The Government is set to announce further Covid-19 restrictions for the whole country after a Cabinet meeting today, with most shops are expected to close will close, along with amenities like gyms

The Government is set to announce further Covid-19 restrictions for the whole country after a Cabinet meeting today.
At present counties Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan are at level 4 with the rest of the country at Level 3. 
The Opposition has called for additional supports for those affected by any further public health measures. 
It is expected the new measures will contain elements of both Level 4 and Level 5 restrictions from the Government’s ‘Living With Covid-19’ plan.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath has said that the Government accepts the need to provide certainty, and will do just that.
Yesterday, the Department of Health was notified of three further deaths and 1,283 additional cases of Covid-19.
It brings to 1,852 the total number of Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland, with a total of 49,962 confirmed cases.
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The Cabinet sub-committee – involving the three coalition party leaders, plus senior ministers – will gather at Government Buildings this morning.
Their aim will be to narrow differences on the new Covid-19 plan, ahead of a crucial Cabinet meeting this afternoon, which will take profound decisions for the country.
Under the new measures proposed most shops are expected to close will close, along with amenities like gyms, and there could be additional travel restrictions.
Opposition parties are broadly supportive of increasing restrictions.
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson David Cullinane said he would support all public health interventions but added social supports must be put in place for vulnerable people and cuts to the PUP must be reversed.
However, Aontú leader Peader Toibin said the Cabinet needed to aim high in terms of hospital capacity but cautious in terms of restrictions.
Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said yesterday that it is clear that the virus is a such a level that a county by county approach is not enough and Level 3 restrictions have not worked “in terms of getting the virus to where it needs to get to”.
A third of the newest confirmed Covid-19 cases – 408 – were reported in Dublin.
The 14-day incidence rate of the virus is now 251 for the entire country.
Cavan continues to have the highest rate of the virus, followed by Meath, Monaghan, Donegal and Clare.
Of the new cases reported yesterday, nearly 70% were in people aged under 45.