Significant new Covid-19 restrictions are expected to be announced after today’s Cabinet meeting, with a large range of businesses closed.

Significant new Covid-19 restrictions are expected to be announced after today’s Cabinet meeting, with a large range of businesses closed.
The measures are likely to take in restaurants, cafés, hairdressers and a range of other service sectors regarded as non-essential.
Restrictions will also be introduced for outside gatherings.
While the measures will not be an exact replica of what has been announced in the UK, they will be significant.
Priority testing for health staff, including GPs, will be introduced. General health testing will be increased for those with symptoms.
Officials believe these are the correct measures now, for the right period of time, however further measures are expected in the weeks ahead.
The Cabinet met this morning to consider updated recommendations on tackling the coronavirus from the National Public Health Emergency Team.
A Government spokesman said that while public compliance with physical distancing measures had generally been good, there was clearly a need to reinforce the message of maintaining an adequate distance in public places.
The NPHET meeting was held via teleconference.
The existing measures in place, including the closure of schools, crèches, universities and pubs, expire at the end of this week and are expected to be extended.
The NPHET is also expected to emphasise the importance of an all-Island approach to the issue.
Opposition parties have been increasing the pressure on the Government to do more to tackle Covid-19.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has called for greater restrictions on public gatherings, while Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald went a step further and urged the closure of non-essential businesses.
Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar has said his Government will take decisions on the basis of science, rather than social media or political pressure.
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The ministers will also consider new legislation on the Covid-19 emergency, ahead of a return of the Dáil on Thursday.
On his way into the Cabinet meeting, Minister for Health Simon Harris said he was taking NPHET recommendations to Cabinet and that an announcement would be made later.
He said that there would be an update on existing measures as well as information on new ones.
The minister said that Irish people had been making big sacrifices and that this was a national effort.
Minister of State for Disability Issues Finian McGrath said “there are going to be changes” following the cabinet’s consideration of the recommendations.
Going into the Cabinet meeting Mr McGrath said that he would be the voice of those with a disability at the meeting. He said that represents 13% of the population and 24,000 people had been affected by the closure of day services. 
He advised those affected that “support is still there”.
Minister for Transport Shane Ross said the Cabinet would “abide by and implement” the recommendations of the NPHET.
On his way into the Cabinet meeting he said that the area of transport was under constant review and a lot of questions needed to be answered, particularly in relation to public transport.
There have been 1,125 cases of coronavirus confirmed in the State and six people with Covid-19 have died.
Around 80% of cases of Covid-19 will be a mild to moderate illness, close to 14% have severe disease and around 6% are critical.
Generally, you need to be 15 minutes or more in the vicinity of an infected person, within 1-2 metres, to be considered at-risk or a close contact.
But there are higher risk settings, where transmission is possible in a shorter time interval, where health staff are dealing directly with known or suspected cases in particular settings and may need personal protective equipment.
Additional reporting Paul Cunningham