Hope starting to break through, says Minister Coveney Published: Thursday, 29 April 2021 12:46
The Cabinet is meeting today to sign off on plans for a significant easing of Covid-19 restrictions from May the 10th.
Intercounty travel, click and collect, religious services and hairdressers will be the first to resume from next Monday week 10th May.
This will be followed by the reopening of non-essential retail on the 17th of May while hospitality will return outdoors in June.
Hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs will return on June 2nd, and restaurants and pubs can reopen for outdoor services five days later.
The Taoiseach will make an announcement about the easing of restrictions this evening.
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Addressing the nation, Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed the news after days of discussions between the Cabinet, committee members and health officials.
Also reopening on June 7 will be gyms and swimming pools. The reopening of indoor hospitality services will depend on the vaccine rollout, but will likely commence in July.
The government also confirmed today that hairdressers, salons, and barbers will be permitted to reopen on May 10, with non-essential retail reopening one week later on May 17.
Hotels, B&Bs, and guesthouses will be permitted to welcome guests from June 2, while outdoor sports and training can also commence from May 10.
Ahead of the address Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney told Newstalk that NPHET said the new measures carried a low to moderate risk but that plans will be changed if there is a spike in cases.