Ireland’s next easing of restrictions is set for the end of February as the government moves towards resuming life as normal amid Covid.
Since the beginning of 2022, pubs have resumed normal trading hours and nightclubs have reopened their doors with no major rules in place.
The live events industry also experienced a boost as restrictions on indoor and outdoor capacity were lifted and the need for Digital Covid Certificates to dine indoors was dropped.
Despite the lengthy list of rules eased, a number of vital measures were kept in place to slow the continued spread of Covid-19 through the community.
This means that people must continue to wear face masks in settings like shops, on public transport, and in schools. to name a few.
You also cannot head away on an international holiday without an EU Digital Covid Cert proving vaccination, recovery, or a negative PCR test.
Since February 1, Covid certs have had a 270-day expiry, based on the date of a person’s final dose in the primary course of vaccination.
Similarly, Certs proving recovery now have a 190 day - or six-month - expiry while those with proof of a booster or additional dose are not subject to any cut-off date.
When the major easing of rules was announced, an Taoiseach Micheal Martin also confirmed that the requirement to wear masks and the existing protective measures in schools would remain in place until February 28, 2022.
With that date just weeks away, there is speculation as to whether or not they will be lifted and on Tuesday, Dr. Holohan insisted that people need to remember "the pandemic is not over".
However, he did highlight that the current situation is moving in a "broadly positive" direction and reassured people that we are in a much better place than we were before Christmas.
He also insisted that "the pandemic is not over", and that health officials do expect the emergence of new 'variants of concern' as we move through this phase of the pandemic.
He warned that the high levels of infection will likely continue into the future, and so close monitoring of all these things will pave the way for the February easing.
So, while no final decision has been hinted at yet, if the Covid situation permits, then at the end of this month the requirement to wear masks will be lifted.
