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MOST COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, including curbs on hospitality and events, will be lifted from tomorrow morning, the Taoiseach has announced.
In an address to the nation, Micheál Martin said the 8pm closure of hospitality and capacity limits at indoor and outdoor events will be lifted from 6am tomorrow.
Nightclubs have been given the green light to reopen, rules around social distancing will come to an end and guidance on restricting household visits will also conclude.
Covid-19 vaccination or recovery certs will no longer be required for indoor hospitality or events. A phased return to offices can also begin.
But mask-wearing, the use of the Digital Covid Cert for international travel and isolation rules for those who have Covid symptoms will remain in place.
Martin said that NPHET confirmed Ireland has “weathered the Omicron storm” and that “today is a good day”.
NPHET told government that the rate of infection is reducing and that key indicators on which the government bases its decision are going “in the right direction”.
“It was our vaccinations and boosters that prevented the recent wave of infection translating into much more serious levels of illness and death,” Martin said.
As a result, Cabinet decided there is no longer a “rationale and justification” for continuing most Covid restrictions.
The Taoiseach reiterated that “vaccination is key” and said: “I want to be clear also that the pandemic isn’t over. It will still require all of us to be vigilant.”
Protective measures in place in primary and secondary schools will also remain in place.
People will still be required to wear face masks in settings such as shops, hairdressers and on public transport.
Staff in hospitality will still be required to wear masks, but the new rules do not stipulate that people going in bars and restaurants must wear masks when not at their table. This had been the case under current rules.
The lifted measures mean there will be no more six-person limit to a table in bars and restaurants. Bar service will also resume.
Future restrictions
Martin said he can’t promise that there won’t be further “twists” in the pandemic requiring difficult decisions down the line. But, the Taoiseach said, “today is a good day”.
The Taoiseach acknowledged that some people will feel anxious about the reopening plans. He encouraged them to engage with other people on these feelings and to share their anxieties.
In his speech, Martin said that government has always been “guided by the science” and did not want to hinder peoples’ freedoms for longer than necessary.
The Taoiseach said: “I understand deeply the grief that is felt by so many who lost loved ones, but no one should be in any doubt that your collective efforts have saved many thousands of lives.”
Cabinet met this afternoon to discuss the recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team that almost all Covid-19 restrictions can be ended.
The recommendations were contained in a letter from Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan sent to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly last night.
The CMO said there’s no longer a public health rationale for the majority of measures that are currently in place.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said earlier today that once the public health rationale for restrictions are removed “there’s no political rationale either”.
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I think there will be people who will be disappointed at having to commute again
@Garreth mc mahon: I think there will be some people disappointed that they have to start living their lives again
@Garreth mc mahon: wait for all those panicking that they have to turn up to work and trying to use Covid as an excuse now. That will be the new headlines soon.
@Why Biscuits: yawn to you and your neverending waffle
@Garreth mc mahon: Some will. I’ve been working from home since it all started and I’m really looking forward to getting back to the office (despite a 2hr commute) meeting colleagues and getting out on the road meeting clients again.
Thankfully, my employer is happy to have a hybrid arrangement so I can split my time between home and office – that aside, I’ll be in the office quite a bit I’d imagine
@Why Biscuits: true
@Lee King Buckett: I done when I had covid and couldn’t cope, I need to be around people
@James Daly: Are you seriously counting this as a win for the scared-of-needles crowd??
@Why Biscuits: Or maybe people realised during the lockdowns what’s important in life, the speed that society operates was slowed down and people were able to see whats important and what’s not.
@James Daly: It’s due to the 90%+ of our population doing the right thing and getting the vacine, that has turned the tide against the virus. This is indeed is a good day thanks to the vast majority of our people.
@JusticeForJoe: Not to worry, they’ll soon find something else to give out about. Wait til they need to pay for all this. There is a reason why Varadker let Martin have first crack at the top job…….so that he would not be the bad boy of tax increases, and it’s probably why they are raising most restrictions now. It will hit the fan now on 2 fronts: cases and costs!
