Winter lockdown 'off the agenda' as plan to reopen society still on track

While shopping and sport provide the most obvious signs of reopening, Micheál Martin is expected to announce similarly far-reaching  measures next week addressing the reopening of workplaces. Picture: Larry Cummins

A relaxation of the two-metre social distancing rule for vaccinated workers to allow a viable return to the office is to be announced in the Government's reopening plan next week.

Despite a continued rise in Covid-19 cases due to the Delta wave, several Government sources have insisted a winter lockdown is "the furthest thing" from the minds of ministers.