The Taoiseach is to make a State of The Nation address this evening on new measures to combat the latest surge of Covid-19.Micheal Martin will deliver the address from the steps of Government Buildings just after 6pm after the Cabinet agreed new plans around Covid.Nightclubs, pubs and restaurants will have new closing hours of 12 midnight from this Thursday and people will be asked to work from home where they can from Friday.A booster vaccine campaign for over 50s has been agreed - with the Taoiseach telling the meeting there will be capacity for 230,000 jabs a week.There's also to be changes to rules around close contacts - meaning once there is a confirmed Covid case in a household everyone in that home will have to stay at home for five days, and will be sent antigen tests.Digital Covid Certs won't be required for access to gyms, barbers and hairdressers.Meanwhile the Licensed Vintners Association is calling on the government to immediately reintroduce Covid supports for the late night sector.The organisation wants practical longer term solutions to be developed for hospitality.Meanwhile, owner of Heenahan's Bar in Westport, County Mayo, Michael Heenahan, says there needs to be stricter of enforcement of guidelines in every sector:
"I really don't understand how we think that rolling back the opening hours, late night hospitality resolves the problem. I mean, how can we expect the public to adhere to guidelines in one sector only? If we don't want to go backwards, there has to be cohesion in our approach to guidelines, how they're implemented, how we accept them. And we've come become completely relaxed in every single aspect of day to day life."
