COVID-19: Ireland announces dates for when some lockdown restrictions will be lifted - Sky News

Some lockdown restrictions in Ireland are to be lifted in the coming weeks, the country's prime minister has said.

Micheál Martin declared "hope is returning" as he made the announcement in a TV address to the nation, saying the government's strategy "is working" and "because of your hard work and sacrifices, we are in a better place".

"Clearly the overriding priority is the continued successful rollout of the vaccine," he said, adding: "The list of options available to us continues to grow".

Mr Martin said more than one and half million doses of a coronavirus vaccine have been administered.

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Image: All retail in Ireland will be allowed to reopen from 17 May

From 10 May:

• Hairdressers, barbers, beauticians will be able to reopen for customers with appointments only, and people will be able to travel between counties.

• An increase in the number of people that can meet outdoors for social/recreational purposes, including in private gardens - maximum of three households or six people from any number of households. This limit of six does not include their children aged 12 or younger

• Click and collect for non-essential retail can resume.

• Museums, libraries and galleries can reopen.

• And a maximum of 50 people will be allowed at wedding and funeral services.

• For wedding celebrations/receptions, a maximum of six people will be allowed for indoor gatherings and 15 people for outdoor gatherings.

• For funerals, related events - either before or after - should not take place.

• Indoor private home visiting is permitted (without masks or social distancing) in the following cases, under what is being called a "vaccine bonus":

• Fully vaccinated people can meet indoors with other fully vaccinated people as long as there are no more than three households present.

• Fully vaccinated people can meet indoors with unvaccinated people from a single household, provided that they are not at risk of severe illness and no more than three households are present.

Image: Micheál Martin at a COVID vaccination centre in Dublin

From 17 May:

• All retail will be allowed to reopen.

From 2 June - subject to the public health situation at the time:

• Hotels, B&Bs, self-catering and hostels can be open again.

From 7 June - also subject to conditions:

• Restaurants and bars can open outside in groups of up to six customers.

• Outdoor sports matches can be played again but with no spectators.

• Gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres can reopen for individual training only.

• The numbers of guests attending wedding celebrations/receptions can increase to 25.

• Visiting indoors in private homes - visitors from one other household are permitted.

Image: The Irish PM has praised the vaccine rollout

Looking ahead to July and beyond, Mr Martin said he hoped to see aviation and tourism get back to business, and students back on campus.

"We can do all of these things and more," he said, so long as the country remains "careful" as it eases restrictions.

No dates were given for indoor hospitality, indoor sports matches, mass gatherings and international travel.

But a statement from the PM's office did say "higher-risk activities" such as those will be considered at the end of June for later in the year.

And it also said it is working on preparation for the safe reopening of cinemas and theatres in June, subject to public health advice.

Workers are unlikely to return to offices before September, according to deputy PM Leo Varadkar.

He also said: "We may need to consider free travel between the UK and Ireland before we open up to wider international travel."

Ireland has one of the lowest COVID-19 infection rates in Europe but is choosing a slower reopening of its economy than most of its EU peers after a relaxation of measures in December triggered a huge spike in cases.

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2021-04-29 21:00:00Z
CBMid2h0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2NvdmlkLTE5LWlyZWxhbmQtYW5ub3VuY2VzLWRhdGVzLWZvci13aGVuLXNvbWUtbG9ja2Rvd24tcmVzdHJpY3Rpb25zLXdpbGwtYmUtbGlmdGVkLTEyMjkwNjMz0gF7aHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL2NvdmlkLTE5LWlyZWxhbmQtYW5ub3VuY2VzLWRhdGVzLWZvci13aGVuLXNvbWUtbG9ja2Rvd24tcmVzdHJpY3Rpb25zLXdpbGwtYmUtbGlmdGVkLTEyMjkwNjMz