Watch: Taoiseach announces phasing out of Covid-19 restrictions

Cabinet approved the reopring plan, titled Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting, this afternoon. File picture: Julien Behal

The Taoiseach has told the nation of the Government's plan to phase out the remaining Covid-19 restrictions.

Micheál Martin praised the "effort and sacrifice" of the public which he said saved lives.

He praised the rollout of the vaccination programme, saying it has been on a scale that has never been seen before.

Mr Martin said that sectors that have been closed can begin "to hope again".

He said that he expects to see case numbers rise but said "the combined strategy of careful reopening and energetic vaccination has brought us to a point where we can begin to do things differently".

Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD announces the latest plan for the easing of #Covid19 restrictions | Live blog: https://t.co/ZtFAlZa8c9 https://t.co/2VXvHSmE6W

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) August 31, 2021

The Taoiseach stressed that while the upcoming changes are welcome "it is important to stress that the pandemic is not over".

Over the next two months, the Government said it will continue "our careful and gradual approach to reopening".

From September 1:

Public transport will return to 100% capacity.

From September 6:

Theatre, music and other indoor events can take place at 60% indoors for vaccinated people. 

Organised outdoor events and mass gatherings can take place with capacity limits of 75% of venue capacity where all patrons are immune (fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 within the previous 6 months).

Religious activity can resume at 50% capacity, regardless of the immunity status of attendees.

Live music will be permitted at weddings. 

From September 20:

People can begin to return to workplaces.

Restrictions on outdoor group activities for participants will be removed.

Organised indoor group activities such as sports, arts, culture, dance classes can take place with capacity limits of 100 people, who are vaccinated or have recovered from the virus in the last six months.

From October 22, final restrictions will be lifted including:

Requirements for physical distancing and requirements for mask wearing outdoors and in indoor private settings will be lifted. 

Limits on numbers at indoor and outdoor events and activities as well as restrictions on religious or civil ceremonies will be removed.

The limits on the numbers that can meet in private homes/gardens will also be lifted.

Having a digital Covid cert as a prerequisite for access to, or engagement in, any activities or events will no longer be required, with the exception of international travel.

After October 22, people are still asked to self-isolate if they have symptoms of Covid-19, while mask wearing in healthcare settings, indoor retail and on public transport will continue.

Mr Martin called on the public to stick to the basics of hand hygiene, adding that makes will still be needed after October 22, when the majority of restrictions will be lifted.