Residents in Irish nursing homes can have one visitor per week from today as new Covid-19 rules come into effect.
The latest guidelines from Ireland's Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) allow one visit by one person every week in "critical and compassionate" circumstances, though it is strongly recommended that visits are limited to an hour.
Those living in nursing homes are also being granted an extra visit during the Christmas period.
The news will come as a welcome update to many nursing home residents who were only allowed window visits from family members and loved ones under Level Five restrictions.
Different people can visit each week, but the HPSC warns that visits should be preplanned in advance and visitors should follow all public health advice while they're at nursing homes.
Nursing homes have been a key battleground in the country's fight against Covid-19, with outbreaks in both of Ireland's 'waves' prompting widespread concern.
For residents and family members, it's been a often fraught period, characterised by mixed feelings as people weigh up the dangers of visiting with the risks of extended isolation for those living in homes.
Ahead of December, the Government last week announced a flurry of changes when it comes to nationwide restrictions imposed on the country.
As of last Friday, thousands of restaurants and gastropubs were permitted to open their doors once again, with many across the country hitting the town for a meal and a few drinks.
For 'wet' pubs, however, there was no change to the current restrictions, after the Government refused to allow them open up for December.
The move prompted a furious backlash from vintners, with a band of wet pub owners marching on Leinster House where they accused the Government of an "assault on rural Ireland."
In response, Micheal Martin said there was "nothing" he would like more than a "pint in some rural pub in an idyllic village in the west of Ireland.
But he warned it might be "quite some time" before that can happen.
