Europe, once again the epicenter of the pandemic 1:07
(CNN) -
Ireland will impose restrictions and a midnight curfew on bars, restaurants and nightclubs starting this Thursday, its Prime Minister Micheál Martin announced, as the country tackles a new wave of COVID-19 cases.
Martin said that the increase in infections in the country is "a matter of deep concern", while unveiling a series of new measures aimed at "reducing socialization in all areas."
The measures include people working from home and an expansion of the requirement for a vaccination pass: People must now show their vaccination certificate to enter theaters and cinemas.
Ireland has one of the highest vaccination rates in Europe, with 89.1% of people over the age of 12 vaccinated, but its booster program has only been available to those over 60, health workers and individuals. at risk.
The government is planning to offer third doses to people over 50 and people with underlying health problems, Martin said.
The prime minister called for a "collective effort" to keep Ireland's economy open, noting the "emerging picture across Europe" where COVID-19 cases in general are on the rise and prompting governments to introduce new restrictions.
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Ireland recorded its highest number of cases since January this Friday, when 5,483 new infections were reported.
Deaths are holding at a much lower rate than during their January peak, but are slowly climbing.
The country also posted its second-highest rate of hospital admissions this week in all of 2021, according to Martin.
One of the main hospitals in the Dublin capital, Mater Hospital, had an increase in its ICU capacity on Monday and is now ventilating patients out of intensive care, according to state broadcaster RTÉ.
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Curfew and restrictions, unpopular measures
But the new rules were met with disappointment across the tourism sector, particularly among nightclub owners, who were only allowed to reopen last month after having been closed since March 2020.
The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) said in a published statement that the move was "a very disappointing move for the many night pubs and nightclubs, many of which will be forced to close only three weeks after reopening."
The Executive Chairman of the Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI), Adrian Cummins, said that given the country's high vaccination rate, "the reintroduction of restrictions on hospitality shows that living with covid is not viable for our country."
Ireland has the highest covid-19 case rate in the world.
What went wrong?
The measures that were agreed by the Cabinet early Tuesday represent "an adequate response to the situation in which we find ourselves," Martin said.
"And I know that nobody wants to go back to a world of general restrictions," he added.
Ireland now joins a growing number of European Union countries re-introducing restrictions before winter.
Covid-19 infections are increasing across the block, particularly in the central and eastern parts of the region.
On Monday, a lockdown for unvaccinated people came into effect in Austria, while Germany's new government is pushing to introduce tough new measures for people who have not been inoculated.
Covid-19