[ad_1]
The Government is planning to extend the ‘stay at home’ travel restrictions from the current 2km to 20km on June 8.
The coronavirus reopening phases roadmap was published tonight, showing exactly what the Government plans to do and when it plans to do it as we ideally head back to normal life over the summer.
It is broken up into five phases, with a three week break in between each phase, starting from May 18.
The below comes with a caveat that it is all subject to change if Covid-19 gets out of hand at any time.
In the document, available at the bottom of this linked page, it is shown for example that the current restrictions are planned to be extended to within 20km of your home at Phase 2 – from June 8.
We will have to continue to “avoid unnecessary journeys,” however.
Travel will only be extended to outside your “own region” from Phase 4 – July 20, if all goes well.
Meanwhile, the news we’ve all been dreading to hear – pubs, bars and nightclubs are expected to only reopen from Phase 5 – August 10 – and only “where social distancing and strict cleaning can be complied with”.
And we won’t see hairdressers and barbers reopening until Phase 4 – July 20. That’s over two and a half months until you get a professional haircut, because it’s a “higher risk service involving direct physical contact for periods of time between people”.
The public health rationale for this goes on to say: “There is a higher risk associated with the spread of the infection associated with person to person contact e.g. hairdressers, beauticians etc.”
Elsewhere, we can currently expect crèches, childminders and preschools for children of essential workers to reopen with social distancing and other requirements applying from Phase 3 – June 29. Everyone else will have to wait until Phase 4 (July 20) and even then it will be one day a week, increasing slowly.
For those of you looking to hang out with friends or family, from Phase 2 (June 8) it is planned that “up to four people may visit another household for a short period of time while maintaining strict social distancing”.
Only from Phase 4 (July 20) may a “slightly larger number of people visit another household for a short period of time while maintaining social distancing”.
Large social gatherings of any kind are expected to be restricted even past Phase 5 (August 10).
“Sports team leagues (eg soccer and GAA)” will be allowed back from Phase 4 (July 20) “but only where limitations are placed on the numbers of spectators and where social distancing can be maintained”.
Meanwhile, cafés and restaurants providing on premises food and beverages, where they can comply with social distancing measures and strict cleaning in operation, can reopen from Phase 3 (June 29).
Schools and colleges can expect the new academic year to begin at Phase 5 (August 10).
And we can expect cinemas and theaters to reopen with social distancing if all goes well from Phase 5 (August 10).
[ad_2]