Talks between Government and industry are underway and a decision is expected on the matter in the coming week.
The Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) has said that a decision over relaxing social distancing guidelines as they pertain to the hospitality sector is expected to be announced by health authorities in the coming week.
Posting a message to Facebook, the RAI updated the public on the status of the situation writing:
“After weeks of constant engagement with the government a review of the 2-meter social distancing guidelines for Hospitality businesses currently underway.
The Restaurants Association of Ireland is advocating for #WHO 1-meter social distance. This will allow us to operate safely and effectively on reopening. We expect a decision next Friday.”
As it stands, the current advice is to implement a minimum distance of 2metres between diners however many restaurants have expressed concerns over this saying that adhering to these measures will not allow for business to be profitable.
Minister for Health Simon Harris last night said that while the 2metre rule is likely to remain the public health advice, he later hinted that Government is seriously considering the model being proposed for the hospitality sector. An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admitted that while the evidence, of course, confirms that maintaining a greater distance allows for greater protection, reducing the distance becomes less risky as the number of cases in the country diminishes.
More to follow.
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