ESRI sees two further lockdowns for Ireland in 2021

Economic outlook 'a mixed bag' as spike in Covid cases over Christmas would lead to another lockdown

Kieran McQuinn, research professor at ERSI, said any spike in Covid-19 cases through Christmas would likely lead to at least one further lockdown next year, before vaccines start to be rolled out.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) is anticipating at least one and possibly two further lockdowns next year, if Covid vaccines are rolled out later than thought, as the country's leading think tank prepares its key economic forecasts for 2021.      

Research professor Kieran McQuinn told the Irish Examiner that despite the ending of the current lockdown the outlook for the economy was "a bit of a mixed bag" because any spike in Covid-19 cases through Christmas would likely lead to at least one further lockdown next year, before vaccines start to be rolled out.