Covid-19 restrictions on travel and household visits have been eased today – but new measures could be introduced after Christmas.
People can now travel beyond county boundaries, while up to three households can meet indoors.
The measures were due to stay in place until January 6th – but NPHET wants household mixing limited to two households before the new year.
It has also advised government to close restaurants and gastropubs after Christmas in response to rising rates of the virus.
Meanwhile. the rate of the virus has continued to fall in all areas of Clare in the past fortnight.
We’re now permitted to travel to and from anywhere in Ireland, with people able to come and go from Clare for the first time in two months.
The Chief Medical Officer has warned the government there could be a significant rise in the number of cases over the next few weeks, with local health officials warning the people of Clare to keep up their guard and continue the work that has led to this county having the lowest overall incidence rate of the virus nationwide.
Locally, the Ennis, Ennistymon and Kilrush electoral areas have all recorded less than five cases each in the two weeks up to last Monday, the 14th of December.
The Shannon area recorded 14 cases in those 14 days, with their incidence rate of 46.1 per 100,000 still well below the national average.
In the Killaloe region, just 7 cases were diagnosed in the past fortnight – down by more than half on the two weeks prior – and their rate now stands at 34.8.
Clare recorded less than five cases last night, with the overall incidence rate here now standing at 25.2 – still the lowest in the country.
