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HEALTH MINISTER SIMON Harris has tonight given a strong indication that Cabinet will sign off on Ireland moving to Phase 2 of the government’s easing of the lockdown restrictions.
Speaking after a Cabinet meeting held at Dublin Castle this evening – the first meeting in which all ministers and the Taoiseach have been in the same room together since March – Harris said all the indicators were looking good for the next phase of the plan.
As the plan moves from the 5km to 20km travel limit, the government’s slogan might change to “stay local” rather than “stay at home”, Harris told reporters.
The health minister said tonight that some of the measures being brought forward are specifically with children and older people in mind.
He said the pandemic has been “tougher” for some groups of people than others.
From Monday, many people will be allowed to visit their family. When asked if grandparents will be able to hug their grandchildren, Harris said:
“The reality is we will be recommending that social distancing is still followed. So if you are visiting granny or granddad or mum or dad or indeed anybody in an indoor setting we will be asking people to keep their social distance.”
When asked if hotels could potentially open sooner to make use of some of the holiday season before the schools reopen, Harris said “a body of work” would need to be done about any such acceleration.
Another Cabinet meeting – to sign off on the next phase of the easing of coronavirus restrictions (Phase Two) from Monday – will take place tomorrow morning.
Earlier today, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) met and made its recommendations to government on the matter.
At the start of May, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced a five-step plan – which can be read in full here – for lifting the measures put in place by the government to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Under the plan, each phase will last three weeks – something the Taoiseach said today will remain in place.
Here’s what’s planned between 8 June and 29 June, based on what we know from the original roadmap plan and developments in recent days.
20 kilometres
From Monday, the guidance states that members of the public will be able to travel 20km from their home, instead of the 5km as set down under Phase One.
Despite pressure from opposition to scrap the 20km rule entirely this week, the Taoiseach and Health Minister Simon Harris have both dampened expectations that the distance rule will be modified beyond 20km.
There have also been calls for the two metre social distancing guidance to be reduced to one metre in Phase Two – however, it doesn’t look likely that any changes will be made on the issue tomorrow.
Speaking in the Dáil, Leo Varadkar said: “If we go from 2 metres to 1 metre, it is a risk. We should not pretend that it is not a risk.”
He added: “We will not be recommending a change as part of Phase Two tomorrow. That is not to say that we might not do so in future.”
Some businesses had been lobbying for a change in the rule, insisting the 2 metre guidance could make running a business unworkable.
Harris confirmed this evening that there are no plans to change the guidance on the two metre distancing rule.
Retail
What will be welcome news to some is the reopening of major retail outlets.
In the original roadmap, it was envisaged that only small retail outlets would be able to reopen on Monday. However it was confirmed today that all high street stores that have an entrance at street-level will be permitted to open their doors again next week.
Stores must adhere to social distancing rules and limit the number of shoppers inside at any one time. Changing rooms will also be closed.
Shopping centres will remain closed during Phase 2, as will shops that have entrances within shopping centres only. Marts can reopen where social distancing can be maintained.
With the confirmation today that retailers will be allowed open their doors on Monday, Harris was asked this evening if the government was giving businesses enough time to get ready to reopen.
“I think we are. I think we’re giving people as much time as possible in a very dynamic situation,” he said.
His advice to businesses is: “don’t open until you’re happy it’s safe to do so.”
Shops should be satisfied they have all the measures in place to ensure staff and shoppers are safe, he added.
“It’s better if it takes you a couple more days to open and know that you can open in a way that you will be able comply with the workplace protocols,” said Harris.
When asked if he is concerned about a rush on the shops when they open next week, the health minister said his advice is the same that he gave in Phase 1 when hardware stores were allowed open.
“Just because something is open doesn’t mean we all have to go there at the same time,” he said.
“We want things to be open on Monday that can stay open on Tuesday and Wednesday and the following week and not have to close again. A lot of that is within our control, our individual control, in many ways, the more we step away from a full lockdown, the actual greater individual personal responsibility becomes,” said Harris.
Looking at other economic activity, workers who can keep working from home should continue to do so during Phase 2.
In terms of social visits, according to the original roadmap, up to four people may visit another household for a short period while maintaining strict social distancing during Phase Two.
