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31st Aug 2020

Kildare lockdown lifted with immediate effect

Rudi Kinsella

covid ireland

Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed the news on Monday evening.

Kildare’s lockdown restrictions have been lifted with immediate effect, Micheál Martin has confirmed.

Kildare went into lockdown with Offaly and Laois on 7 August, though the restrictions were lifted in the other two counties over a week ago.

People in Kildare will no longer be asked to stay within the county, and it is believed that activities such as sport will be allowed to recommence.

In a brief statement posted on Twitter, An Taoiseach said: “Today’s decision to lift the additional Covid restrictions on County Kildare was only possible because of the people of Kildare – their extra effort, their sacrifices and their patience. And it worked.

“Numbers in Kildare now similar to rest of country. We must all stay vigilant.”

A further statement released by the government reads: “There is no longer a rationale for a differentiated approach between Kildare and the rest of the country.”

This announcement comes after NPHET met on Monday morning and considered the measures which have been in place in the county for over three weeks due to a spike in cases.

The spike in cases was associated with a number of clusters in the county, some of which were traced back to a meat factory.

Ireland’s incidence of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people over the past 14 days is 30.6, according to the most recent available figures.

An update on the Republic of Ireland’s Covid-19 figures will be released shortly.

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