Source : https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0625/1149663-at-a-glance-phase-three-ireland/
The Government has announced that Ireland will move to Phase 3 of the roadmap for reopening the country on Monday as planned.
Speaking at Dublin Castle this evening, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced a number of measures that will come about beginning next week and further afield.
- Almost all remaining businesses, amenities and workplaces can reopen as planned in accordance with Phase 3 of the government roadmap.
- With the moving into Phase 3 of the roadmap, previous announcements on sport, culture and recreation, and bars and restaurants can move ahead.
- These include: Adult education facilities, crèches, pre-schools, summer camps and youth clubs; Museums, galleries, theatres, cinemas and other cultural outlets; Religious buildings and places of worship; Wellbeing services such as massage therapy, chiropractors, hairdressers and beauty salons; Driving schools and driving testing.
- It also includes the hospitality sector including cafes and restaurants, pubs and hotel bars serving food, hotels and holiday parks.
Foreign travel
- Travel restrictions will be reduced for some countries from 9 July.
- A ‘green list’ of countries will be put together by that date, that will showcase which countries can be travelled to from Ireland, where the 14-day quarantine will not apply.
- The list will also take into account some exceptions, such as certain vital employees that need to enter the country.
- The list will be compiled based off epidemiological data, and is subject to change every two weeks.
- Mr Varadkar said that if a country ends up having a resurgence of the virus, they can be taken off the list.
- Travel to offshore islands will also be permitted.
Face coverings
- Minister for Health Simon Harris said the Government will be moving to make the wearing of face coverings mandatory on all public transport.
- There will be sanctions for non-compliance with the mandatory wearing of face coverings.
Other measures
- A National Day of Commemoration for the victims of the Covid-19 pandemic. Offering his condolences to the families and friends of people who have died, the Taoisaeach said he hopes it can be held so “we can mourn together as a nation and grieve for what we have lost”. He said “the country has suffered greatly” and he said “it has been a tough time for us all”.
- A grant scheme to assist people who are self-employed or sole traders has also been approved to help people to get back to work.
- The Government is extending the school meals programme to the summer.
- In conjunction with the roadmap, up to 50 people can gather indoors and 200 outdoors from Monday, providing social distancing and public health advice is adhered to.
- However, there are exceptions for places of worship on the indoor limit – Mr Varadkar said “specific protocol is going to be worked out with the churches and religious bodies, to allow more people to attend religious ceremonies,” adding it “will be very much policed by them”
Phase 4 is expected to commence on 20 July, subject to Government approval, at which point remaining pubs, bars, hotel bars and casinos may reopen.