@Joe_X: there might be a few more straws to clutch at there Joe if you look hard enough.
@Joe_X: this period of adjustment will be difficult for you alright I have faith you can pull through.
@James Daly: whatever you want to believe, lets see where we are in a month or two. Cases through the roof, taxes increased, you lot still crying about something, andoh yeah, probably another varient or 2 before this is done…..and you think that you anti-vax lot have win…..no, Jimmy….all you have done is put yourself in danger. I don’t really care about you anti-vaxxers any more. Pity ye convinced others not to get vaxxed either with your misguided views
@JusticeForJoe: neither a win nor a loss for anyone, either way we will all be sharing everything with people who are vaccinated or unvaccinated and that status no longer matters in this country.
@Tom Bombdadil: what period of adjustment? I was never locked down…like thousands others who worked through this ….. I hope ye can remember how to drive!
@Joe_X: drive to work everyday, I have worked all through this, never worked from home, I go to work to get away from home and I go home to get away from work. Big one now tomorrow night, just like the old days.
@Tom Bombdadil: And I hope you enjoy yourself….. I’ll leave mine til next week as everyone will hit it tomorrow night, and there will be no comfort to be had anywhere.
@James Daly: This has to be up there with the most ridiculous comments I’ve ever read on here! Let’s be absolutely completely and 100% clear about this! The one and only reason that Ireland is opening back up the way we are and when we are is because of the 90%+ uptake of the vaccine rollout! Look at France, Germany etc are still in disarray because they are having to deal with 60/70 % take up of the vaccine! This is because in general we didn’t listen to the absolute nonsense and misinformation that people have tried to spread. Well done to the 90% ! Just to add to that, I am all for choice and didn’t agree with the idea of compulsory vaccines but thankfully common sense and science has prevailed!
@WiseUp: Well said
@WiseUp: well said kid.
@WiseUp: Excellently put
@WiseUp: spot on. Like you I’ve little else to say to the anti-vax gang. We got them outta this but won’t wait for the thanks.
Well done Micheal. He got a little emotional and I’d say he wasn’t alone. It’s a great day and credit to the government for acting fast.
@Paul Kelleher: Acting fast:):):) is this sarcasm.
@Paul Kelleher: Perspex for sale
@Paul Kelleher: I agree with you 100%, don’t mind all the trolls.
@Franny Ando: No!
@Franny Ando: What European Union country do you know that’s acting faster in the removal of all restrictions? Most are still adding travel tests and various restrictive measures.
From tomorrow in Ireland, you can host a Woodstock festival if you so please. Cheer up.
@Paul Tao: I’m more then delighted this has finally happened but to say it was fast is a complete misnomer.:)
@Heisen berg1: I’d imagine all your followers are delighted you tweeted this
@Paul Kelleher: Micheal nearly blew the load on camera, and I wouldn’t blame him. Whatever complaints you have with the overall handling (and there are many to debate), this is a good day, I think. Fair play to a lot of the hospitality industry that are opening on such short notice
@HectorPickaxe: I think, I see that little caveat you threw in there fella….
@Edmund Orlando: The caveat is meant to abate the usual Journal hounds that pounce on everything one says as a statement of fact. Well spotted, fella
Up ya boys!
@Damien McDaid: boya ffs
@Damien McDaid: who cares!
@Damien McDaid: In fairness, its well overdue.
@LaoisWeather: If you wanna see the rainbow sometimes you gotta put up with rain. Forecast looking decent now?
@Damien McDaid: just as the cows start calving!!!
@Damien McDaid: Wonder how long masks will last for. Could become a feature of society like they were in east asia before the pandemic.
I still think there are more variants down the line. Its a covid shot once a year as well.
Good speech to be fair
@Dave Johnston: he is just reading of a teleprompter
@Fintan O’Halloran: well he hardly improvised it.
