Closed pubs and more local restrictions in week of drama

■ The week started badly and got worse, but let’s start at the beginning. Why was Phase 4 paused?

■ Put quite simply the numbers are up, and are continuing to go up, so that means pubs, bars, hotel bars, nightclubs and casinos will remain closed until a review at the end of the month. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said on Tuesday that there was “worrying evidence” of an increase in transmission of the coronavirus within society. “I wish I was in a position to share better news today, but I am not,” he said. He said the 14-day incidence per 100,000 is 7.54, which is up from 2.46 in the 14 days up to June 30. “Given these figures, and the international trend of increased transmission, the Government has made a number of decisions today based on the advice of Nphet,” Mr Martin said.

■ So when can I go for a drink without having to buy a full meal?

■ If you listen to Micheál Martin, possibly not until next year. If you listen to Leo Varadkar, possibly in September. What is clear is that there is no real clarity. Asked whether pubs will be able to open before the end of the year, Mr Martin said: “A lot depends upon the prevalence of the virus and how high a number we get. If we nip this in the bud, there may be prospects, but we can’t give any guarantees.” So basically your guess is as good as anyone’s.

■ What is going on in Kildare, Laois and Offaly??

■ In a nutshell there has been a huge increase in cases. As of Thursday, the three counties accounted for 226 Covid-19 cases in the space of 14 days. That’s 48pc of the national total. There were another 66 cases in the counties announced on Friday. The surge is largely linked to outbreaks in food processing plants and, to a lesser extent, clusters in three Direct Provision centres. The plants affected by outbreaks are in Tullamore, Co Offaly, Kildare town and Timahoe, Co Kildare.

■ Why are meat plants so vulnerable to Covid-19?

■ Basically anywhere where people are in close proximity indoors, they are vulnerable. So think nursing homes and meat processing plants, and especially packed pubs where alcohol is also a dangerous factor. In a meat plant or another food production company there are certain circumstances that increase the chance of the spread of the virus. Close proximity of workers is one element, and loud noise which forces the workers to shout at each other causing droplets to spread. There is also the economic aspect. Many of the workers are low-paid, migrant workers. They tend to share accommodation close to where they work, meaning there is another risk of transmitting the virus.

■ How long will the lockdown last?

■ At least two weeks — but it could be more. Kildare, Laois and Offaly will now be the template for how we as a country deal with outbreaks. What is clear is that if the numbers spike in your area, then your area will be locked down. Micheál Martin warned on Friday: “The message needs to be heard by everyone across the country.”

■ What is Nphet saying about more lockdowns?

■ Nphet’s Dr Ronan Glynn said the purpose of the recommendations was to make them before there was significant community transmission. In a letter to Government, Dr Glynn said Nphet “emphasised that the measures being put in place today could apply to any other region in the future”. He said while admissions to hospitals and critical care, as well as levels of deaths, are not currently showing worrying trends, there may be a delay before changes to these indicators become apparent.

■ Are schools still on track for reopening in August?

■ Apparently it is still all systems go for August. Part of the thinking with the pubs remaining closed was that it was a sacrifice that had to be made to enable schools to reopen. It also emerged yesterday that the Government has recommended all teachers and secondary school students wear face coverings when a physical distance of two metres cannot be maintained.

■ Where are we at with testing, isn’t that the key to taking control?

■ It is. Throughout July the State was completing around 50,000 test per week, but this fell to 24,000 in the last week as a testing programme for healthcare workers was paused. Fewer than 2,000 tests took place on Tuesday last week. David Higgins, analyst at Carraig hill, said: “This has led to an increase in the positivity rate, although it is still low by international comparison. Only one in every 70 tests is returning positive.” The HSE said it will restart testing for healthcare workers tomorrow as well as voluntary testing for Direct Provision residents. Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary has also said there will be mass testing in meat and food processing factories. Testing is still not at the 15,000 per day rate that was once promised by Government and public health experts.