Public health officials are meeting today to discuss what changes can be made to the roadmap to reopening ahead of Ireland’s entry into phase 2 on Monday.
Chief Medical Officer Tony Holahan has said that ‘easing burden of lockdown restrictions on young children and their parents’ is on the agenda with the reopening of playgrounds among the items that could be brought forward. Summer camps may also be given the go-ahead to take place.
Currently, playgrounds are scheduled to reopen on June 29 as part of phase 3. Measures that are scheduled to be introduced next week include the following:
- The advice remains to stay at home and avoid unnecessary journeys where possible
- Should you need to make a journey, the travel limit is being extended from 5km to 20km
- Up to four people can visit another household for a short visit but everyone must keep at least two metres apart from people they don’t live with
- Those who have been cocooning can have a small number of visitors in their home. Visitors must wear gloves, face coverings and keep at least two metres away from the person who is cocooning
- Some people can return to their workplaces with social distancing and hygiene plans put in place by employers
- Remote working should continue for those who can do so
- Funerals will be limited to immediate family and close friends with a maximum number of people in attendance. This number will be announced on Friday, June 5
Entering phase 2 of the roadmap and any alterations being considered are subject to approval by the National Public Health Emergency Team. The government is expected to announce that the recommendations have been approved tomorrow afternoon.
