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Minister Simon Harris does not believe that Ireland can reopen pubs entirely until a vaccine is found.
The Health Minister is ruling out massive gatherings in the country for the foreseeable future with little hope that pubs will reopen this summer.
However, there are plans to reopen schools, possibly one day a week before the end of summer.
In an interview with the Sunday Independent, Mr. Harris said that schools that allowed students to enter only one day a week were considering the measures being considered.
Other plans being considered include letting people over the age of 70 go for walks outside their homes and increasing the exercise limit to 2 km.
(Image: Gareth Chaney / Collins)
The Minister said: “I would like to see a situation where our schools could return or at least partially return.
“What will not return quickly are scenarios in which we cannot safely distance ourselves.
“Therefore, I cannot see how people can be in crowded bars again while this virus is still with us and we do not have an effective vaccine or treatment.”
The latest revision of the closing restrictions is likely to be announced on the Friday before the May bank holiday, with restrictions currently in effect until the following Tuesday.
There is currently hope that some restrictions will be eased, although no major change is likely.
A further 41 deaths and 778 more cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Ireland on Saturday night.
The update brings the death toll in the Republic to 571 and the cases total 14,758.
The case update consists of 630 new cases confirmed in Irish laboratories and 148 reported by a laboratory in Germany as of 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, April 18.
The Health Protection Surveillance Center said 35 of the deaths were in the east, two in the northwest and four in the west of the country.
The deaths included 23 women and 18 men.
The average age of deaths reported today is 83.
35 people were reported to have underlying health conditions.
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