No time limit when indoor dining reopens next week under new guidelines
The protocols for enforcement are still being drafted by the Health Service Executive and the Health and Safety Authority. Picture: PA
There will be no time limit for those allowed into bars and restaurants when indoor hospitality reopens on Monday.
Sources have confirmed to the that the new guidelines agreed by the hospitality industry and Government officials after a meeting on Tuesday evening will see six adults allowed at a table and a continuation of the 11.30pm closing time.
The use of the bar counter by customers, which has been a request by the vintner associations, is still under discussion.
The customer's vaccine status will be assessed at the door of the premises, with the Government developing an app for QR scanning, which is expected to be ready next week.
Those present received a demonstration of how the QR scanner will work during the meeting. However, paper certificates will still be accepted by hospitality staff.
The meeting was also told the HSE has updated its guidelines and advised businesses to ensure adequate ventilation when indoor dining returns, to help stem the spread of Covid-19.
The protocols for enforcement are still being drafted by the Health Service Executive and the Health and Safety Authority.
It is expected that environmental health officers will be tasked with checking in on businesses to ensure they are following the protocols but will not be asking customers for vaccination certificates.
Confirmation of next Monday’s reopening will be made at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting. President Michael D Higgins is expected to sign the bill into law between Wednesday and Friday this week.
However as guidelines will not be produced until after the legislation is signed, there are concerns restaurants, bars and other businesses may not have sight of the guidelines until the weekend, with a view to reopening for indoor business on Monday.
Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) chief executive Padraig Cribben said: “While our members will be relieved to reopen next Monday, there remains a significant challenge in policing the vaccine pass. It will require the full support of the public to ensure this temporary solution runs smoothly.”
When asked about the potential for further closures in the coming weeks, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said "of course there is a risk there in the future" to reopening,
However he added that the country "hasn't even got to the point of reopening indoor dining".
"So let's give ourselves every chance of reopening indoor dining, before we comment on what might happen after that," Mr Donohoe said.
Meanwhile, almost a third of new cases (32%) of Covid-19 over the past two weeks have been found in children, the head of the HSE’s test and tracing system Niamh O'Beirne has said.
The testing and tracing system is in surge, and the figure is expected to rise further this week, resulting in the system being at capacity.
Ms O’Beirne said the HSE intends to deploy antigen testing from next week for asymptomatic close contacts over the age of 13, in order to meet the increased demand.
For children under the age of 13, the HSE will continue to do PCR tests in the testing sites.
