Crunch talks Month-long lockdown and school holiday extension being discussed at Cabinet

Ministers are discussing extending the school holidays by a few days amid tough new measures to stem the third wave of coronavirus.

Household visits are expected to be banned from midnight as the Government imposes a full national lockdown until the end of January.

Non-essential retail will have one more day of trading before shops will be asked to close from New Year’s Day under plans being discussed by Cabinet. Gyms and leisure centres are also to be asked to close under the new restrictions.

The Level 5 restrictions being debated by Cabinet come against the backdrop of a massive increase in new Covid-19 cases.

An emergency Cabinet meeting was held today to address the rise in cases. Nphet last week urged the Government to close all non-essential retail and gyms over fears that the new strain of the virus from England will spread more rapidly.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin will announce the new restrictions once agreed by Cabinet around 6pm.

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