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Chief Medical Officer tells ministers he does not intend to recommend the reduction of the 2m rule

There have been calls to halve the guideline from 2m to 1m.

LAST UPDATE | 27 May 2020

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER Tony Holohan has told Cabinet ministers he does not intend to advise that the 2 metre social distancing rule should be reduced. 

Ministers met with Holohan today to ask questions and to discuss the government’s public health advice related to Covid-19.

It is believed that Minister of State for Disabilities Finian McGrath pushed for the two metre rule to be reduced to one metre. The matter was also raised by ministers last week.

Speaking at this evening’s Department of Health briefing, Dr Holohan said he believes the current advice “represents a reasonable interpretation of the evidence and a precautionary approach to its application”. 

“We think it’s the right measure for now,” he said, adding that if ongoing research points in a different direction, it can be reviewed. 

Holohan said the meeting with ministers was “very straightforward”. 

“We were asked a series of what I would describe as intelligent, straightforward, obvious questions and we did our best to answer them.”

‘Common sense’

Concerns have been raised about the impact that the 2m distance will have on businesses as the country re-opens, as well as people’s ability to use public transport and the capacity of the health service.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said last week that there would be no change to the advice following reports that a reduction to the 1m rule was raised by ministers.

Today, Labour’s Alan Kelly said the two metre social distancing rule lacks common sense, and that it will have to be reduced to one metre as the country reopen for social, economic and healthcare reasons.

Speaking in the Dáil today, Health Minister Simon Harris said there are some sectors where the 2m rule will not work, such as hairdressing, and protective provisions will have to be put in place.

It is understood that increasing the 5km distance that people are allowed to travel within was also discussed by Cabinet ministers today.

In Phase Two, the 20km is set to kick in. Today in the Dáil, Micheál Martin said he did not agree with the limits. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan also called for amendments.

Today ministers also discussed concerns about the stalling of cancer screening.

Last week, other issues raised by ministers included provisions for children with special needs and senior citizens, an allowance for golfers to travel 20km, and quicker responses on testing.

The main point of concern for ministers last week, which is expected to be a flashpoint at this week’s Cabinet meeting on Friday, is the mandatory isolation of people arriving in Ireland.

From tomorrow, those entering the country will be required to fill out a form and asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary is among those unhappy with the measure, telling Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio that the measure has no basis in science.

In previous advice to the government, Holohan has said that the isolation of those coming into the country could happen in “isolated centres”.

However, a number of ministers believe this matter would be a step too far, with one stating that it would make Ireland appear like a police state.

With reporting from Christina Finn.

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrea Rock Massey
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    Aug 17th 2015, 7:35 AM

    Is anybody else having trouble opening the links provided?

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    Mute Robert Wriggit
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    Aug 17th 2015, 7:42 AM

    yep!

    111
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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Aug 17th 2015, 8:08 AM

    Hi Andrea – are you trying them on desktop, iOS or Android?

    11
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    Mute Mairead Hynes
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    Aug 17th 2015, 8:10 AM

    I’m on Android (lollipop), no links for me #sadface

    38
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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Aug 17th 2015, 8:11 AM

    Thanks Mairead – we’re looking into this right way, as it works on iOS and desktop.

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    Mute Jamie O'Connell
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    Aug 17th 2015, 8:12 AM

    For me, it’s the Android Journal app.

    60
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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Aug 17th 2015, 8:15 AM

    Hi Jamie – thanks for the info, our tech team are looking into it. In the meantime, I know it’ s not ideal but if you do have access to the desktop site, (should work on your phone’s internet browser too outside of the app I think) then you can try there?

    22
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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Aug 17th 2015, 9:00 AM

    Hi Andrea, it should be working now if you want to give it a try?

    18
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    Mute Jennifer Reynolds
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    Aug 17th 2015, 8:03 AM

    Nope, links won’t work. But I don’t actually care all that much because I got my first choice!! Helloooo primary school teaching in St Pats

    246
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    Mute Margaret Daly
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    Aug 17th 2015, 8:05 AM

    well done!

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    Mute Jennifer Reynolds
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    Aug 17th 2015, 8:10 AM

    Thank you!

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    Mute E F Fanning
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    Aug 17th 2015, 7:43 AM

    No links will open for me.

    85
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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Aug 17th 2015, 9:00 AM

    Hi there – it should be working on Android now, let me know if you have any more problems.

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    Mute E F Fanning
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    Aug 17th 2015, 10:03 AM

    Working now, thanks.

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    Mute Sinéad Cronin
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    Aug 17th 2015, 7:58 AM

    I went to another site to check points. Links not working all morning, not a morning anyone needs to be waiting for a never loading link!

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    Mute Eoin Hurley
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    Aug 17th 2015, 9:38 AM

    Just accepted my place at UCC in Pharmacy absolutely delighted!

    66
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    Mute Rob Morgan
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    Aug 17th 2015, 9:51 AM

    Absolutely gutted , missed law and german by twenty points . Got 525 and the course moved up to 545 from 515. I got offered biopharmaceutical chemistry in galway which I’d strongly dislike to do as I know it’s not for me. Go to college to do a course I don’t want and move across the country or take a year out? Tough decision.

    47
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    Mute JoJo
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    Aug 17th 2015, 10:09 AM

    Year out and work and save some money, life is too short to waste it studying something that doesn’t interest you.

    82
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    Mute AN other
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    Aug 17th 2015, 11:11 AM

    Did you not apply for a similar level 6/7 course? I’d take that if I were you and then see about a transfer to the lv8 course

    I know somebody who couldn’t do his engineering course in UCC because despite having 500+ points he failed French…

    Now he has a masters in engineering from UCC as well as a degree, a diploma and a certificate from CIT.

    Imagine graduating 4 times lol

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    Mute Dr.Dylan Tierney
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    Aug 17th 2015, 8:33 AM

    Course points have risen exponentially across the board. Let’s hope round 2 is more forgiving

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    Mute twit
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    Aug 17th 2015, 8:11 AM

    To confirm… Not opening on Android OS

    17
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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Aug 17th 2015, 9:01 AM

    Hi there, it should be working now.

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    Mute Fox Trot
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    Aug 17th 2015, 8:10 AM

    android

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    Mute Mark Miller
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    Aug 17th 2015, 8:10 AM

    Won’t open on android

    9
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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Aug 17th 2015, 9:00 AM

    Hi Mark, it should be working on Android now.

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    Mute Tammy Ní Laoire
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    Aug 17th 2015, 8:34 AM

    Still won’t open on Android!

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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Aug 17th 2015, 9:00 AM

    Hi Tammy, should be working now!

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    Mute Maura Tansey
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    Aug 17th 2015, 3:20 PM

    Taught a fetac level 5 would guarantee a place in nursing???? got 10 destinations. . trying to get through on phones”(

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    Mute Larry L'Oiseau
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    Aug 17th 2015, 7:33 PM

    Please tell me that was an autocorrect error Maura ?

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