A Limerick publican has shared a video of his pub’s beer garden as he plans to open today despite government guidelines.
All pubs were scheduled to open from today as part of phase 4 of Ireland’s reopening roadmap. However, last week it was decided that phase 4 will be deferred until August 10 due to a recent spike in coronavirus cases.
Despite the government’s decision, Gearoid Whelan of Whelan’s Bar in Newcastle West is planning on opening his doors today, citing continued arrival of American tourists as a sign of pubs being treated unfairly.
Planning to open up at 11am today, Gearoid shared the below video of the Whelan’s beer garden which shows a number of social distancing measures in place…
Beer garden in Whelans all set for Monday👍🏼 pic.twitter.com/BA68DYlXp1
— Gearoid Whelan (@whelansbar1) July 18, 2020
In another tweet, Gearoid wrote: ‘Almost 220,000 confirmed new Covid cases in America in last three days, yet our airports remain open to this epicentre and our businesses remain closed. Not anymore, I’m refusing to keep my door closed when visitors can holiday from America. See you tomorrow at 11.’
Almost 220,000 confirmed new covid cases in America in last 3 days yet our airports remain open to this epicentre and our businesses remain closed. Not anymore, im refusing to keep my door closed when visitors can holiday from America.
See you tomoro at 11👍🏼.— Gearoid Whelan (@whelansbar1) July 19, 2020
Pubs that can operate as restaurants have been allowed to open since June 29 with a number of provisions in place. Gearoid recently told Newstalk that “I’d stay closed till Christmas if the airports were closed or if there’s mandatory testing, but there isn’t. So I think why should we be made to pay the price for everything I’ve spent about 10,000 on getting it ready for re-opening, social distancing requirements and sanitising stations and all that stuff.”
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