What time can we expect the Government’s announcement on Friday? Everything you need to know

This Friday, people all over Ireland will gather around the TV and begin planning for a Christmas like no other.

But enough about the Toy Show. Before that, the Government are set to announce a new set of measures which will kick in once Level 5 expires on December 1. An Taoiseach Micheál Martin has already stated that he doesn’t want the announcement to clash with the Toy Show so we won’t have to worry about channel-hopping on Friday night.

But when should we expect the announcement and what will it entail? You can find everything you need to know below.

When will the Government announcement be made?

After much deliberation, the Cabinet are due to meet at 1pm on Friday. With the Toy Show set to kick off at 9.35pm, we can probably expect the announcement to be made some time around the late evening. Reports today suggest that Micheál Martin will address the nation just before Ryan Tubridy goes on air.

What can we expect?

There has been much speculation this week as to how Ireland will come out of lockdown. It’s thought that the Government will take a ‘three phase’ approach throughout December – opening non-essential retail next week, followed by restaurants at a later date and allowing home visits in the days before Christmas.

Inter-county travel will be allowed in the third phase and it has been widely reported that pubs that don’t serve food are unlikely to be permitted to open in December.

Where can I watch the announcement?

All major Covid-19 announcements this year have been carried live on RTE One, RTE News Now and Virgin Media One. If you can’t get to a TV, major radio stations have regularly aired the announcements as they happen and it will also be covered on RTE and Virgin Media social channels.

What happens next?

Level 5 restrictions are due expire on Tuesday of next week so any new measures won’t come into effect until then. An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has suggested that there could be a return to tighter restrictions in January or February but “we should try to avoid it being a prolonged one.”

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