The Cabinet Covid-19 Committee will meet today to consider the question of graduated fines to enforce pandemic related regulations.

The Cabinet Covid-19 Committee will meet today to consider the question of graduated fines to enforce pandemic related regulations.
The National Public Health Emergency Team wrote to Government last night to say they remain deeply concerned about the rising number of Covid-19 cases.
It has concerns but did not recommend further restrictions following a meeting yesterday.
Last night, the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly told the Dáil the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan spoke about the possibility of moving to Level 4 in advance of last Sunday’s NPHET meeting.
However, the Minister said he was taken aback when the Level 5 recommendation was made later that evening.
Mr Donnelly said the Government believes that not all the necessary conditions for a move to Level 5 have been met.
Minister Donnelly said he never suggested NPHET went on a solo run and that Dr Holohan has a right to convene a meeting of NPHET whenever he wants.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly told the Dáil the R number for the country is now 1.2. He said while the cases are rising the R number has come down.
Yesterday, the Department of Health has been notified of one further Covid-19-related death and 506 new cases.
It brings the number of Covid-19-related deaths to 1,817. There have now been 40,086 confirmed coronavirus cases in Ireland.
In a statement, the NPHET said that of the new cases, 240 are men and 265 are women. 64% of the new cases are under 45 years of age.
Dublin has the highest number of new cases with 91, 76 are reported in Cork, 53 in Donegal, 42 in Meath and the remaining 244 cases are located across 21 counties.
Cases today: 91 in Dublin, 76 in Cork, 53 in Donegal, 42 in Meath and the remaining 244 cases are located across 21 counties.
— Fergal Bowers (@FergalBowers) October 8, 2020
NPHET said that 39% of the new cases are associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case. 59 cases have been identified as community transmission.
A detailed breakdown of Covid-19 cases by local electoral areas shows that the Lifford/Stranorlar area of Donegal has the highest rate of the virus in the country.
Between 22 September and 5 October, Lifford/Stranorlar recorded a 14-day incidence rate of 602 cases per 100,000 of the population.
Other areas in Donegal have also recorded high incidence rates of the virus – Carndonagh has 347 cases per 100,000, while Letterkenny has 332.
Granard in Co Longford has a rate of 384, while Monaghan town is at 317. 
Meanwhile, Paul Reid has said trends in the spread of Covid-19 “continue to be a strong concern” for the HSE.
The HSE CEO was speaking at a press briefing yesterday, which heard that as of Wednesday there were 157 people being treated for Covid-19 in hospital, and 27 people in ICU.
He said that the hospital system is “challenged, but not overwhelmed”. He said that some hospitals may have to start deferring or cancelling procedures, and may have to use some of their surge capacity beds.