Minister hints at tests for clubbers
ANTIGEN testing may be required for entry into nightclubs after restrictions are lifted next month, Culture Minister Catherine Martin has suggested.
The Green Party’s deputy leader made the admission hours before the first pilot nightclub event in the Button Factory in Dublin last night, where 450 revellers partied with no social distancing or face masks. Ticket-holders arrived at the venue for antigen tests from mid-afternoon in preparation for the big night.
Speaking ahead of the event, Ms Martin admitted that they would be ‘experimenting’ with antigen tests at last night’s trial to see if it would be feasible to use them when nightclubs reopen fully on October 22.
Ms Martin denied that it would be ‘cumbersome’ to get an antigen test done before a night out and said she would be prepared to do it if she was going ‘clubbing or to a music event or concert’.
When pushed further by the Irish Daily Mail on testing, Ms Martin said that she is ‘not demanding this’ and stressed it is something the events industry wants to be examined.
Ms Martin also could not confirm if a Covid cert would still be required to gain entry to clubs when the restrictions are lifted next month.
‘I would hope that it would be one of the restrictions lifted but it depends where we are on hospitalisations, ICU and Covid numbers at that time,’ she said.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, meanwhile, told the Dáil that he expects people to be able to order a drink at the bar from October 22. He said no social distancing will be required and hospitality venues can return to pre-pandemic capacity.