MAGIC MONDAY
»»Leo reveals start of lifting the lockdown »»Facemasks advised when out in public »»But Health Minister warns to stay alert
LEO Varadkar has confirmed the coronavirus lockdown will begin to be eased on Monday.
But face masks in public will now become the norm as the Taoiseach recommended using coverings when out and about from next week.
Mr Varadkar said: “I can confirm that it is safe to proceed with phase one from Monday.
“This gives us reason to hope, but it is not a cause for celebration. We have a long way to go yet.
“There will be bumps in the road and we have to keep our guard up.”
Tens of thousands of people will be able to head back to work, including builders, gardeners, more factory workers and retail staff in mobile phone shops and opticians.
Golf and tennis will also return and people can visit a range of reopened parks, beaches and mountain treks.
The Taoiseach made another historic address to the nation yesterday as he declared we are winning the battle against coronavirus.
And because of this, he announced the Government has decided it is appropriate to ease some of the draconian restrictions the country has endured since March 27.
But Mr Varadkar warned: “Coronavirus is a fire in retreat, but it is not defeated.
“We must extinguish every spark, quench every ember.
“We are all bound together in this great national effort and we must rely on each other if we are to succeed.”
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said he doesn’t want people to get a false sense of security just because they’re wearing a face mask next week.
He stressed handwashing is still the best way to deal with the virus.
The top medic added: “We cannot regard face coverings as some sort of magical shield. It is not a magic bullet for this disease.”
And the Taoiseach said it is preferable that people make their own face masks – from cotton is fine – to save the higher spec ones for health workers.
He added: “An additional hygiene measure is to use face coverings when using busy public transport or when in enclosed indoor public areas, such as retail outlets.”
The Taoiseach’s latest landmark speech came after an emergency meeting of the Cabinet convened to sign-off on easing the lockdown. The experts from the National Public Health Emergency Team met on Thursday night and gave the go-ahead for Monday’s move.
It is part of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business unveiled by the Government two weeks ago, which includes five phases.
Up to 1,500 businesses will reopen on Monday morning as tens of thousands of people head back to work for the first time in up to two months.
Builders, gardeners, communications workers and thousands more retail staff and factory workers will return, while hardware stores, mobile phone shops, opticians, farmers’ markets and garden centres can open their doors again.
There was an understanding that
This gives us hope, but it is not a cause for celebration
LEO VARADKAR DUBLIN YESTERDAY
homeware stores were to be part of the reopening plan on Monday, but Cabinet has decided to hold back on these for now.
That means the massive IKEA store in Dublin can scale back its plans to deal with the queues they were expecting from Monday.
In the sporting arena, behindclosed-doors horseracing meetings have been given the go-ahead.
This is indicative of the influence the racing and bloodstock industries have in Fine Gael.
Mr Varadkar said it was recognising the reality that the industry will be back up and running in Britain and France and that it is a sector worth billions to the Irish economy.
There will be a relaxation in the lockdown for socialising too, with four people from different households now allowed outdoors together. But they cannot visit inside one another’s homes. The Taoiseach
CAUTIOUS Health
Minister Simon Harris outlined the new changes for getting out and about.
He told people to stay at home, except:
■ To go to work if your workplace is open and you can’t work from home
■ To shop for items you need
■ To exercise within 5km of home
■ For medical reasons or to care for others, or
■ To meet friends or family outdoors in groups of no more than four.
Health Minister Simon Harris thanked the public for their sacrifices.
He said: “In the face of great challenge the restrain you have shown has saved us from great catastrophe.
“We’re asking you to help us as we take the first step towards the new normal.
“We are moving to a phase of greater freedom, but with that comes a new phase of responsibility.”