@Dave Johnston: agreed . I’m as tough as nails ;)but there was a lump in my throat
@Fintan O’Halloran: clearly someone who has never publicly spoke in his life .. other than speaking too loudly in a pub
@Dave Johnston: Very emotional moment for me, but MM lost me when he lost his place on the teleprompter and had to backtrack. He was white noise then as I just started thinking about the significance of the day.
@Fintan O’Halloran: It’d be a long speech to learn off by heart now. You must have been an excellent student in school
RIP covid warrior’s.. Time to find yourselves a new hobby
@Why Biscuits: climate
@Why Biscuits: was it that difficult for you to try and think of others & protect the sick & vunerable for a couple of years? Usually the tin hats railing against any sort of measures are the ones with little to loose.
@Why Biscuits: no need, thanks to muppets like you, we will end up like the UK and end up having to bring back restrictions, and the only one to blame will be yourself!
Shower of clown’s were locking up up at home over 500 cases a day just over a year ago, Over 10,000 cases today and all of a sudden it all good to go again.
Something is not right.
@anto: ah would ya go and pour yourself a drink
@anto: you can refresh your memory in 8 years when the new season of reeling in the years comes on to help you at least try and remember the reasons why
@anto: you need a top up. Your glass is half empty.
@Paul Kelleher: cop on Paul it’s half full
@anto: If you’re worried you can just stay indoors ;)
Oh, omicron spreads through the Internet too – best stay off that for the rest of your life too.
Good lad.
@anto: clue is in the varient you clever chap
@anto: you’re right and you have a point, also curious that pretty much all the western countries are easing restrictions at the same time
@Roger Pollack: Maaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahah!!!! You’re actually not capable normal thought at all!!!!
@anto: hospital numbers Anto, hospital numbers. Jesus Christ
@Lee King Buckett: says the man who knows everything…why dont ya stick up your leaving cert results again & impress us all. Good lad!
@anto: will I give you a clue?
10 millions vacinnes administered
Therapeutics
82% of total population fully vaxxed
@Roger Pollack: nope he’s wrong and has no point or brain apparently.
And it ain’t curious because it ain’t true.
This place like parler today…smfh
@Hear me now: Ah now, have you got brain owwies because your crazy theories have all been proved wrong? First QAnon, now Gemma, Dolores & Joe Rogan,
Don’t be so sad though, you can now turn to denying climate change and just refuse to acknowledge that you’ve be puppeted by whacks for the past two years.
@anto: it’s called science.
@anto: The virus evolved and we got vaccinated. If you follow the science it all makes sense.
Check out Seamus Coffey’s analysis of excess deaths on RIP.ie, which shows that there are currently no excess deaths. Thank you Mr Omicron.
@anto: Vaccination was, is and will continue to be the game changer here.
The only “shower of clowns” was, is and will continue to be the “anti-vaxx, anti-lockdown, anti-whatever it is” brigade!
@anto: something to do with vaccines, therapeutics and a less virulent strain maybe??
@anto: yeah, omni is just a head cold genius
@Roger Pollack: They don’t. Austria, Germany, France and Italy for example are doing the opposite.
@Lee King Buckett: craz y theories…what craz y theories boy…you just can’t wrap your little brain around the fact that people have opinions that differ from yours around the treatment of unvaccinated & vaccinated people & the way the government have handled this situation. I’ve never come on here stating that’s its all about control..that covid doesn’t exist…But its easier for people the likes of you as limited as you are to stereotype people because we don’t fit into your narrow minded little view.
@Hear me now: You’ve lost. It’s over. Everything you thought was right was wrong. Worst of all you’ve just exposed your gimpyness to the world. Please don’t stop now because there’s so many people still to reach… looking forward to your helplessly indignant reply….
@Damo: lost…wat are you talking about you hopelessly inadequate little man .you expose yourself with every reply you type…& I mean reply cause all you do is reply to other people’s comments because you haven’t an original thought in that ape like mind of yours. Now go Google snappy comebacks you unoriginal pleb.
