IRELAND’S National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) meets today to discuss the advice it will give ahead of the first phase of easing the Covid-19 restrictions.
The first of the five phases of Ireland’s reopening is due to be rolled out on Monday next.
NPHET will outline what advice it will give to the government later today.
Since the outbreak, 1,497 people have died in the Republic of Ireland and there have been 23,401 positive cases.
Ireland has been in effective lockdown since March when stringent measures were announced by An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.
A five-stage reopening plan was unveiled last week and the first of those phases are due to begin on Monday, May 18.
NPHET will also discuss the advice it will give for the wearing of face coverings in shops and public transport.
The government will discuss NPHET’s recommendations.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan said: “Because we have some things to consider we have advice to give government as a result of our consideration and I think it will take government time to consider and digest that,” said Dr Holohan.
“If we met on Friday morning I think that the length of time for those to be finalised and for government to give them adequate consideration wouldn’t be sufficient.
“We’re making advice available to Cabinet based on our public health assessment particularly as we move into easing restrictions.
“There will be other considerations the government has to have – economic considerations and social considerations – so the government will have to come to balanced decisions according to its own discussion which I won’t be privy to.
“We make the advice available and government will make the necessary decisions based on that.”
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