Irish pubs and restaurants could be able to open their doors this Summer if the COVID-19 spread is controlled over the next three months.
It could mean a Summer similar to that we saw in 2020 that included outdoor dining and social distancing indoors, a leading Professor has said.
Prof Sam McConkey has said that he is "cautiously optimistic" that if all goes well we could reduce the disease enough but also said that some restrictions, including testing before and after travel, are here to stay.
Prof McConkey said he believes that schools and construction will be able to open safely, the Irish Independent reports.
He added: "I’m also cautiously optimistic that if the virus is controlled well in the next three months, domestic tourism, and bars and restaurants could open, certainly for outdoor dining, and for socially spaced indoor dining and drinking, similar to summer of 2020."
Last night, a further 776 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Ireland as well as 29 additional deaths.
Of those cases, 278 were in Dublin.
Up to February 23, 373,280 vaccinations have been administered in Ireland - 238,841 first doses and 134,439 second doses.
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