Unscheduled Cabinet Meeting Today To Discuss Tougher Covid Measures

1,546 new infections were recorded yesterday the highest since the outbreak began.

There were 411 people in hospital 75% more that just over a week ago.

NPHET have called for stricter measures and are also meet this morning while the HSE is due to call a press conference.

Under the current Level 5 restrictions, non essential retail and gyms are still open while visitors from just one other household are permitted

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said there was little doubt tougher restrictions would be considered:

"I can't pre-empt obviously what will be discussed and what will be decided by cabinet. But certainly, we will be meeting to consider new measures. It's an unscheduled cabinet meeting, we are meeting specifically in the context of the NPHET advice, which is to move to full level five, and indeed the rise in cases and hospitalizations, as I was saying so we will have to wait and see what cabinet decides, then obviously announcements can be made.