Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he will make a further announcement on the final lifting of all Covid-19 restrictions and hinted there may be some rules for nightclubs.
Mr Martin said “we are on track” to lift all restrictions on October 22 but the requirement to wear face masks will remain in three settings.
However, he said that a “further announcement” will be made when asked by reporters in Slovenia if the Government planned to add any additional restrictions for nightclubs.
He said: “We’ll look at the issue of vaccination on that but we’ll make a further announcement closer to the 20th.”
Minister for Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Catherine Martin said last week that the clubbing industry had expressed they’d like the use of rapid tests to be examined for entrance to nightclubs.
The Taoiseach also said “older age cohorts” will know before Christmas if they will receive a booster jab.
He said “it’s all on track right now” to lift restrictions on October 22 but admitted he’d like to see the numbers in ICU and hospitals decrease.
He said: “The hospital numbers haven’t come down, they’ve been fairly hovering around that 300 plus and the same in ICU.
“I’d like them to come down a bit more if I’m honest but at the same time we’re now close to 93% of over 18s [vaccinated], high 80% in the over 12s.
“I think in the first instance and I’ve been talking to the Chief Medical Officer, the situation in schools has come back to summer levels.
“The CMO is happy with that, that’s stabilised.
“We still will have to wear masks where they are statutory in terms of retail, public transport, retail settings.”
The Taoiseach also indicated that the booster jab campaign will be expanded to those under the age of 80 soon, as we move closer to winter.
He said: “At the moment the booster vaccine is being administered in terms of certain categories.
“The medical authorities will look at expanding that over the coming weeks as well in terms of the other age cohorts.
“That is a matter that will be given consideration as we move closer to the winter period.
“It is all on track right now.
“We will keep a continuing eye on this.”
