It’s the move that might save Christmas.

The Cabinet is due to meet today to discuss a six-week ‘Level 5 lockdown’ recommended by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).

With Covid-19 cases soaring to more than 1,000 daily across the country, health experts believe that employing the “circuit breaker” measure now may the only hope of allowing people to safely spend Christmas with friends and family.

Today’s crunch meeting comes after household visits were restricted nationwide on Thursday, as border counties Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal entered ‘Level Four’ of the Government’s ‘Living With Covid-19’ framework.

Speaking from Brussels yesterday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin promised the Government would provide “a comprehensive response”.

“We’re giving this very active consideration, the advice is the situation is very serious and we will need further action in relation to this,” he said.

Level 5 restrictions would see all non-essential services and retail outlets closed, restaurants, cafes and pubs offer takeaway only and members of the public advised to stay indoors, travelling no more than 5k from home for exercise.

Picture: Clare Keogh