Rapid 15-minute Covid tests key to reopening Irish society, confidential document reveals

People sit on the boardwalk in the bright sunshine, outdoors beside the River Lee. A new ventilation plan could assist in reopening the country. Picture: Larry Cummins

Rapid 15-minute Covid tests and new rules on ventilating indoor spaces are the key elements of a new government plan to allow the country to reopen in the coming weeks, a confidential Cabinet memo reveals.

The document, prepared for ministers, states that in addition to the vaccine rollout, the use of antigen tests and proper ventilation are part of efforts to “assist the sustainable reopening of the country”.