ℹ️ NEW
The Government's 5 Level #LivingWithCovid plan has been released.
gov.ie/en/campaigns/r…
#covid19Ireland
"for most of the country, today brings some good news... For 25 counties, pubs will open on September 21st... For one county, it's a little different."
"The situation in our capital is worrying... and has deteriorated."
Varadkar says if this continues, it will be hard to keep virus out of our hospitals, nursing homes and factories.
Breaking.
Varadkar says Dubliners should not welcome any more than one other household to their homes (a maximum of six people)
Varadkar says it's up to Dublin to show the rest of the country "what we're made of" and stop the spread of the virus to the rest of the country.
Donnelly: This winter poses the biggest challenge to our health services in living memory.
Winter plan of €600m approved.
He says it's been planned along Sláintecare guidelines.
Donnelly says thanks to Laois, Offaly and Kildare that moving "quickly and locally" can stem the tide.
First Question as to WHY Dublin is at Level 2.
"Effectively Dublin is at Level 2..." He says it's because of the transition between guidelines.
"Moving to Level 3 is a very significant decision in terms of the impact on business and people."
Martin says NPHET could provide further information on Dublin on Thursday.
"We're very concerned" about Dublin he says.
Martin: NPHET had to give advice last week and we hadn't adopted our plan...
He says there won't be any more Level 2.5 or Level 2-and-a-bit.
Martin says there'll be 8-9 measures to decide whether a county or the country will move up or down a Level.
It's on Page 15 he says.
Why is Dublin not a different level?
"We've followed advice", says Taoiseach and that NPHET was keen that pubs remain closed there. Again says the Dublin Difference is an effect of "transition".
🏟️ SPORT🏟️
"All of the details are in the plan itself", says Taoiseach.
Ongoing engagement between NPHET and various sectors for bigger events.
Taoiseach says he hasn't seen a Championship match this year... "I'd love to go to a soccer match and so on."
🎄 Christmas🎄
Taoiseach says this is a "six month plan". "We will see how we progress over the next three months... We'll see what'll happen under that scenario" if the numbers are brought down.
"We didn't discuss Christmas today."
Taoiseach says this plan will be "difficult" in terms of relationships, visitors etc.
"If we make progress... The better we can adopt."
Hasn't discussed individual events he says.
Over 70s.
Taoiseach says that age group are adhering most out of any.
"Personal judgement" will be key he says to "protect themselves".
Donnelly: Anyone who is vulnerable to this... Are more aware than anyone of what is needed...
"What we're doing is quite respectful... People who are vulnerable are already applying judgement. Where additional advice is useful, that can and will be applied."
Taoiseach on protests by anti-mask people.
"People have a right to protest... The vast majority of the Irish people have adhered to public health advice... There has been a tremendous national spirit.
"We're managing as a country to keep the virus down.. We have to keep at it"
Martin says he has "deep concerns" about the "aggression" of the protests last week.
He says he "did not like" that.
Taoiseach says it "makes sense" to align ourselves with the EU Commission proposal on travel.
Martin: There will be ongoing NPHET briefings.
Taoiseach on what's to say the plan might change again.
"It won't" he says because "it's been adopted today."
"Might be worth your while talking to the CMO," he says to @gavreilly who asked the question
The Chief Medical Officer is not at the briefing by the way.
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.