Ireland’s next phase of reopening is just days away, but it seems likely that the updated information set to be handed to the government by NPHET may call for this date to be pushed back.
NPHET is meeting today to discuss the current threat to Ireland by the highly transmissible Delta variant.
Case numbers associated with the strain first detected in India have begun to increase across the country - and so it’s likely our next steps in reopening will be temporarily halted.
Among the measures that are due to be eased - but may be under threat - is the return of indoor dining, indoor and outdoor events, an increase in wedding guests, and a return of indoor exercise in pods of up to 6.
Here are the latest comments on each ahead of the government’s final decision later this week.
Bars/ Restaurants
Bars and restaurants are in full swing preparing for a reopening next week, and so should the outcome be different this will mark yet another major blow to the industry.
Speaking on Sunday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said “I’m not going to speculate on what the decision will be. I don’t think that’s fair.
He said he understood the difficulties faced by bar and restaurant owners who have been led to believe they would reopen next week.
He said: “I understand how difficult and devastating the year has been to hospitality; we get that, we understand that. And we also understand the need to give notice.”
Meanwhile, Tanáiste Leo Varadkar said it is “not inevitable” that the planned reopening of pubs and restaurants will be delayed beyond July 5.
However, speaking to RTÉ News, he said "it would be unlikely" that Cabinet will go against the advice issued to them by NPHET, as "it would be very difficult to do."
Wedding Guests
An increase in the number of people that are due to be allowed to attend weddings is also scheduled for July 5.
Many brides and grooms have therefore opted to plan their weddings for around this time so they could have up to 50 friends and family members in attendance.
Should the reopening of indoor dining be paused, it’s likely so too will the potential for more party-goers at the afters of weddings.
However, giving people some hope around this particular measure being eased, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said it is a possibility that they could go ahead as planned but he can’t say for definite because he has yet to see the latest advice from NPHET.
Outdoor/ Indoor Events
July 5 is also due to see a return of some indoor and outdoor events across the country.
A maximum of 50 people are to be allowed to attend the majority of indoor venues, with up to 100 can attend events in larger venues with strict public health measures in place.
Meanwhile, a max of 200 attendees would be allowed in most outdoor venues, and up to 500 for outdoor venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000.
It’s likely that this area of the easing will experience the same fate as that of Weddings and indoor dining.
NPHET are meeting today and are expected to give their recommendation to the government later this evening ahead of a decision tomorrow afternoon.
Until then, here are the other restrictions that are due to lift next Monday:
- Up to three other households allowed visit your home - vaccinated or unvaccinated
- First communions, confirmations and baptisms can take place again
- Indoor training, exercise and dance activities can recommence in pods of up to 6
