Clare councillors are pleading with the government to relax certain level five restrictions earlier than planned to help out local businesses.
Local authority members have asked for the move as COVID-19 case numbers continue to drop in this county and elsewhere.
Councillors have unanimously backed a motion calling on the government to consider easing Level 5 restrictions in retail and other settings before December 1st, as is currently planned.
Local representatives say the move would support small businesses here in Clare, and give them hope into the future.
Fine Gael’s John Crowe and Independent councillor Michael Begley both argue it’s possible to ease restrictions sooner than planned to help local businesses, without creating public health risks.
Separately, Clare councillors also called for gyms to be classified as essential.
Gym owners have argued that their services are essential in looking after people’s mental and physical health.
Shannon-based Sinn Fein representative Donna McGettigan, who has led the calls here locally, doesn’t believe the easing of restrictions is premature at this time.
Calls for the restrictions to be lifted aren’t all one way traffic, though – with one immunologist suggesting we should postpone celebrating Christmas until the end of January to further reduce the number of Covid 19 cases.
We’re now halfway into Level 5 restrictions with the Chief Medical Officer is describing the improvement in the profile of the virus as encouraging.
But Associate Professor at Trinity College, Tomás Ryan, believes a traditional Christmas could hinder our progress.
