Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

File image, closed pub in Dublin. Sam Boal

Dublin pubs not expected to reopen on Monday due to rising Covid-19 cases in the county

Pubs in all 26 counties were due to reopen next week but rising cases in Dublin mean some will remain closed.

PUBS IN DUBLIN which were expected to reopen on 21 September are set to remain closed following the continued increase in cases in the county.

The leaders of the Government parties agreed the move this evening, with Cabinet expected to sign off on the measure tomorrow morning.

The delayed reopening follows advice from public health officials trying to regain control over the spread of the virus in the city and surrounding areas. 

Pubs outside of Dublin will be allowed to reopen as planned on 21 September. 

A recommendation from NPHET to limit travel in and out of Dublin was also discussed this evening. 

Cabinet will discuss that issue tomorrow, with a final decision expected to be announced at a late morning press conference.

Any agreed measures will be contained within Ireland’s new ‘Living with Covid’ plan, which minsters will sign off tomorrow. 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and his ministers are due to meet from 8am with the full details of the plan – many of which have been well-flagged – set to be announced at around midday. 

The plan will include a colour-coded, five-level system to indicate what public health measures are in place in different areas of the country at any given time and will replace the original roadmap plan set out by then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on 1 May.

It is not yet clear at what level Dublin will be when the plan is published. 

Of the 2,230 coronavirus cases reported in Ireland over the two weeks up to last Saturday, more than half are located in Dublin. Ireland’s 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 is currently 46.8, while Dublin’s rate is almost double that at 89.1 per 100,000. 

Speaking today,  Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said the situation in Dublin is “markedly different” from the rest of the country.

“Any decisions on any additional restrictions in Dublin will be made tomorrow by Cabinet. But the truth is the situation in Dublin is worrying,” the Tánaiste said. 

“We’ve seen a situation where the incidence of the virus was as low as five or six per 100,000 over 14 days and now it’s hitting about 80.”

Amid speculation that pubs in Dublin might remain closed while those outside Dublin reopen, the Licensed Vintners Association, a representative group for licensed publicans in the Dublin region, warned such a move “would completely destroy the trust of publicans in the current Government”.

Meanwhile, guidelines were published today by Fáilte Ireland providing advice for pubs that serve food and those that do not ahead of reopening next week. 

These include a requirement that customers are able to enter and exit a pub through separate doors with hand sanitiser available at each access point.

In addition, pubs must have “prominent signage” relating to social distancing, only one person from a group should queue for their booking and a group must be limited to a maximum of six people from three different households, as per Government rules. 

No formal or informal events or parties should be organised within a pub and publicans must ensure physical distancing of two metres is maintained.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
109 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colette Kearns
    Favourite Colette Kearns
    Report
    Dec 16th 2022, 5:56 PM

    Oh why don’t they all ‘Shuffle ‘ out the door & shut the It after themselves!

    301
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute alan
    Favourite alan
    Report
    Dec 16th 2022, 5:53 PM

    Don’t think much of any of them but if Donnelly, Foley remain then all credibility lost

    175
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Moran
    Favourite Declan Moran
    Report
    Dec 16th 2022, 5:56 PM

    @alan: absolitely. You can add D O’Brien to your list. Although having survived that futile confidence vote we’ll be looking at him for a while yet

    139
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Moran
    Favourite Declan Moran
    Report
    Dec 16th 2022, 5:57 PM

    @alan: absolutely and you can add D O’Brien to your list. However, having survived that futile confidence vote we’ll be looking at him for a while yet, unfortunately

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute antisocialbarber
    Favourite antisocialbarber
    Report
    Dec 16th 2022, 5:47 PM

    Boo……Hisss……….Boooo!!!!!!!

    86
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rory
    Favourite Rory
    Report
    Dec 16th 2022, 5:58 PM

    Think against the odds of COVID, Brexit and international economic turmoil they have done a good job.

    There is no doubt, other serious issue that need to be resolved.

    80
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Doherty
    Favourite Declan Doherty
    Report
    Dec 16th 2022, 6:33 PM

    @Rory: I suppose as long as you’re not one of the many people forced to live in temporary accommodation or your kids haven’t had to emigrate or your adult offspring haven’t had to move back home, and as long as you’re not in urgent need of public health or god forbid, mental health services and assuming you already own your own home then sure yeah I suppose they’re doing a grand job.

    251
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lee Casey
    Favourite Lee Casey
    Report
    Dec 16th 2022, 7:52 PM

    I cant wait.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Barrett
    Favourite Dave Barrett
    Report
    Dec 17th 2022, 12:01 AM

    It’s all a sham

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joanne Stokes
    Favourite Joanne Stokes
    Report
    Dec 17th 2022, 2:03 PM

    Yawn more mince from this lying cheating Leak. Queue the one-liners and film quotes.

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds