Holohan: Level 5 restrictions will be needed some time after Christmas

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has told the Government he believes Level 5 restrictions will be needed at some point after Christmas.

Pubs and restaurants will close in mid-afternoon on Christmas Eve and remain closed for the full festive period.

The move to curb growing Covid-19 numbers will be discussed at Cabinet on Tuesday after Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan briefed the cabinet sub-committee on the virus on Monday.

Dr Holohan has told the Government he believes Level 5 restrictions will be needed at some point after Christmas.

Other measures will see personal services such as hairdressers and salons close on Christmas Eve and the ban on travel into Ireland from the UK extended to New Year's Eve. Galleries, museums and cinemas will also close on Thursday.

Non-essential retail will remain open, but sources say that it will be subject to tighter controls on the numbers allowed into stores at once, with a return to the summer scenes of long queues outside stores likely.

A source said that the Government announcement, due on Tuesday at around midday, would likely see extra supports announced for affected businesses.

However, no decision has been made yet on when restrictions on household visits and intercounty travel will come into effect.

A source said there was "still a lot of detail to be hammered out" on those issues, however it is likely that these will be between Decemer 26 and 28.

Sources added that Dr Holohan's presentation outlined the rapidly deteriorating situation in Ireland in handling the virus, with the message that "something needs to be done" resonating as cases reached over 700 for the second day running.