Coronavirus: Hairdressers and restaurants in ROI to close on Christmas Eve

Restaurants, hairdressers and gastro pubs in the Republic of Ireland will close on Christmas Eve when new restrictions are introduced.

People in Ireland may travel beyond their own county until the end of Stephen's Day, the Irish Cabinet has announced.

There will be no new inter-county travel allowed after 26 December.

Household visits will be reduced to one other household from 27 December.

However, three households will still be allowed to mix on Christmas Day.

Travel restrictions from Britain will remain until 31 December under the new rules, and the number of wedding guests in Ireland will be reduced to six, from 2 January, RTÉ reports.

The new restrictions will be reviewed on 12 January, however Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) Leo Varadkar has warned those businesses affected that they should operate on the assumption they will be closed until the end of February or early March, when a critical mass of the population should be vaccinated.

The Irish Foreign Ministry has set up a GB emergency travel helpline for Irish people who are finding it difficult to get home for Christmas.

Taoiseach (Irish PM) Micheál Martin said coronavirus in Ireland may be increasing at a rate of 10% per day, but added that the most vulnerable Irish citizens will begin receiving the vaccine next week.

Mr Martin said he is certain the Irish vaccination programme will allow the virus to be managed in the new year.

"The way to show love and respect for others is to comply with guidelines," he added.

Mr Martin said the measures equated to Level 5 on Ireland's Covid-19 response plan with a few adjustments, including non-essential retail remaining open, with guidance that shops do not run January sales.

He said gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools could remain open for individual exercise.

Schools will also stay open but no sports matches can take place apart from those at elite level.

His deputy prime minister, Mr Varadkar added: "One of the real concerns that we have is that unlike the second wave, the virus seems to be affecting older people in quite high numbers and that is causing us enormous concern.

"Because what is very likely to happen over the next couple of days is that younger people who have been out socialising, perhaps carrying the virus, will then mix with older people over Christmas and that is a recipe for disaster."

Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan earlier said there will be a series of "staggered dates" regarding changes to restrictions over the holiday period.

Mr Ryan said the cabinet sub-committee had been briefed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) on Monday evening on the latest situation with coronavirus.

Meanwhile in the Republic of Ireland on Monday, there were no new coronavirus-linked deaths reported.

There have been a total of 2,158 coronavirus-related deaths in Ireland and a total of 80,267 confirmed cases since the outbreak began.