Haircuts and pints are firmly “off the table until mid-summer” in yet another hammer blow to the hospitality industry.
This means that the whole country will not be able to have a pint at a bar, or get their hair cut or styled by a professional for at least nine more weeks.
It’s believed that May 24 may be the next date that could see the return for hairdressers, but sources stress that even this far-off date is completely dependent on Covid case and vaccination numbers between now and then.
Bars and restaurants are expected to remain closed until at least the middle of June - or possibly longer.
The Government is set to decide on what - if any - restrictions could be relaxed from April 5 at a crunch Cabinet meeting next Tuesday.
In advance of this, the medical experts of NPHET will give a high-stakes presentation to the Government’s leaders on Monday night.
But already it is accepted that the return of personal services, which encompasses hair salons, and indoor hospitality are not going to be recommended by NPHET, and so will not be considered by Cabinet.
A senior Government source told Dublin Live when asked about haircuts and pints: “I’m afraid they’re off the table for now, until mid-summer really.”
He added: “They are not in the running at all for next Tuesday’s announcement.”
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach has said no decisions have been made in relation to what restrictions will be eased from April 5.
Micheal Martin warned that the situation in relation to the virus was "very fragile".
Mr Martin told the Dail: "The situation in relation to the virus is very fragile.
"We have, in the last seven days, 3,800 cases.
"The sacrifices that people have made has had an impact on getting case numbers dramatically down from January figures.
"The Level 5 restrictions have worked effectively to bring numbers down very, very significantly from where they were.
"But the numbers are still high in one way too, and the fundamental reason for that is we're dealing with a variant that is highly transmissible and more dangerous.
"No decision has been made in relation to the post-April 5 situation.
"We've been engaging with public health advice and research in relation to this."
