Road to a brighter summer as Cabinet meets to sign off on reopening plan

Intercounty travel from 10th May / Hairdressers. salons and click and collect from 10th May / Shops, non essential retail to open on 17th May / Hotels to reopen 2nd June / Outdoor pubs & restauarants 7th June.

The cabinet will meet today to consider a plan to reopen society and the economy across May and into June.

A meeting of the cabinet sub-committee on the Covid-19 last night, discussed the advice received by Government, from the National Public Health Emergency team.

It's understood the phased reopening will allow for intercounty travel, and the reopening of non-essential retail and hairdressers next month.

Under this plan, people will be able to travel across the country from the 10th of May, on the same days hairdressers would reopen for appointments, along with click and collect.

Retail and team sports training will resume while up to 50 people will be allowed attend religious services including weddings, funerals and masses, however, indoor wedding parties will remain capped at six guests and 15 for outdoor celebrations.

On 10th May, too, three households can meet outdoors, including in a private garden and a vaccinated household can meet an unvaccinated one indoors. This is to allow grandparents in particular, meet their extended families.

Three vaccinated households can also meet indoors, outdoor events with up to 15 people will be allowed from this stage, and all construction workers will return to sites, either on or before the 10th of May.

On 17th May, all shops will be able to reopen while on 2nd June hotels and guest houses will be open once again. Outdoor hospitality, including restaurants and pubs will open on 7th June. On that day to sports matches will resume, but no crowds will be allowed to attend.

More to follow later...