A Clare representative in ISME believes further Government supports for businesses will be needed if isolation times for close contacts if Covid cases are not reduced.
It comes as the Public Expenditure Minister says he hopes NPHET will allow the isolation rules for close contacts to be relaxed.
It’s understood a number of businesses across the county, particularly in the hospitality sector, have had to curtail activity as a result of staff being unavailable to work due to high levels of the virus in the community.
The prospect of lowering isolation times for those who have been vaccinated, are close contacts and are asymptomatic has been on the agenda at this morning’s Cabinet meeting.
People who are close contacts of confirmed Covid cases currently have to stay at home for 5 days, even if they’ve had a booster and don’t have virus symptoms.
It’s led to both the business sector and Government representatives calling on NPHET to ease those rules.
Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath says simplified advice would help to ease the pressure on some sectors.
There are suggestions in this county that businesses may need extra supports due to being without staff for periods of time.
Siobhan Ní Ghairbhith of St Tola’s Irish Goat Cheese Farm in Ennistymon, who’s a member of ISME’s National Council says businesses must be compensated accordingly.
