February could see a further easing to Covid-19 restrictions as a number of changes come into play this month.
It’s been almost two weeks since the Government announced that most Covid-19 restrictions could be lifted.
Since then, pubs and nightclubs have re-opened with no rules, capacity restrictions for indoor and outdoor events have been lifted and Digital Covid Certificates are not required in many settings.
However, a number of restrictions were kept in place, including the use of Covid certs for overseas travel and wearing face masks in shops, public transport and other environments.
Over the next month, there will be a number of changes to these lasting restrictions.
From today, February 1, Covid certs will have a nine- month or 270 day expiry, based on the final dose of a person's primary course of vaccination.
This means that anyone who received their first course of a Covid-19 vaccine before May of last year and wants to travel abroad will need to get a booster jab to receive an updated certificate.
Alternatively, if you do not have a booster shot and want to travel, you will need a proof of recovery certificate or take a PCR test prior to flying.
This has been accepted across the European Union which means the rules apply to most European countries.
Updated Covid vaccine certs following the administration of the booster jab and additional doses are not time limited.
At the end of this month, the requirement to wear masks will be lifted, if the Government finds that it is no longer necessary to have them.
On January 21, when it was announced that most restrictions would be lifted the following day, it was also outlined that the requirement to wear masks, along with protective measures in schools and early learning and care facilities, would remain in place until February 28.
This being said, the Government “reiterated the need for ongoing close monitoring of the virus”.
“The pandemic is not over and the emergence of new variants with increased levels of transmissibility, immune escape and/or virulence remains a risk both nationally and globally, particularly in the context of continued high levels of infection and variance in vaccine supply and uptake globally,” a statement on the official Government website said.
So while February 28 could see the end to mask wearing, it will depend on how the virus is faring in the community.
