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Tonight the Government published its long-awaited and updated plan ‘Living with Covid-19’, with clarity on the gradual reopening of schools, the implementation of vaccines and the way out of the blockade.
In a state speech and press conference by the three party leaders and deputy chief medical officer, Dr. Ronan Glynn, it has now been confirmed that the long-awaited gradual return of schools will officially begin starting next Monday as part of a new plan.
The government has divided the plan into two parts: the period before April 5 and the period after. The country will remain in the current lockdown until at least April 5, and schools will gradually reopen starting next Monday.
After April 5, according to the vaccination implementation plan and public health councils, restrictions may slowly begin to ease.
Below are the main points of tonight’s big announcement.
Will this lock ever end?
The country will remain at the maximum level of restrictions, Level 5, until at least April 5.
While schools will begin to reopen in stages starting Monday, and childcare will resume the following Monday, also in stages, all other restrictions will remain the same until then.
“If things work out and we keep the virus suppressed, we can expect further restrictions to be eased after Easter,” Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said tonight.
Schools
After weeks and weeks of negotiations between the Department of Education and the teacher unions, we finally have clarity on the gradual reopening of schools.
Starting Monday, special schools will resume at 100% capacity. In addition, the first four years of classes in elementary school, as well as Leaving Cert students in grade six, will return to school.
Some 320,000 students will return to education and National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) will review the situation in two weeks.
If given the green light, the government will allow third, fourth, fifth and sixth graders, as well as fifth graders, to return to school.
Schools will be interrupted for Easter on March 26th and will return on April 12th.
On April 12, following Nphet’s advice, junior high school students will also return to school.
Childcare
Like schools, daycare and early childhood care will gradually return.
All children who are part of the Early Childhood Education and Care Program (ECCE) will return to daycare starting March 8.
All other early education and child care services will resume as of March 29.
What’s the latest about the vaccine release?
So far, 219,899 single doses of the vaccine have been administered in total, with 130,423 second doses.
The government expects that by June 82% of adults will have received at least one dose and that between 55% and 60% of adults will be fully vaccinated.
By the end of March, he expects to have administered 1.25 million doses and that a thousandThe doses of lion will be distributed during the months of April, May and June.
By the end of April, up to 47% of people over the age of 18 are expected to have received their first dose.
By the end of May, up to 64 percent will have received their first dose.
AstraZeneca has informed the EU that it will deliver less than half of the contracted vaccines between April and June.
However, Taoiseach Micheál Martin argued that the Irish targets for vaccination were set with this in mind and remain as stated. He said that the second quarter of this year will be a major player in the launch of vaccines.
The vaccine priority list has now been updated as well, bringing some people with underlying health conditions higher on the list.
Those 16 to 69 years old, who have a medical condition that puts them at very high risk of serious illness and death, will now be part of Cohort 4. They will be vaccinated directly after those older than 70 years and living in the community .
Cohort 5 will be made up of those who are between 65 and 69 years old, whose underlying condition puts them at high risk of serious illness and death.
Cohort 6 will be made up of people from 65 to 69 years old and will be vaccinated together with health workers who are not in a role facing the patient. This cohort also includes key workers who are essential to the vaccine program.
Cohort 7 will be made up of people ages 16 to 64 who have an underlying condition that puts them at high risk for serious illness and death.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (CANI) recommended that while any of the three currently licensed vaccines can be administered to adults aged 16 to 69 years, it is preferable that mRNA vaccines be administered to persons aged 16 to 69 years and that are in a very short time. high or high risk, who have certain medical conditions that may limit their immune response to the vaccine.
The mRNA vaccines include Pfizer and Moderna injections.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the key issue for the launch of the vaccine is not supply, but administration.
He said this is a “great challenge”, as administering seven million doses is “extraordinary.”
However, Ireland’s vaccine launch is significantly slower than that of the UK and, when asked if we should ask Britain for some of its vaccine, the Taoiseach denied that we are “too proud”.
“They still have a long way to go in terms of their vaccination program and they are not in a position to download their vaccines anytime soon.”
On Monday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made specific promises in a new roadmap out of the lockdown, where all restrictions will be lifted by June 21.
While the Irish plan, titled The road ahead, is less ambitious in comparison, the Taoiseach said that “the end is truly in sight.”
Outdoor activities
If transmission has slowed and the vaccination program has progressed by April 5, the government will consider allowing people to gather outdoors in groups.
Outdoor sports activities may be allowed and the 5km travel ban could be eased. Some construction areas may also be allowed to resume.
However, individuals will need to work from home during this period, unless they are essential workers.
State supports
The Pandemic Unemployment Pay, Employment Wage Subsidy Plan, Enhanced Covid-19 Disease Benefit, and Covid Restrictions Support Plan will be extended at their current rate until the end of June.
The suspension of provisions for dismissal and exemption from commercial rates will be extended until the same date.
Another 10 million euros will go to the Stability Fund for Community and Voluntary Organizations. In addition, 10 million euros will be allocated to mental health services.
There are around 450,000 people currently receiving Pandemic Unemployment Pay, according to Tánaiste.
Cautious approach
The current high level of transmission and concerns about new variants of the virus mean that the government is taking a cautious approach to easing restrictions. Great emphasis is being placed on Nphet’s advice.
The Taoiseach said that 90% of all new cases in Ireland are due to the B117 variant.
Both the South African and British variants have contributed to the reasoning behind the new Covid plan.
The “conservative and cautious” approach is being taken to allow the reopening of schools and the resumption of childcare services, while avoiding triggering a fourth wave.
It also aims to protect vulnerable people as the vaccination program progresses. People will be asked to “stay alert and agile” while the vaccination program continues.
What about construction, hospitality, and nonessential retail?
Although Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said two weeks ago that he was “more than sure” that construction will resume on March 5, this will not be the case.
After criticizing the government’s message regarding the reopening of certain sectors, both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste declined to “speculate” on when other sectors will begin to reopen.
However, relaxation of the restrictions is likely to be considered if the spread of the virus remains under control after April 5.
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