It is likely that the country will see little change to the current restrictions in place come March 5

As the country continues to battle against the spread of Covid-19 all eyes are on the Government as to what decision will be made regarding the extension of lockdown.
Level Five restrictions were implemented for the third time after Christmas following an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases.
The restrictions are set to be in place until March 5 when a decision will be made as to what measures will be taken regarding the public health measures.
However, it is likely that the country will see little change to the current restrictions in place but there is hope that the country could be in a much different place
Speaking over the weekend Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that it was still “too early” to give an accurate answer as to when lockdown measures might be lifted.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD arrives for a cabinet meeting at Government Buildings on Merrion Street, Dublin (Image: Gareth Chaney/Collins)
Speaking on RTE’s This Week programme, he said: With the uncertainty around vaccines and variants, it is hard to give an accurate answer.
Progress is being made and we have the biggest fall in Europe. However, close contacts are going up again, the positivity rates remain high, the percentage of new cases in Dublin is going up again.
Its far too early given all of that to give an accurate answer.
Close contacts are going up again, not a lot, but they are going back up again. Positivity rates remain high, particularly among close contacts. The percentage of new cases coming from Dublin is rising.
We think there is more opportunity in terms of workplaces to help people to add extra protection as well. Its far too early given all of that to give accurate predictions.
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Mr Donnelly said that the Government wants schools open as quickly as possible.
But he added that there are no fixed dates yet for when this might happen.
However, there are more encouraging signs in the country’s vaccine rollout is speeding up, something that gives hope for the return to normality and an end to lockdowns.
HSE Paul Reid has said that more than 80,000 vaccinations are to be administered this week, which is almost double the number administered on a weekly basis so far.
Mr Reid said: “We have a very key week ahead of us, where we will be completing over 80,000 vaccinations,”
He said the figure is “almost double what we have been doing on a weekly basis”.
He said it will include “13,500 people who are aged 85 plus, who will be vaccinated in their GP practice or in vaccination centres”.
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“We will also be doing over 40,000 staff and residents in long-term care facilities, who will be getting their second dose, and thirdly, 25,000 vaccinations of frontline healthcare workers with the AstraZeneca vaccine.”
Today marks the first time that people aged over 85 will begin to be vaccinated.
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