Level 5 Covid Measures To Extend Into Early March With New Penalties For International Travel

The Level 5 lockdown has been extended until March 5th.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the number of people in hospital and ICU beds is still too high to consider lifting restrictions.

Mandatory two week quarantine is also set to be introduced for people who arrive into Ireland without a negative PCR test.

It will also apply to people coming from Brazil and South Africa and there's been a pause on visa-free travel from those countries.

There will be an increase in the policing of the required two weeks of self-isolation for all travelers arriving into Ireland.

The government has said more gardaí will be operating near ports and airports to clamp down on non-essential travel.

The Taoiseach says the virus remains too widespread to lift restrictions.

The Health Minister says the covid case numbers are heading in the right direction but it will take some time before pressure is eased on our hospitals.

Wicklow TD Stephen Donnelly also says the vaccination programme is going well despite AstraZeneca delivering fewer doses than what was agreed with the EU