*Full crowds will now be allowed in the one setting with no social distancing. Photograph: True Media
ALMOST all COVID-19 restrictions are to be ended from tomorrow morning (Saturday) at 6am.
Members of Cabinet on Friday agreed to lift almost all recommendations, following the latest recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
Several proposals have been approved allowing Irish society to return to some semblance of normality 680 days on from the first set of restrictions implemented across the country. The government shut schools, childcare facilities and cultural institutions on 12 March 2020.
Operating hours for pubs and restaurants will return to normal, nightclubs will be allowed to reopen while requirements for COVID certificates and face masks in these settings will also be scrapped. At pubs, the rules of six per table and contact tracing will be removed.
Household visits can occur with no restrictions.
Full attendance will now be allowed at indoor and outdoor events. A full crowd will be permitted in Cusack Park for the Munster Hurling Cup final between Clare and Limerick on Sunday afternoon, Munster GAA chiefs are awaiting the outcome of the Cabinet meeting before approving this. It will also for no capacity on attendance for funerals, weddings, other religious ceremonies and all events taking place in the music and entertainment industry.
Social distancing will also be removed under the proposals. Workers can return to the office on a phased basis from Monday.
On Thursday evening, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) gave the green light to the lifting of almost all COVID-19 restrictions. Mask wearing, Covid passes for international travel and isolation when symptomatic are to remain in place. The wearing of masks is expected to continue until February.
“It’s time to be ourselves again,” Taoiseach Micheál Martin (FF) stated when addressing the nation.
