Stepping into the endgame... Key dates for lifting of last restrictions
After agreement by the Cabinet yesterday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin addressed the nation and said Ireland is now entering a new phase of the pandemic.
He said the time is “now right to begin to move from regulation and widespread restrictions on people’s personal freedom to an approach primarily defined by public health advice, personal judgement and responsibility”.
With most of the remaining restrictions to be loosened in September, the majority of them will be lifted completely in late October.
From 1st September:
All public transport will return to 100% capacity.
From 6th September:
Organised indoor events and mass gatherings will return. Where everyone is vaccinated or 'immune' - or if under-18, accompanied by an adult - the capacity of a venue can reach 60%.
Where there are unvaccinated people attending an event, or the immunity status is mixed, the rules for these types of events will remain as they currently are for September.
For indoor live music, drama, live entertainment or sporting events, the audience should be fully seated, according to the guidelines.
The easing of the capacity limit does not apply to large, privately organised social events, however.
Similarly, cinemas and theatres will also have a 60% capacity limit when patrons are immune (either fully vaccinated or recovered within the previous six months), or if they are minors.
If immunity status is mixed, there will be no change to the current limits (of 50 people) in September.
The numbers allowed at weddings will remain at 100. But live music will be permitted and the legal restrictions on dancing will be removed.
Organised outdoor events and mass gatherings will go up to 75% of venue capacity, where all attendees are immune or accompanied minors.
Where patrons have mixed immunity status, the capacity will be 50% and subject to measures such as social distancing between groups and face masks.
All religious ceremonies can go ahead with 50% of venue capacity, regardless of the immunity status of attendees.
The Government has also included a rule on coach tours, saying they can go ahead at 50% capacity.
From 20th September:
This date will see the return of workers to their workplaces, on a phased, staggered basis, the Government said.
It will also signal the return of organised indoor group activities, like sport, arts, culture and dance classes, with capacity limits of 100 people where all of them are immune or under-18.
Where groups are unvaccinated or mixed, pods of up to six participants will be permitted (not including the teacher or instructor). Multiple pods will be allowed, depending on the size of the venue and the social distancing space between individual pods.
Restrictions on outdoor group activities will be removed completely. But where applicable, spectator attendance will remain in line with regulations for 'events’.
From 22nd October:
There will be no more requirement to wear a mask outdoors, or in indoor private settings.
There will be no more limits on the numbers at indoor and outdoor events and activities, and no more restrictions on religious or civil ceremonies.
The limit on numbers that can meet in private homes and gardens will be lifted on this day.
A certificate of vaccination, immunity or testing will no longer be required to get into restaurants or any other activities or events, with the exception of international travel.
And so-called 'high-risk' activities will return, such as the reopening of nightclubs.
The only measures that will remain in place relate to face coverings and self-isolation.
Mask-wearing in shops, on public transport and in healthcare settings will still be required.
And people will still have to self-isolate when they have symptoms of Covid-19.
Regarding access to maternity wards, the Taoiseach said that new guidelines have been developed by the HSE. This advice in relation to access for partners of pregnant women will be issued in the coming days, he said.