NPHET examining hospitality curbs, household visit limit

​The National Public Health Emergency Team is believed to be considering a range of curbs on the hospitality sector tonight, with the aim of reducing transmission of Covid-19.

The measures being assessed are thought to include eliminating the capacity of people to book multiple tables, and also reducing numbers to six people per table.  ​It is also believed that NPHET is assessing the value of restricting opening times of licensed premises.

---

Other measures which are thought to be under consideration include new limits on visits to households - maybe to three or four households.

It is also thought NPHET is assessing whether to again recommend the extension of the Covid certs to other areas beyond hospitality - something the Government rejected a few weeks ago.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan will write a letter to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, who will then bring the letter to the wider Cabinet for decision.

The Government has yet to receive the letter from NPHET on further restrictions aimed at curbing Covid-19.

Earlier, the Tánaiste said the Government will assist businesses and workers negatively affected by any new measures introduced to tackle Covid-19.

However, Leo Varadkar told the Dáil that it is "prudent" for the Cabinet to wait until NPHET gives its advice, before taking decisions on targeted financial supports.

He was replying to the Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy, who questioned why the Government was proceeding with cuts to financial supports when restrictions were being announced: "Is this a Darwinian survival of the fittest?"

She said that while the restrictions were "undoubtedly necessary," people were heeding the public health advice and yet the financial supports to cushion the blow were either being withdrawn or eroded.

She said towns and villages cannot afford to lose these businesses, but they cannot afford to keep their doors open either.

READ THE FULL RTE NEWS ARTICLE