More Covid restrictions can still be avoided this winter.
The Cabinet sub-committee on Economic Recovery will meet later to discuss specific supports for the hospitality sector.
As the Government brought in a new curfew on the hospitality sector people in the industry have felt that's the thin end of the wedge - and more restrictions could be coming.
Minister @SimonHarrisTD says more restrictions can still be avoided.
“There’s no inevitability about what will happen next. You’d be somewhat forgiven if you were to read commentary to presume the next steps in relation to Covid restrictions have been decided. Far from it” pic.twitter.com/drPnCfWVGx
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) November 22, 2021
Chef and restaurateur Paul Treyvaud says it would be devastating:
"I'm speaking to restauranters - they've cashed in their pensions to stay afloat.
"They've cashed in all their life savings to stay afloat.
"They've re-mortgaged their houses, businesses, and premises - everything.
"There's no alternative that if you shut us down again - we're gone."
126 Covid-positive patients are in ICUs nationally - the highest since February.
It's increased by 61 percent in the past two weeks.
Figures from the HSE show there's 684 people in hospitals with the virus, which is also the highest the total's been for almost nine months.
UPDATE: 126 people in ICU - highest since February.
The total's increased by 61% in the past two weeks. https://t.co/TcDIF19FxA
— Ben Finnegan (@_BenFinnegan) November 22, 2021
The Cabinet sub-committee on economic recovery will meet later, to look at delaying cuts to the wage subsidy scheme and hospitality-specific business supports.
"I can't get into specifics because obviously we'll be guided by advice we receive," says Taoiseach Micheal Martin who says the Government will assess the impact of the restrictions and the possibility of financial supports.
"I know the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure will talk this evening.
"We are conscious that the decision we made last week has resulted in a lot of cancellations in hospitality. We'll assess all of that this evening."
But Minister Simon Harris says the doom and gloom some are predicting can be avoided:
"There is still a chance we can do this.
"There is no inevitability with our next steps.
"I do think that's somewhat been lost this weekend.
"You'd be somewhat forgiven for reading some commentary to presume the next steps have been decided - far from it."
While Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tony Holohan has said no one measure will stop the spread of Covid, but transmission can be reduced if people follow all the guidance in place.
