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MOST COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, including curbs on hospitality and events, will be lifted from tomorrow morning, the Taoiseach has announced.
In an address to the nation, Micheál Martin said the 8pm closure of hospitality and capacity limits at indoor and outdoor events will be lifted from 6am tomorrow.
Nightclubs have been given the green light to reopen, rules around social distancing will come to an end and guidance on restricting household visits will also conclude.
Covid-19 vaccination or recovery certs will no longer be required for indoor hospitality or events. A phased return to offices can also begin.
But mask-wearing, the use of the Digital Covid Cert for international travel and isolation rules for those who have Covid symptoms will remain in place.
Martin said that NPHET confirmed Ireland has “weathered the Omicron storm” and that “today is a good day”.
NPHET told government that the rate of infection is reducing and that key indicators on which the government bases its decision are going “in the right direction”.
“It was our vaccinations and boosters that prevented the recent wave of infection translating into much more serious levels of illness and death,” Martin said.
As a result, Cabinet decided there is no longer a “rationale and justification” for continuing most Covid restrictions.
The Taoiseach reiterated that “vaccination is key” and said: “I want to be clear also that the pandemic isn’t over. It will still require all of us to be vigilant.”
Protective measures in place in primary and secondary schools will also remain in place.
People will still be required to wear face masks in settings such as shops, hairdressers and on public transport.
Staff in hospitality will still be required to wear masks, but the new rules do not stipulate that people going in bars and restaurants must wear masks when not at their table. This had been the case under current rules.
The lifted measures mean there will be no more six-person limit to a table in bars and restaurants. Bar service will also resume.
Future restrictions
Martin said he can’t promise that there won’t be further “twists” in the pandemic requiring difficult decisions down the line. But, the Taoiseach said, “today is a good day”.
The Taoiseach acknowledged that some people will feel anxious about the reopening plans. He encouraged them to engage with other people on these feelings and to share their anxieties.
In his speech, Martin said that government has always been “guided by the science” and did not want to hinder peoples’ freedoms for longer than necessary.
The Taoiseach said: “I understand deeply the grief that is felt by so many who lost loved ones, but no one should be in any doubt that your collective efforts have saved many thousands of lives.”
Cabinet met this afternoon to discuss the recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team that almost all Covid-19 restrictions can be ended.
The recommendations were contained in a letter from Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan sent to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly last night.
The CMO said there’s no longer a public health rationale for the majority of measures that are currently in place.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said earlier today that once the public health rationale for restrictions are removed “there’s no political rationale either”.
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Helen mc enree & a very sensible positive idea in the same sentence? Is it April 1sr already?
@Mary Linton: You would think if a pilot kept on crashing planes, they’d be sacked, but the same ineptitude is fine in politics, apparently!
@Mary Linton: I know right? I thought DOGE were cutting all this.
@Louis Jacob: Apologies, lost me there….. isn’t DOGE an American financial accountability department?
@Mary Linton: you’re a bore
Seems reasonable.
@Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: you obviously don’t havw school going children . These children need massive supports some are non verbal some very verbal so putting in a student. Teacher is like letting a trainee electrician loose to rewire a hole house . No experience .
@Karen Marten: if alternative is no teacher, then put the kids first. Cop on.
@Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: you have no cop on how would you .
@Karen Marten: are u a parent. I doubt it you know nothing.
@Karen Marten: I don’t think theyre asking the trainee teachers to run the school either. The point is to train teachers withing the special school setting. Can’t see any issue with this.
@Mindful Muinteoir: When I taught deaf and special needs children trainee teachers would spend time in the classroom with us. This showed them how we sometimes have to adapt our teaching to include all children equally. It also gave them an insight into what being a SEN teacher requires should they wish to go down that path.
@Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: So you don’t believe that children with special needs deserve to have teachers who are specifically trained to teach these children and to meet their needs? Shameful!!
@Mindful Muinteoir: Wow, how about they get primary school teachers to start lecturing in third level institutions? And don’t tell me that’s not the same thing, it is.
@Ann Reddin: Steady up. It’s placement as part of their studies and they would be supervised by qualified teachers at all times. Experience is the best way to learn anything. This is a positive step
Anything Master minded by this silly woman, is bound to be a disaster!
@Brian Hunt: Play the ball Brian.
It’s a great idea.
They’re already doing it so makes sense.
Any measure that will address the early intervention for those with Special Needs in schools must be welcomed
Great idea, but unions won’t allow it as they’ll put teachers first as usual.
@Allo Allo: unfair.
@Allo Allo: you obviously did’nt bother to read the article. The INTO came up with this idea first, you gobdaw.
‘Something something… teachers bad’ and so on
@Allo Allo: how is it a great idea these trainee teachers can barely teach mainstream kids my child is in 6th class a crucial year a a newly grad teacher was put to them be more suited with junior or senior infants. So how is it a good idea to do the same with special need kids. No no plenty of years of experience is needed for that type of teaching
And where are these people being forced into these positions going to live?
Pay them properly so they decide to stay in Ireland and after turning the masters in education into a cash cow students spend €10000 to qualify
I agree with this. I only said something similar a few weeks ago. Main stream teachers just think 1 way and that’s all kids are the same when that’s not the case. I’ve seen it so many times and it’s annoying.
@darren guthrie: absolute nonsense statement
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