Good things come to those who wait: Irish pubs stay shut

‘This will be a hammer blow to communities. Many pubs are small rural outlets removed from crowds’

IRELAND has delayed opening drinking-only pubs after a significant rise in coronavirus infections among the young forced the government to put back phase four of lockdown easing.

Micheal Martin, the Taoiseach (prime minister), announced the move after public health officials identified a rise in the reinfection rate from below 1 to between 1.2 and 1.8.

“Unrestricted house parties have led to a rise in recent outbreaks of the virus,” he said.

The move was described as a “hammer blow” to the hospitality industry.

Rural pubs will be particularly badly hit and many could go out of business, said Padraig Cribben, head of the Vitners’ Federation of Ireland.

Almost 3,500 drinking-only pubs were due to reopen on Monday, but that is now delayed until Aug 10, along with nightclub opening.

About 7,000 pubs selling food were able to reopen last month, with social distancing and hygiene precautions.

Mr Cribben said: “This is a shocking decision, and will be a hammer blow to thousands of pubs and their local communities. The vast majority of these pubs are small rural outlets run by families who are on first-name terms with their customers. They are far removed from the crowded venues that are causing concern.”

Public health officials identified 96 clusters of infection caused by large gatherings in private homes. There are fears that numbers would increase if replicated in pubs.

Face coverings will now have to be worn in shops and shopping centres. Ireland’s death toll stands at 1,748.