Ireland is set to see a major reopening of the country in the coming weeks after months of harsh lockdown restrictions.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin addressed the nation last week where he outlined plans for Ireland exit from lockdown with a summer Covid-19 plans.
Next week will mark a significant change in the country with pubs and restaurants finally set to reopen for outdoor dining while gyms and cinemas will also welcome customers again.
However there was doubt cast on Ireland's reopening over the weekend both from public health officials and government leaders following a number of mass gatherings across the country.
Here's what the Covid-19 situation looks like this week.
Calls to slow reopening
Despite a majorly positive announcement from the Taoiseach last week there was a dark cloud over the pace of Ireland's reopening over the weekends.
Large crowds of people gathered in cities across the country particularly in Dublin to socialise prompting worrying warnings from health experts and government officials.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan slammed scenes of drinking and partying in Dublin on Saturday night, saying he was "shocked" by what he saw on a trip to the city centre.
Taking to Twitter he said: "Drove into Dublin City Centre to collect someone from work at 815 PM. Absolutely shocked at scenes in South Great George’s St, Exchequer St, South William St area.
"Enormous crowds- like a major open air party. This is what we do not need when we have made so much progress."
Speaking on Sunday, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said that he "shares" the CMO's concerns about public mixing, suggesting local lockdowns could be an option.
He said: "We've had mixed results with them in the past unfortunately, the one in Kildare and the midlands worked, others didn't really.
Meanwhile immunologist Professor Luke O'Neill has said that the next three or four weeks are critical in terms of Ireland's immediate future.
With lockdown measures beginning to ease, Dr O'Neill said the following to RTE: "We don't know what is going to happen with the variant that originated in India. If we see an increase in severe disease from the Indian variant in the UK, it might be time to slow down the reopening slightly here."
During the interview with Brendan O'Connor, he added: "We have a race now to get the vaccine out. Once Israel had reached 70% of people having the double shots, then they opened up more. We should be getting the double shots out as quickly as possible."
"That variant - the B-1617 it's called - is more transmissible. Again, in a crowd, it might transmit more. The question is was that variant there last night (during the scenes of crowds in Dublin? Let's hope it wasn't because that increases the risk even more. The good news is vaccines should protect against severe disease with that variant but still, it's more evidence that we've got to keep our guard up," said O'Neill.
"That variant - the B-1617 it's called - is more transmissible. Again, in a crowd, it might transmit more. The question is was that variant there last night (during the scenes of crowds in Dublin? Let's hope it wasn't because that increases the risk even more. The good news is vaccines should protect against severe disease with that variant but still, it's more evidence that we've got to keep our guard up," said O'Neill.
Update on Pandemic Unemployment Payment
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has said that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will likely be phased out in September or October.
The Fine Gael leader said a decision will be made on Tuesday and that the government aims to end the support "cautiously".
Speaking in the Dublin Bay South constituency today, Mr Varadkar said: “We are making a decision on Tuesday in relation to the future of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
"It was always introduced as a temporary measure for the pandemic. So it will have to end at some point, but we’re not going to phase it out too quickly.
"A lot of businesses really aren’t going to reopen until later on in July, hospitality, tourism and aviation, for example, and some don’t even have a date yet for reopening.
“The phase out is going to be done cautiously, it’s not going to start immediately, it’ll start probably in September or October.”
Lockdown change this week
The country is set to see a big lockdown change this week with the hospitality sector seeing its first bit of reopening after months of being shut,
From Wednesday June 2 hotels, guest houses and B&Bs can once again welcome guests once again.
They will once again be permitted to open bars and restaurants however services will be restricted to guests only.
However pubs and restaurants will have to wait another week to open for outdoor services from Monday June 7.