Hope the reply doesn’t disappoint you odious little terd.
@Garreth mc mahon: That is a great retort and absolutely correct. Although you may have been serious I had to laugh. There are plenty nuts out there who believe in the big conspiracy. The same people thought the world would end 20Dec2012 as per the Maya calander
The first thing that should have gone is masks for primary schools! We are in contravention of ECDC recommendations in this area which, by the way, were created for the more serious strains. Even less justification for it now with Omicron fading. Not to mention harmful for childrens development. If now isn’t the time to remove this “temporary” measure when will it happen? Overall a good day though and time to be positive for the future.
@Toon Army: Sorry, how are they harmful for children’s development again?
@Séamus Heffernan: in fairness he’s correct these are several studies that conclude how mask wearing in kids is not good for their cognitive development
@Séamus Heffernan: because he’s mad as a box of frogs.
@Séamus Heffernan: This is well documented. Children, especially younger, rely a lot more on facial expressions for their emotional development. On top of this ECDC clearly recommends against it for primary school given usage challenges not to mention sub optimal quality masks in use https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/covid-19/questions-answers/questions-answers-school-transmission. Add to this a weakening variant in circulation now it is hard to understand the rationale for not removing this requirement.
@Toon Army: Yes you are 100% correct. There should be more questioning of this. There is also a study from the U.S that says basically the same.
@Toon Army: Masks don’t work because 17 children in my class if 10 year olds have Covid
Does this mean Will Fergal Bowers will finally be allowed go home?
@Mark Murphy: no :)
Totally awesome for everyone. Good luck everyone. We all deserve it. I’ll be proceeding with caution but that’s just me. Woohoo!!!!!!
@Anna Carr: all but small children which still have to endure this as the pubs and clubs fill to the roofs.
@Colm Vambeck: I empathise, but kids are very resilient. This will be but a memory for them by the summer.
And the covid passes rescinded.
I’d like to hear from some of the resident cranks and cuckoo’s in relation to this – well folks, can you explain how your theory holds up now please?
One at a time folks…
@Lee King Buckett: troll
@Lee King Buckett: you’ll still need a Covid pass to travel internationally. So…
@Mónica Pascoal: Big deal you still need a passport to travel too, it’s just another document!
@Why Biscuits: well considering I’ve had to listen to the constant stream of intellectual diarrhoea coming from all of ye nut buckets for nigh on 2 years now, I am absolutely going to start enjoying rubbing it in so yeah, you’re totally correct and it really doesn’t bother me at all :)
Unless you’ve recovered from covid. Then you’ll get a passport without taking unnecessary risks.
@Lee King Buckett: When the “conspiracy theorists” predicted in early 2020 that mask mandates, vaccine passports and mandatory vaccination (Austria) were on the way they were laughed at and ridiculed. But their predictions became reality (albeit only temporary). So I’m not sure what your point is.
@Heather Knowles: But you don’t need a vaccine to get a passport a photo will suffice:)⁸
@Kevin Munroe: eh they didn’t really “predict” these things were coming! Everyone pretty much acknowledged it was likely to happen, people simply chose a side and some who opposed them decided to claim that they would be with us forever!!!!
Oh how utterly wrong they are! On so so soooo many levels!
@Heather Knowles: big deal if you’re not vaccinated. No need to get all worked up about it. I’m simply stating a fact.
@Franny Ando: yes, but as a certain tennis player found out during the week…. their country, their rules, and some countries required mandatory vaccines long before SARS-COV-2 was ever on the scene
@Franny Ando: My point is it’s a document and certain countries have always needed vaccine certs to travel to. Anyone still getting worked up over this really needs to cop themselves on. If I want to travel I show my passport and showing a vaccine or recovery cert with that is no big deal. If you don’t have either well that’s no one’s fault but the person in question, travel for most is an optinal luxury. Try going to Asia without your yellow fever cert and you won’t get in. If a cert for travel is pretty much all that’s left for a while longer out of a global pandemic we should all be counting ourselves very lucky.
