Ireland Reimposes Some Virus Restrictions as Cases Surge

(Bloomberg) -- Ireland has reintroduced some Covid-19 restrictions as it grapples with surging infections and a rising number of hospitalizations.

Starting Thursday, people should work from home where possible, Prime Minister Micheal Martin said in a national address, while bars and restaurants must close by midnight. Cinemas and theaters will now require proof of vaccination, he said. 

Household contacts of anyone infected with Covid will now have to restrict their own movement for five days and complete a “recommended” antigen test, the premier said.

“If the number of Covid infections and hospitalizations continues to grow at the rate we are currently seeing, no health system anywhere in the world would be able to cope,” Martin said.

The move to reimpose restrictions comes despite Ireland having one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, with about 89% of all people age 12 and older now having received two doses. 

The government has extended a vaccine booster program to all people age 50 and over and to anyone with an underlying health condition amid fears of waning immunity. Still, without the vaccine, there is “no doubt that we would now be in a full -scale lockdown,” Martin said.

Ireland reported 4,407 new cases on Tuesday, the Health Ministry said in an emailed statement. Case numbers are at their highest level since their previous peak in January. 

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