The government expects things to be ‘much better’ from April

There will be no easing of Level 5 restrictions until March 5, at least, but the government is hopeful that the situation has improved significantly from April.

While some school students may begin to return as of March and construction is likely to return in the same month, those in government circles hope to ease restrictions more significantly beginning in April.

Depending (of course) on the pattern of the virus, the economy is expected to gradually reopen from that month, similar to the approach taken before the summer of last year, with guidance on home visits gradually easing and more stores. . and services that open gradually.

Speaking last night the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that “what we will have to do this time is a relaxation of the restrictions that will have to be very, very, slow. More like how we lowered the restrictions after the first wave ”.

“It may start very slow, maybe just with some retail, maybe with the possibility of meeting two people outside, it will be a very slow dismantling of the restrictions, but you know if we can make the numbers very casualties, that becomes a possibility.

“If we can get a better climate, and this is a partially seasonal virus, that does matter, and if we can get a critical mass of people to get vaccinated again, we can ease the restrictions,” Claire Byrne Live told the program. .

Government sources say that people must understand that it will not be a return to normality, even with the increase in vaccine numbers.

As for going to concerts or large outdoor events in the summer, a government source said “there is no possibility”, stating that they were surprised to see the current high level of publicity for concerts.

They added that the country is expected to be able to host open-air events or gatherings of around 50 people this summer.

And while it won’t continue as usual, sources say the country will be in a much better place for the summer.

By February, the goal is to get schools for children with special needs back into operation. There was hope that construction sites could reopen as well, but they were questioned at last night’s Cabinet subcommittee meeting.

The rest of the education sector is as follows: students will gradually return from mid to late March, with Leaving Cert students prioritized.

A government source said schools are considered an essential service and that everyone involved will do everything possible to get children back to the classroom as soon as possible.

Yesterday, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly confirmed that the third group in the government’s vaccine allocation strategy, people 70 years and older, would start receiving a Covid-19 vaccine starting next month.

“The next stage of our vaccination program will begin with people 85 years of age and older and will initially be administered through their GPs at their surgeries,” he said. “The HSE is preparing a public information campaign that will provide all the necessary details in advance and ensure that everyone knows when, where and how to access their vaccine.”

The cabinet subcommittee on Covid-19 also decided yesterday to extend the current Level 5 lockdown until at least March 5, in line with the restrictions in Northern Ireland.

The subcommittee also approved mandatory quarantine for those traveling to the country without a negative PCR test, as well as for passengers from “high-risk areas” such as South Africa and Brazil.

Failure to comply with these regulations will result in a fine of up to € 2,500 and / or up to six months in prison. Sources said it will take time to implement this system for operational and legal reasons.

Ministers, including Varadkar, are in favor of the two-island approach with the UK when it comes to travel. The government is understood to be aware of speculation that Prime Minister Boris Johnson could reveal mandatory quarantine rules in the coming days, though it has not coordinated with Dublin.

The cabinet is expected to approve these measures today with an announcement this afternoon.

With reporting by Sean Murray