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Morning top 5: New coronavirus restrictions come into effect; US lawmakers reach $2tn stimulus deal

Thousands more people will stay at home from work today after new restrictions on the retail sect...
Newstalk
Newstalk

06.36 25 Mar 2020


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Morning top 5: New coronavirus...

Morning top 5: New coronavirus restrictions come into effect; US lawmakers reach $2tn stimulus deal

Newstalk
Newstalk

06.36 25 Mar 2020


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Thousands more people will stay at home from work today after new restrictions on the retail sector were announced yesterday.

Factories and construction sites remain open, but are being asked to put in place measures to allow social distancing.

Theatres, clubs, marts and bingo halls are among a list of businesses now closed.

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Last night 204 new cases of coronavirus were announced, along with one death.

A total of seven people have now died after being diagnosed with COVID-19, while the number of confirmed cases is 1,329.

Dublin has more than half of the confirmed cases to date, followed by Cork with 13%.

Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan said he isn't ruling out introducing more stringent measures for specific regions if the situation merits it.

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Trade union Forsa says workers should talk to their boss to decide if they're an "non-essential worker" or not.

It's joined Siptu and Ictu in welcoming a scheme to guarantee up to 70% of salaries at firms hit by the pandemic.

However, it wants the government to be clearer about what workers are being told to work from home.

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Restaurant owners that want to operate takeaways won't need to get planning permission to change use.

Planning rules are being loosened to speed the response to the coronavirus pandemic and help businesses adapt.

Businesses like supermarkets that have their opening hours limited by conditions to their planning permission will be allowed open longer too.

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US senators and officials from the Trump administration say they've agreed a massive financial stimulus to support the economy through the outbreak there.

It's expected to be worth $2 trillion.

It comes as Donald Trump claimed he wants to see parts of the US 'open up again' as soon as Easter.

However, Bill De Blasio - the mayor of New York - says that is inconceivable, suggesting that "April will unquestionably be worse than March".

Main image: Leo Varadkar speaking to the media at Government Buildings. Photo: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

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