3,500 pubs to remain closed, restrictions on gatherings to stay in place

Taoiseach Micheál Martin: 'International evidence has shown that the opening of pubs and nightclubs is linked inextricably to increased community transmission and that is the very worst thing that could happen here.' Picture: Julien Behal

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he cannot guarantee that almost 3,500 pubs will be able to open again this year as the Government has decided that Covid-19 levels are too high to allow the country to advance to phase four of the recovery roadmap next Monday.

The decision means that pubs which do not serve food must stay closed until at least August 31, and there will be no change to the limit of 50 people at indoor events and 200 at outdoor events.