DUBLIN, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Ireland's government has rejected
a surprise recommendation by its health chiefs to go into
lockdown and will instead tighten current COVID-19 restrictions,
local media reported on Monday.
The National Public Health Emergency Team called for a leap
to the highest level of COVID-19 restrictions, Level 5, late on
Sunday from Level 2 controls that are in place in 24 of
Ireland's 26 counties.
The government will instead propose moving the whole country
to Level 3, a number of local media including state broadcaster
RTE reported after a meeting between senior ministers and health
chiefs. Ireland's cabinet is due to meet later on Monday.
(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Andrew Heavens)