Livestock marts can re-open from this Monday (June 8th), An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, announced during a press conference this afternoon (Friday, June 5th).
He confirmed that it is safe to move to phase two of the roadmap for re-opening society and business on Monday (June 8th).
“This has been made possible because of the considerable sacrifices that you have made to restrict the spread of the virus and protect others.”
“Thanks to your perseverance in pushing back Covid-19, I am also announcing an acceleration of the roadmap.” Varadkar added.
“We are making progress, we are heading in the right direction and we have earned the right to be hopeful about the future again.”
Acceleration of government roadmap
Based on the medical evidence and recommendations from NPHET, and government reports on the economic and social impact of Covid-19, cabinet, today, agreed to implement all elements of phase two and move further along the roadmap, he added.
“We have also agreed to bring forward actions in the remaining phases; so now, there will be four phases rather than five.”
Phase three will begin on June 29th, while phase four will come into effect on July 20th, with a three-week interval as previously planned, he added.
“Under the guidance of the CMO, and other experts, we will work out in the days ahead, which actions will take place in each phase.”
“But some measures, such as bans on mass gatherings, may need to remain in place well into the autumn, as will general public health advice around hygiene and physical distancing.”
The leader of the country encouraged the public to continue handwashing regularly, maintaining a 2-metre distance, observing coughing and sneezing etiquette, avoiding crowded places, wear face-coverings on public transport and self-isolating when sick.
Measures to come into effect on Monday:
- People cocooning can welcome small number of visitors to home – must maintain physical distancing;
- Shops will provide dedicated hours for those over 70 and at-risk groups;
- Continue to avoid unnecessary travel – “stay local”;
- People can travel anywhere within their own county or up to 20kms from their homes;
- Groups of up to six people will be able to meet with each other, indoors or outdoors, whilst maintaining 2-metres apart;
- Groups of up to 15 people can meet for outdoor sporting activities;
- Solitary workers can return to workplaces and people who can maintain a physical distance from others on a phased basis;
- Working from home “should remain the norm” for those who can;
- Up to 25 people can attend funerals;
- Public libraries can open on Monday;
- New summer education programme for children with special educational needs;
- Outdoor facilities and amenities for children, including commercial, can re-open;
- Playgrounds, once supervised, can re-open;
- Outdoor camps for children can also be held, once there are no more than fifteen people mixing together;
- Athlete athletics can return to training facilities;
- Marts can re-open;
- Greyhound racing can resume without spectators;
- All shops can re-open from Monday.
Other phases:
- Shopping malls can open on June 15th – providing that only shops open and measures are taken to ensure that people do not congregate at benches, foundations and food courts, for example;
- From June 29th, return of tourism and hospitality sectors with the re-opening of hotels, restaurants, hostels, caravan parks, galleries and museums, “making it possible for bars to re-open if they serve food with table service only and restaurants aswell”;
- Places of worship to resumes services with pre-cautions under phase 3.
