The National Public Health Emergency Team has given the green light to ending most Covid-19 public health restrictions. Basically mask wearing and Covid passes for international travel and isolation when you have symptoms are to stay in place.
A letter from the Chief Medical Officer regarding NPHET’s recommendations was sent to Government. It does not contain any timeline for the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. This leaves it to the government to decide the speed at which this will happen.
Speaking on RTÉ, the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe would consider NPHET’s recommendations. He said that it was “reasonable to assume” we would be able to exit current regulations “at a quicker pace”. Minister Donohoe said that Government had always been guided by public health advice. And looked to “get the balance right” between the needs of society,economy and public health, and that was what it would continue to do.
What restrictions are going to be lifted?
Almost all public health restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Ireland have been lifted. The removal of restrictions comes as the Department of Health reports 6,689 new cases of Covid-19, while 3,911 people registered a positive antigen test.
There are 836 people with Covid-19 in hospitals around this country as of 8am this morning. This is down 56 from the same time yesterday. A total of 78 of these patients are being treated in intensive care units. It is the lowest number of Covid-19 patients in ICU since the 8th of November 2021.
Social distancing measures have been scrapped, but masks are still required in certain settings.
Limits on household gatherings, crowds at indoor and outdoor events have come to an end. While restrictions on the hospitality industry have also been lifted. This means bars, restaurants and other venues can stay open after 8pm and nightclubs can also reopen.
The digital Covid pass is no longer needed for entry into hospitality settings. But the wearing of face masks is still required in certain place. These places are public transport, in retail services, and cinemas and theatres. People will continue to be required to isolate if they are symptomatic for Covid-19.
In a social media post, HSE chief Paul Reid said it had been a tough two years, adding “especially having lost so many loved ones.””But for now, it’s time to let optimism, hope and positive plans become dominant once again in society and in all of our lives,” he said.
What does Micheal Martin have to say about this?
While announcing the lifting of measures yesterday evening, Taoiseach Micheál Martin warned that the pandemic is not over, and that vaccination programmes must be embedded into the public health system, to be switched on when needed.”I have stood here on many dark days but today is a good day,” he said in a televised address.Mr Martin described trust as a fragile thing for the public. “People know that Government will not impose restrictions on personal freedoms for any longer than is necessary,” he said.Ireland has weathered the Omicron storm, he added.
My opinion on this.
In my opinion I don’t think we should re-open at the moment but I do see why the government may want to. They’re plan might be that as we all are are sick of the masks,lock downs and social distancing. They may also think since there was so much people sick after Christmas that there will be less and less sick people an that the virus is only going to get less dangerous. I think we should still have our masks at school and work but that is just my opinion.
Info from: https://www.rte.ie/
