Covid restrictions likely to be eased this week amid optimism Omicron wave has peaked

Ministers are hopeful that Nphet will approve the removal of the 8pm closing time. File Picture: Larry Cummins

A major easing of Covid-19 restrictions is set to be announced this week, amid growing optimism that the Omicron wave has peaked.

A number of significant measures are expected to be recommended by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) which meets on Thursday, including the ending of the 8pm closure of pubs and restaurants.

At a minimum, ministers are expecting to receive guidance on when restrictions can be rolled back, with the Government satisfied that ICU and hospital capacity has held firm in the face of massive case numbers over the last four weeks.

Senior Government sources have told the Irish Examiner it is their expectation that Nphet will approve a new closing time of midnight for all licensed premises.

It is also expected that full 100% capacities will be permitted at outdoor sporting events which means a full house at Lansdowne Road for the upcoming Six Nations rugby championships and GAA league matches.

Ireland host Wales on February 5 at Lansdowne Road, Italy on February 27 and Scotland on March 19 on the final weekend of the Six Nations championships.

It is also understood that there will be a relaxation on the numbers allowed to attend indoor sporting and entertainment events and it is also expected that the current limit of 100 people at weddings and funerals will also increase significantly.

Senior sources have also said they expect a restart of the move to allow workers to return to the office on a phased basis.

It is expected that these easing of restrictions will come into force at the end of the month and a Cabinet meeting could be called for Friday to approve the Nphet recommendations.

The plan is also expected to include some contingency for the country to cope with future waves of Covid-19, particularly next winter both in terms of future vaccination programmes but also a desire to allow the country remain free of lockdown.

“There is an expectation that the CMO Dr Tony Holohan and Nphet will state this week that the Omicron peak has passed. 

"The hospitalisations are falling and the surge has not happened. So we can afford to be optimistic,” said one senior Government source.

This evening, 6,329 PCR-confirmed cases of the virus were reported, as were a further 4,810 antigen tests, which were registered on the HSE portal.

The CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland has called for a return to normal trading hours for the hospitality industry later this week.

Adrian Cummins said that he would like the lifting of measures to take effect once the National Public Health Emergency Team meets on Thursday, allowing the industry to reopen fully next week.

He said that the 8pm closing time was "effectively a lockdown for hospitality".

Mr Cummins said that a phased return of the entire economy was needed, including the night-time economy.

He also called for an extension of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme [EWSS] at its full rate until the end of March. At present, the EWSS is due to be reduced next month.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil TD Willie O'Dea has called for the end of Covid restrictions and says he has impressed this upon the Taoiseach.

"We need to remove all Covid restrictions as hospital and ICU figures have remained stable as a result of high levels of vaccination and natural immunity," he tweeted.

"Hospitality businesses should now be allowed to operate as normal & the use of the covid pass should be abandoned.

"I have urged the Taoiseach and Minister for Health to remove all Covid restrictions, as with the Omicron variant there is no rationale for them. We need to follow the lead of Spain and start dealing with Covid as an endemic disease rather than a pandemic."