Government leaders have made the decision to drop almost all remaining Covid restrictions.
This will see the mandatory requirement to wear a face mask gone in the coming week.
You will no longer have to wear a mask in schools, shops, on public transport or at work.
There will be an ‘advisory’ in place to wear a mask on public transport, but there will be no law or sanctions.
Another set of Covid rules set to go will be the restrictions on schools and childcare which will see social distancing, pods and staggered breaks all gone too.
The laws will formally be dropped after Cabinet meets on Tuesday morning to rubber-stamp the agreement of the three leaders, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Greens chief, Eamon Ryan, made on Monday evening.
Last Thursday the Taoiseach named February 28th, next Monday, as the day when the law on the wearing of face masks will be scrapped.
The Taoiseach said the Government was able to move on this because “we are moving from the emergency phase of the pandemic to a new transitionary phase.”
Mr Martin was speaking after the latest letter from NPHET last Thursday night recommended dropping the face mask rule for schools, public transport and workplaces.
The only place it will be required that you still mask-up will be in healthcare settings.
Meanwhile, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said he believes people will continue wearing masks after the law that we have to wear them is dropped in the next 10 days.
Mr Varadkar said this is the norm in Asian countries and that “it may become the culture here” too.
And Mr Varadkar also said he believes NPHET will “fade away.”
It is understood that the NPHET letter of last week was its last and that the advisory body will shortly be wound-up.
