Hairdressers look set be among the businesses asked to close as part of new Covid-19 measures that will be announced by the Government today.
Amid rising Covid-19 case numbers, party leaders were briefed yesterday evening by the Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tony Holohan. While Holohan is recommending Level 5 restrictions for after Christmas, the Government looks set to opt for a lighter form of this, or ‘Level 5 minus’.
According to the Irish Independent, this would mean that personal services such as hairdressers and barbers will be asked to close, while restaurants and gastropubs will cease operating at around lunchtime on Christmas Eve. They had expected to be allowed to remain open until January 6. Non-essential retail will be allowed to remain open.
Inter-county travel could be banned from St. Stephen’s Day and it is expected that the British travel ban will remain in place until New Year’s Eve. A decision on home visits will be discussed by Cabinet this morning, with ministers considering if just one household should be allowed to visit another after St. Stephen’s Day. All household visits could be prohibited from New Year’s Day.
A Government announcement is expected later today.
