Reopening sign off
Requirements for mask wearing and physical distancing will ease in many settings from October 22nd, under plans being considered by Government.
A full meeting of the Cabinet will be held on Tuesday to sign off on the updated roadmap for the easing of remaining Covid-19 restrictions.
A phased reopening strategy is expected over the coming weeks, beginning with increased capacity at outdoor events from Monday, September 6th, and a return of workers to the workplace from Monday, September 20th.
Subject to 90 per cent of the adult population being vaccinated, a key target identified by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) in their latest advice to Government, all remaining restrictions look set to be lifted by October 22nd.
The Government is planning on a 'last mile' payment for workers in sectors facing a phased reopening, with sectors such as live events and the Arts not expected to return to full capacity from the outset.
Schools 'a challenge'
A member of Nphet, Dr Mary Favier, has said she is optimistic about the easing of restrictions but warned caution would become the "new normal".
Dr Favier said the high vaccination rates in the country would provide “a significant buffer”, however, even a 100 per cent rate would not be enough.
She cautioned that the return of schools was “a challenge, but it is one we can meet.”
Meanwhile, Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) general secretary John Boyle has said it is time for a review of face masks for primary school children.
His comment follows a suggestion by Nphet that the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) should look at the latest evidence on the minimum age for wearing face coverings.
Fatal collisions
Two men have been killed in separate single-vehicle collisions which occurred on Monday evening.
At approximately 6pm, one man, aged in his 70s, was involved a collision in the Derrycrib area of Donadea, Co Kildare.
A second man was killed in a collision at Mainstown, Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary shortly after 9pm on Monday.
In Northern Ireland, a child has died after being struck by a car in Co Down, also on Monday evening.
Ireland's population
The population of the Republic of Ireland is estimated to be at over five million people for the first time since the era of the Great Famine.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Tuesday published its annual Population and Migration Estimates for April 2021, showing Ireland’s population rose to 5.01 million, up from 4.97 million 12 months earlier.
It is the first time the population has reached this level since 1851, a date during the time of the famine which saw mass starvation and emigration in Ireland.
