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The reduction of the 5 km limit, outdoor sports and the possibility of two households meeting in the open air should be considered this week by the government.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) will meet today to discuss what recommendations it will make to the government.
The cabinet subcommittee on Covid is meeting tonight to discuss what relief might be possible.
This meeting is attended by the Deputy Medical Director, the Taoiseach, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, the Minister of Transport, Eamon Ryan, as well as a select number of ministers and high-level officials.
While the decision on which restrictions will be eased will largely be made at that meeting, a full cabinet meeting will be needed to approve the decisions on Tuesday.
The Taoiseach is expected to make a public address to the nation, probably around 6pm that night.
So what can we expect?
The Taoiseach has already pointed out well in advance what is being considered.
This week, his own parliamentary party pressured him to remove the 5km travel limit in its entirety, calling it “ridiculous” by some.
Lifting the 5km limit is final, and ministers will consider increasing it by 10-20km or countywide, or removing the restriction entirely.
There will be a great emphasis on outdoor activities, and it is expected that opening sports for children will be given the green light, as well as outdoor sports for all, such as golf, tennis and fishing.
While this will be good news for many, it is believed that not all measures will go into effect on the same date, rather that the government is opting for a phased approach.
It is understood that the government will consider allowing two households to meet outside, with sources claiming that they are well aware of people’s mental health at the moment, with some acknowledging that such gatherings are already happening.
The ministers will also discuss the possibility of a click-and-collect return, but a full reopening of retail is not on the cards for now.
The reopening of the construction sector will also be discussed.
Housing Minister Daragh O’Brien has been calling for the sector to get the green light to reopen since before Christmas.
Up to 800 houses are lost per week each week the construction sector remains closed, and the sector argues that Ireland is the only EU country where construction has stopped.
However, there is a question mark on construction, and some in the government are concerned that the return of the builders could jeopardize the full return of schools next month.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told his party members this week that the total reopening of schools in April is a priority for the government.
However, a minister said that reopening construction should be a priority. Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said yesterday that he would like to see an increase in construction activity, but only if public health councils allow it.
Coveney said the government would only have a “very limited” scope to ease restrictions as the government is trying to make sure we don’t allow a fourth wave.
He said the approach taken will be “cautious”, adding that he understands that people would be “frustrated” by the government’s stance.
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The Taoiseach indicated this week that the numbers authorized to attend funerals will be reviewed again, but also said it could not guarantee any changes.
While some TDs have called for the resumption of religious services, it is understood that the mass will remain online during Easter week due to the R number remaining at 1.3.
Government sources said they are well aware of people’s frustrations, but say they are doing everything they can to ensure the most vulnerable are vaccinated by mid-May.
Varadkar said a number of things will be incorporated into his decision-making process this week, such as case numbers, R number, hospitalizations, ICU numbers and the vaccine schedule.
Speaking at his own parliamentary party meeting last week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that by the end of April, Ireland will be in a different position as everyone over 70 and those with serious underlying illnesses will have received their first dose of a vaccine.
He asked the members “to stay with him for a few more weeks.”
In April, the vaccine supply will increase sharply, with one source noting that 23,000 vaccines were delivered on Wednesday and 27,000 on Thursday, claiming that each injection allows the government to ease restrictions.
Yesterday, there were 760,168 doses of Covid-19 vaccines administered in Ireland.
- 548,945 people have received their first dose
- 211,223 people have received their second dose
Due to the B117 variant, it is understood that the government is still very aware of the number of contacts that people will have in the coming months, so there will be a large concentration in the open air.
The government’s approach is believed to be one of understanding the level of public frustration, with the main goal of increasing the launch of the vaccine in April and protecting the most vulnerable.
Micheál Martin is expected to give an overview of the possibility of further easing of restrictions in May and June, if the number of cases and the number of vaccinations are favorable.
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