For the first time since lockdown measures were introduced, people will be permitted to visit their family in their respective homes (but only if they live within 20km of them).
This advice is not solely for family members. The Phase 2 easing states: “Up to four people may visit another household for a short period of time but everyone must keep at least two metres apart from people they don’t live with.”
Visits to homes of over 70s and the medically vulnerable are allowed but by no more than a small number of people for a short period of time, according to the roadmap plan. People will have to wear gloves, face coverings and maintain social distancing.
As part of Phase Two, according to the roadmap, the number of people allowed to attend funerals will also increase.
Other potential measures earmarked for Monday include the reopening of playgrounds, as well as the lifting of some restrictions on nursing home visits, in some circumstances.
Further details are expected to be confirmed tomorrow.
People may also be allowed to visit hospitals, residential centres and prisons again.
It’s expected sports clubs will be able to hold training sessions, but will not be permitted to play matches.
In terms of cultural and social measures, public libraries can reopen but numbers allowed inside at any one time will be limited.
The Taoiseach stated earlier today that the government had made proposals to the Chief Medical Officer and NPHET about bringing things forward some measures from Phase Four to Phase Three.
But for any measures to be brought forward, Ireland must continue to report low levels of infection.
The Taoiseach is expected to announce that the country can proceed to Phase Two tomorrow afternoon.
While the health minister said that all indications are that the country will proceed to the next phase, he cautioned that moving from one phase to the next phase was “not inevitable and not guaranteed”.
Another important issue other which will be discussed by ministers tomorrow, with an announcement to follow, is the extension of the pandemic payment and wage subsidy scheme.
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Thank God.
@Dave Nomates: 20 km too short to see family or friends almost 3 months now
@Mary Oliver: Mary, nobody else is paying a blind bit of notice to the distance rule. My cousin drove from Dublin to Galway yesterday to see his mother.
Just wash your hands and wear a mask if you get close. But don’t sacrifice your relationships. The panic is over and it’s not worth it
@Dave Nomates: WAY to slow….absolutely shocking decisions been made that will make the pain even worse for us all, the virus will be around until there is a vaccine so trying to eradicate it is not possible, well if you lockdown the country until there is a vaccine you can but that is not going to happen. We need to accept its here and live with it……destroying the economy is utterly brain dead and will kill multiples of what this virus will in so many different ways….
@Mary Oliver: 1,664 families would gladly wait another three months if they were able to see their loved ones again. You can wait another while.
You can pick up the phone and call those who are near and dear to you. I’m sure they will appreciate the sentiment along with the fact that you and they are ensuring each other’s safety and the safety of the wider community.
@odette: I can travel in my car to see my grandchildren if they live within 20km but I can’t travel 100km to see my grandchildren and the Only difference is the amount of diesel I use.
It’s a ridiculous rule. Ridiculous rules don’t work, won’t be observed and make us look like we’re governed by fools.
@Gerry Ryan: I think you’re over simplifying the restrictions. If you were unlucky enough to contract the virus and you have stayed within your 20KM zone it will drastically reduce the speed at which the virus can travel and contact tracing will be more effective in combating the spread of the virus.
By all means if you think it’s a ridiculous rule don’t obey it. Open yourself and the wider community up to a higher chance of contracting the virus and the possibility of adding people you know the 1,664 unfortunate deaths.
@odette: you miss my point completely, if it’s ok to visit family within 20km by travelling there without stopping elsewhere and returning in the same manner then the Only difference is the time spent in the car. Permitting family visits with appropriate social distancing is the same at 20km as it is at 100km. The only difference might occur if a person on their journey to family made a stop or multiple stops and with that stipulation and with responsible people there should be no additional problems. We either trust people or we don’t but I would greatly resent not being trusted because I have strictly observed the rules since the beginning.
@Gerry Ryan: Gerry you do you. If you don’t agree with the rules don’t adhere to them.
People cannot be trusted though. The CMO has spoken about house parties and as such we have the restrictions that we do to continue to protect the must vulnerable in our communities.
Have a good one Gerry and stay safe with what ever decision you make regarding the restrictions.
Onwards & upwards.
