Updated: 18:50
‘It is a good day’ – An Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the nation tonight as he announced a major lifting of almost all Covid-19 restictions.
Ireland’s hospitality sector will return to pre-pandemic norms from 6am tomorrow. So too will indoor and outdoor events, sports events and weddings.
Masks will continue to be required in the same settings as before. The Department of Health will continue with their advice on close contacts, symptoms and positive cases for now, with measures to be reviewed at the end of February.
The lifting of measures also include no limits on household gatherings, no domestic use of Covid Pass and nightclubs can reopen.
“Spring is coming and I don’t know if I’ve ever looked forward to one as much as this,” Mr Martin said as he looked forward to social events once more.
Spring is coming.
We need to see each other again,
we need to see each other smile,
we need to sing again. pic.twitter.com/149ZHQLfJx
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) January 21, 2022
He said that Ireland has weathered the Omicron storm due to the massive vaccination update, the effort of frontline workers and the sacrifices of the public.
The pandemic is not over, he warned, and the changes being made today will probably lead to a short term, but limited, rise in cases.
“It is time to be ourselves again,” Mr Martin said in his concluding remarks.
OFFICIAL: Regulations Signed to lift the restrictions tomorrow.
Throughout this pandemic I’ve had to sign dozens of regulations imposing restrictions on people. It was necessary, but never easy.
This evening, signing a regulation that removes those restrictions is a privilege pic.twitter.com/pyGBnKJzfL
— Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) January 21, 2022
The Reopening Plans in Full:
From 6am Saturday 22 January, the following restrictions will be removed:
- guidance in relation to household visiting
- early closing time for hospitality and events
- capacity restrictions for outdoor events, including sporting fixtures
- capacity restrictions for indoor events, including weddings.
- sectoral protective measures (see notes)
- restrictions on nightclubs
- requirements to have a valid Digital COVID Certificate to enter various premises will be removed
From Monday, 24 January, a return to physical attendance in workplaces can commence on a phased basis appropriate to each sector.
A number of public health measures will remain in place until 28 February 2022:
- requirements for mask wearing in all settings where currently regulated for
- protective measures in schools and early learning and care facilities
In addition, government reiterated the need for ongoing close monitoring of the virus.
The pandemic is not over and the emergence of new variants with increased levels of transmissibility, immune escape and/or virulence remains a risk both nationally and globally, particularly in the context of continued high levels of infection and variance in vaccine supply and uptake globally.
The ongoing strategy must include:
- continuing to follow the current advice for those with symptoms, cases and close contacts as announced by Government on 12th January 2022
- continued focus on maximising the uptake of the primary and booster vaccination.
Sectoral protective measures being removed include:
- formal requirements for physical distancing in general (2m)
- physical distancing requirements in hospitality (table service, 1 metre between tables, 6 per table)
- seated only at indoor events
- pods of 6 for indoor activities
- COVID pass requirement across all domestic venues/activities
- requirement to maintain contact details
Mask wearing will still be required in the following settings:
- public transport, taxis and at stations/airports/ports
- retail premises (including shopping centres, libraries, cinemas, theatres, museums, post offices, banks), public offices and at premises providing specified services and businesses (incl. salons, hairdressers, travel agents, laundries, dry cleaners, bookmakers)
- customer facing roles in premises where food and beverages are sold for consumption on the premises
There is no change to the current measures in place regarding international travel including the requirement for Digital COVID Certificate travel. see gov.ie/travel for more details