@Mónica Pascoal: But you have the power to get vaccinated, just like if you want to travel to Asia you must get vaccinated for yellow fever. And I’m not the one who brought it up as it makes no difference to me I’m not remotely “worked up by it” just making a basic observation.
The only good thing was social distancing and that’s gone. It was really nice that people were at least attempting to not invade personal space for a while. It was actually something I outright LIKED about the pandemic. It was the most effective measure after all the sanitisation. If we even keep it up to any degree we’ll have lot less contagion across the board.
I’d hate to be one of those people who took a vaccine just so they could go to the pub.
@James Daly: I’d hate to be someone like you
@Brian Carr: Don’t be so bitter Brian old boy. There are plenty of others just like you who did the same. Hopefully the long term side effects of the vaccines, when we finally know them, won’t be too severe and you’ll be ok. Maybe not though. Have you your affairs in order.
@James Daly: I felt fine after booth , try not to overdose on your heroine tho
@Brian Carr: I’d never touch the stuff. Would never put anything experimental in my body. Relax Bri. Maybe the long term side effects of the vaccines are mild to non existent. Who knows you’ll probably be fine… Probably
@James Daly:. I had the vaccine. Cost me nothing. Didn’t get sick. Got to the pub and holidays abroad. Looking forward to more pub and more holidays abroad. What’s the problem?
@James Daly: What will you do with all your allocated conspiracy time now James?
Good morning Vietnam!!!!
@Alison Maguire: I’m not sure if Vietnam is covered by Irish Legislation
@Alison Maguire: love it!
I actually got really excited there until I realised that I don’t go anywhere anyway so feck all is going to change for me .. ah that cracks me up :)
@Aoife Leighton: Yes, but it’s knowing that you can go nowhere safely.
Anyone know a good early house??
@Niall Gannon: im gonna just stay up drinking all night to celebrate :)
Wooo hoooooo
A vaccination that doesn’t work is key. Roger that genius.
As we look forward to the welcome lifting of virtually all restrictions from 6am tomorrow . Let’s not forget the thousands that have died over the last two years due to covid19. Plus many more who died because treatments were delayed
Absolutely brilliant!
Hopefully that will be that. Well done all who faced the challenge head on and didn’t blow a conspiracy gasket.
My two kids are double and triple-vaccinated respectively and yet still have to wear masks in school on Monday despite nightclubs being open.
Can I just say, for one last times (hopefully)…
The
Next
Two
Weeks
Are
Crucial!!
I have a new found respect for mehole.
@John Sheahan: So good I said it twice.
What has to happen before the mask mandate is lifted?
@Paul Walsh: we have to get to the 28th February
@Paul Walsh: we have to wait for all the chunky birds to lose there double chins
@Why Biscuits: Good one, but the masks never hid the chunky bit.
@Paul Walsh: @Paul Walsh: most of the people who were really opposed to masks didn’t wear them anyway. I don’t think them wearing them is the problem it’s that they get really triggered by others wearing them. And in fairness annoying them is probably as good a reason as any to keep them on till the end of February.
Waheyyyy
Wahoo. Sesh.
Many thanks to the good people of South Africa.
Open the pubs!!! Cheers folks and God bless ;)
Well well well. Gemma & Co. were right. They’ll use the pandemic for new world order restrictions to take away our freedoms forever.
Italia 90 2.0
Still need masks in a shop and in a bus but a free for all in pubs?
@Christopher Byrne: pretty sure you still need to mask up indoors be it a pub or a shop etc.
@Peter Lewis Jnr: nevermind, just read the updated articles.
@Christopher Byrne: Vulnerable and imuno compromised can choose to stay away from pubs if they want, but they still have to shop and use public transport, so it’s a fair enough poilcy for the moment. That said, I don’t see the point of staff having to wear them while serving customers in ubs and restaurants.