Can we begin to pay respects to people who have passed away, and bury our loved ones with some dignity?
basically – there are two schemes – the 350 payment is for people unemployed who lost job due to covid and they receive 350 from welfare. Those who are part time workers who were earning less than 350 a week in their roles will essentially move to job seekers payment which is 203. This is different to wage subsidy – where the govt paid the employer 70% of the wages to keep on the books and employers could top up the balance so people received their usual wage. These are unlikely to change at all as the govt is committed to continuing these supports for months ahead. The only people dropping from 350 to 203 are people who are essentially on the covid welfare payment and were only on part time earnings ( below 350 before covid). You are correct -they are pretty vague ;-`00. Hope this helps.
@Dave Hammond:
Has any employer received any pay from the government yet for wages being covered by the employer until they government catches up?
@Dave Hammond: cheers Dave clears it up
@Dave Hammond: there’s also a huge number who’ve been receiving the €350 who are still on the books but whose employers couldn’t afford to make any staff payments.
@EillieEs: if the employers aren’t making any payments or paying prsi for the employees then they’re not ‘on the books’
I FOR ONE WILL BE GOING WHERE I WANT, HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS CARETAKER ADMINISTRATION
@Pauline Fedigan: fair play to you,there’s plenty of black lives matter, protests at the weekend
The article is well presented with the use of bold type for key data.
Just make your own choices, be it to obey these guys, or not.
Open the schools. Kids are already playing within 2m. Kids need to go back to school. Parents need it. Such a farce. Wake up caretaker government!
@Matt Paris: If you can’t parent children, don’t have them!
Time to party and touch everything cheers LEo
In a private nursing home in Dublin the management has decided to bring patients from hospitals infected with covid 19, how ridiculous is that!!
The 5km/20km limits are irrelevant. Lots of golfers, including an eminent Ray of Light, ignored travel protocols. Mickey Muck must stay at home, but…..
No wonder the paid up compliant plebs can’t get a tee time. Castleknock should be very proud of their facilitation
@Sean O Callaghan: sounds like a moan about not getting a tee time ? But what is the 20 km rule. Someone stuck a pin in a map? There no scientific basis. Could be 25, could be 15, could be 50, could and should at this stage be no limit. And golf courses should never have been closed. It’s only a walk in the country in the company of a couple of people .
Perhaps I may have missed it or more than likely the government have been vague but can anyone on here tell me how will the reduced payment scheme work will it be going on average wage calculated by using a persons pps number or the contract a person has signed? I’ve technically a part time contract like most in the hospitality sector, but work full time hours, also will it be either 350 or 203 or will some people going by averages get 270/300 a week
@cian: my post above was to directly answer your question -but somehow the answer appeared before your question ;()
@Dave Hammond: Waffle Dave. No policing of the payment to chancers.
@cian: at the end of the article it says the payments will be discussed at government this morning.
Dude, the discussion was earlier today to ask gor permission to go movr ditectly to phase 3.
I would also not trust him that the shops stay open.
This waiting on tenderhooks to see if we’re allowed go to the next phase is nonsense, the guidelines/roadmap/triggers (whatever you call them) should be clear and published. Or do they even exist??
Here’s an idea. Have one article for actual, concrete legal restrictions and another for what is being advised. As in an article on travel restrictions and what shops are opening and another article on safety advice.
This talk about whether you’re allowed visit your family or not and how far you have to stay from them is nonsense. “When asked if grandparents will be able to hug their grandchildren..”. Jesus. Of course grandparents can hug their grandchildren. Whether they feel safe doing so is something they need to think about for themselves but no one is legally stopping them. You’d think guards were jumping out from behind couches and handcuffing people.
For example JD Sports in Jervis is in the shopping centre but also have their own entrance, too.
Will they be allowed to open?
@Peter: I’d say they are definitely entitled to open Peter but probably entrance and exit both from Henry Street only.
@patrick o keeffe:
Yeah that’s what I was wondering. There are many places that are in shopping centres but also have their own entrance and exit, too.
Great news. Just wondering how the queuing with the 2m social distancing is gonna work on with the addition of people walking up and down Grafton Street… there are a lot of shops with entrances onto the street.
Ebola could be next!!
https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2020/0601/1144795-ebola/
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