Move to level 5 would have been devastating for the economy and mental health, says Taoiseach

Micheál Martin stressed the point that the previous full lockdown saw more than one million on some form of emergency welfare supports

The rise in Covid numbers are deeply worrying, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has told his parliamentary party, but a move to level 4 or level 5 would have “a severe and detrimental” impact on the economy.

Mr Martin was addressing his TDs and Senators for the first time since the Government rejected the advice of its own expert medical group to move to level 5 restrictions last Sunday.