[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Eunbyeol] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads again, Ireland has started a third lockdown for three weeks.
On the 23rd (local time), according to the daily The Times and AFP news agency, Irish Prime Minister Miche?l Martin announced this plan in a televised national address the day before. Accordingly, Ireland will apply the COVID-19 response Level 5, which is a de facto lockdown, from December 24, Christmas Eve, until January 12 of next year.
Under Level 5, people must stay at home unless there is a special exception. Restaurants must close from 3 p.m. on the 24th, but takeout and delivery sales are allowed. Pubs have already been banned from operating for several months. However, non-essential shops will remain open, and schools will resume attendance after the holidays.
To visit family and relatives, daytime travel will be temporarily allowed from Christmas Eve, December 24, to the 26th, but will be restricted afterward. Ireland has decided to continue restricting entry from the UK until the end of this month due to concerns about the spread of the COVID-19 variant circulating in the UK.
Prime Minister Martin said, "There is no definitive evidence that the COVID-19 variant has entered Ireland, but given the recent spread, it is responsible to respond on that assumption." He also announced that 10,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in Ireland and vaccinations will begin next week.
On the previous day, Ireland reported 970 new daily COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths. As a result, the cumulative number of confirmed cases and deaths increased to 81,228 and 2,171, respectively. Ireland implemented a second lockdown for six weeks starting October 22, following the first lockdown last spring.
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