Meath on alert as neighbouring counties face fresh restrictions on movement

Residents in Meath will be hoping they don't fall under the new two-week lockdown measures that have been introduced in counties Kildare, Offaly and Laois that were announced today.

People from the affected counties will not be permitted to travel outside of their counties except for in limited circumstances including to travel to and from work, under plans agreed by the Government.

This follows revelations by the Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn that 226 cases of Covid-19 in the last 14 days came from the three counties, which account for almost half of all cases in Ireland during that period.

This week it was revealed that a GAA player in Ballinabrackey on the Meath / Offaly border had tested positive for coronavirus.

The new lockdown measures will mean restaurants, bars, cinemas and gyms will be closed for the localised restrictions which are due to come in to effect from midnight tonight and remain in place for two weeks.

But crèches will remain open and preparations for the re-opening of schools can continue.

Residents will be permitted to travel outside of these counties for the following reasons:

- To travel to and from work, where it is not possible to work from home.

- To attend medical appointments and collect medicines and other health products.

- For vital family reasons such as caring for children, elderly or vulnerable people - but excluding social visits.

- For farming purposes including food production and care for animals.

- Earlier today, Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn advised people living in those counties to pay particular attention to any new symptoms after a huge increase in Covid-19 cases linked to outbreaks.

The full guidance from NPHET is here

NPHET had also been notified of another 60 cases in those counties, which are due to be reported in this evening's figures.

Dr Ronan Glynn said GPs in those counties had been written to and contact tracing was under way.

But he said people living in Kildare, Laois and Offaly should pay particular attention to any new symptoms that they may have, double down on basic public health behaviours and avoid crowded spaces.