Families dining out may have to keep their distance
bringing their children for a meal inside a pub or restaurant may be separated from other diners by up to two metres under new plans set to be approved by Cabinet today.
It comes as the contentious 105-minute time limit for indoor dining is set to be scrapped ahead of next Monday’s reopening. An 11.30pm closing time will remain but will be reviewed. The Government will today give restaurants and pubs the green light to reopen indoor service for vaccinated people, but with strict new guidelines, including mandatory table service and a maximum of six adults per table.
People will also have to be stamped if they leave a premises and be checked on re-entry to ensure that only those with vaccine or recovery passes get in.
It is understood that a Digital Covid Cerdren tificate checker is being developed by Government Information Services for businesses and customers in order to check certificates. Sources close to the negotiations told the Mail that under the new rules, it is expected unvaccinated children will be allowed to accompany vaccinated adults once they are seated two metres away from other tables.
Social distancing of one metre will apply in all other circumstances under the proposals. However, no final decision was made on this last night.
It comes after the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan last week urged parents not to dine with their unvaccinated chilPARENTS indoors. The HSE yesterday revealed how almost a third (32%) of new Covid cases are in children.
The new indoor dining guidelines will also place an emphasis on the need for CO2 monitors and air extractors.
The Irish Daily Mail also understands that a new online form will be set up to allow diners or staff members to report rogue operators who are not sticking to the rules. It is expected that indoor dining will reopen from July 26. However, this is dependent on President Michael D Higgins signing the Bill into law. This will happen either today, tomorrow or Friday.
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said any restaurant that meets the criteria agreed between the Government and the Restaurants Association of Ireland will be safe for indoor dining. ‘If a restaurant is safely implementing those protocols, I would be happy to eat in it,’ he said.