments between 24 December and 12 January
There have now been a total of 2,171 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland and 81,228 confirmed cases of the virus.
Of those figures this evening, 348 in Dublin.
As of 2pm today 238 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 28 are in ICU. 23 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “The current trajectory of the disease in the community is of grave concern.