I was quite enjoying social distancing.
I nearly crashed the car and vomited listening to that.. Good speech apart from all the misinformation, disinformation and lies..
I’ll drink to that!
Quoting Ice Cube he must be a fan .
And suddenly after almost 2 years. like a wave of a magic wand Michael Martin announces a lifting of all restrictions, despite up to 20,000 cases a day. It just doesn’t make sense…
@Seamus Quaide: The modelling is why. Look up Irish Scientist Andrew McGovern who has been tracking the modelling against the numbers, and explains it very well.
What about Hospital visits ??
@Karl Phillips: that was announced, they can resume.
I have a new found respect for me hole.
Denmark 30 000 cases a day..
@Peter Willekens: 30k cold a day in winter. Move on son.
@Peter Willekens: just as well this isn’t Denmark so……
@ChadChaderson: Youshould go look at the various virii… you might actually learn something. Stop you from making a fowl of yourself online
I am absolutely delighted.
Bloody hell. The day is finally here. Go on you good thing!
The riding in Copper’s tomorrow.
I have Gigi D’agostino Bla bla bla pumping I’m that excited
anti vaccers must be having a laugh, albeit here in ireland
@alan: Absolutely Alan. I was never desperate enough for a pint that I’d take a chance on a vaccine. It’s a great day for common sense.
@alan: no. They don’t know how
@James Daly: Not having the anti vaxxers in the pub made the vaccine worthwhile.
@ WiseUp: Rubbish. The majority of people got vaccinated so they could go out to pubs and restaurants. So they could go to Santa Ponsa and roast on a beach. So they could socialise with their friends. They didn’t give a toss about little old ladies dying. The vaccine passports enabled this. Very few people were thick enough to believe they were in mortal danger of dying. Pull the other one . In the very near future the long term side effects will start to become clearer. Are you absolutely certain you did your due diligence before proffering your arm. I doubt you did. You’re most likely another nodding donkey who sleepwalked onto a jab. Vaccine remorse will become apparent in the future.
@James Daly: you could be right James, the only reason I took it was Covid nearly killed me, still not right since over a year later.
Brilliant news. NPHET guided us through and followed the science. They were conservative when they needed to be, but now that it’s proven that omicron and vaccinations have broken the case: hospitalisation numbers, they have moved swiftly. They played a blinder and this is fantastic news
Micky 40 coats
All those types that spent the last however long claiming this was a cover up to take away our freedoms are looking very silly now!
Can someone post a list of places that will be open at 6 in the morning from the hospitality sector so I can plan my morning
All but almost all…. make up your bleeding minds
@brains mc: it’s a good start, cheer up
Such greta news… Although typically our household was finally hit by covid this week t right at the end.urgh
@Dawn Harvey: End?
Maybe in five years…
If it ever becomes necessary again to impose restrictions, people should make it clear that a return to divisive and medically useless vaccine certs for hospitality will not be tolerated.
@Dick Barrett: yeah…just close them outright instead and nit give the pubs any business at all!
It would be if he quit..
More Drink, Heh Hooh!!!!
Should have got his tie cleaned.
Great news! Although the vaccination n booster comment regarding omicron variant is pure ridiculous!
@Philip McLoughlin: I think they have a Bizzilion doses they need to get rid of pronto before they go off.
@James Daly: They don’t care. The money saved on reducing the ICU cases is worth much more than a few left over vaccines.
France had 400 000 new cases yesterday.
Just in time for superbowl
@Liam Collins: and the Royal rumble!
MÍCHEÁL is up to something, I don’t trust him
Not 1 extra house has built
From 8pm you have 8 hours to leave our pub and feck back to China.
Somebody close that window there’s an awful draft
Wow a change of suit. The missus probably at him to change out of that navy yoke he sleeps in. Not short of a few quid either.
Now give Leaving certificates abit of insight to what’s happening.
have your say