The lockdown in County Kildare has been lifted with immediat eeffect
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) discussed the situation this morning after the COVID-19 figures in the country fell into line with other areas of the country.
Cabinet ministers then held an incorporeal meeting this afternoon and agreed to end the lockdown with immediate effect.
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.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) August 31, 2020
In a statement, the Government said the rolling five-day average for Kildare had dropped from 22.2 cases to 10.8.
It said 75 cases were detected in the county in the week to August 29th – down from 238 in the week to August 8th.
Meanwhile, the level of community transmission in the county is now in line with the rest of the country.
“As the epidemiological situation both nationally and in Kildare are broadly similar, there is no longer a rationale for a differentiated approach between Kildare and the rest of the country,” reads the statement.
The Government said the improvement in Kildare was “due to the willingness of everyone to adhere to the public health guidance and measures implemented.”
It warned that the national situation “remains uncertain” and said the Government continues to stress the importance of following public health advice.
Kildare Exits Lockdown! - https://t.co/m8PEYGYxkg pic.twitter.com/TYLddy5tmm
— James Lawless (@lawlessj) August 31, 2020
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare North James Lawless said the news was a “credit to the people of Kildare.”
“The Minister for Health has informed me this afternoon that Kildare has now fallen below danger levels for COVID-19 transmission and can come out of local lockdown with immediate effect,” he said.
“This is great news for local businesses, associations, galleries, sports and anyone who could not open or operate during the past few weeks.
“Most of all it is a huge credit to the people of Kildare who did all that was asked of them to slow the virus.”
Fianna Fáil councillor for Naas, Robert Power, said the county was “not out of the woods yet.”
“Thanks to the extra sacrifices made by the people of Kildare, what could have been a very substantial wave of fatalities has been curtailed,” he said.
“This is great news in a week where thousands of excited children finally get to return to some sort of normality. Let's keep our efforts up for them.”
The lockdown was imposed on Kildare, Laois and Offaly over three weeks ago amid a rise in cases in the area.
The restrictions were lifted in Laois and Offaly ten days ago; however, they were extended in Kildare and were due to remain in place until September 6th.
