Cabinet’s refusal to move the country to Level 5 coronavirus restrictions marks “the first time we have actually seen the Government govern” since the pandemic began, according to Dublin GP Maitiú Ó Tuathail.

The National Public health Emergency Team (NPHET) last night called for the entire country to move to the highest restriction levels.

However, following a meeting between the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan and Government leaders, Cabinet is now expected to reject the advice.

Instead the entire country is to join Dublin and Donegal on Level Three restrictions – with stricter monitoring and enforcement of those rules.

On The Hard Shoulder this evening, Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail said it has been a “rollercoaster 24 hours” for everybody since the NPHET advice was leaked.

“We were expecting potentially an increase to Level Four but it did come a as a shock when the advice was to move to Level Five,” he said.

“I think we need to remember that the role of NPHET is purely and solely to provide public health advice and guidance to Government,” he said.

“They take into account nine different metrics and the most important one for them is the current hospital system’s capacity to manage any surges.

“They have no knowledge or say when it comes to the economy or the financial sector so I think it is the first time we have actually seen the Government govern.”

File photo of Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail, 09-06-2018. Image: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews

He said there has been a “lot of anger directed toward NPHET” today but noted that the group’s, “sole objective is healthcare.”

“What they do is provide the Government with advice and it is the Government’s role to then take that advice and balance it up with things like the economy,” he said.

“I think it is just the first time we have actually seen Government do that and it will be interesting to see the way it goes moving forward.”

Dr Ó Tuathail said it currently looks as if the Level Three restrictions that have been in place in Dublin for two weeks, ‘just aren’t working.’

“We are two weeks into Level 3 restrictions and we are really not seeing a significant decrease. I am Ranelagh-based and the number of cases in Ranelagh is stabilising somewhat but certainly not reducing,” he said.

He said his “gut feeling” is that Government will be looking to bring in increased restrictions two weeks from now.