EXTENSION OF RESTRICTIONS EXPECTED AT WEEKEND

MONAGHAN EMERGES AS A HIGH AREA FOR CORONAVIRUS PER HEAD OF POPULATION

Michael Fisher

The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that given the level of admissions to intensive care, new cases and deaths owing to Covid-19, the figures are not good enough yet to start easing restrictions. “Maybe it’ll change significantly by Friday, but as things stand I don’t think we’re there yet,” he said yesterday during a visit to a coronavirus community assessment hub in Dublin.

As the number of Covid-19 cases in Co. Monaghan reached over 400, it emerged that this area per head of population at 627.2 is the third highest in the Republic after Co. Cavan and Dublin. Mr Varadkar said he hoped to be able to set out the different steps to re-open the country and ease restrictions, but suggested that an easing would not be announced this week. He said: “We expect to be in a position to share the exit strategy with the Irish public in the next couple…