Ireland’s pubs may exploit a loophole

As the coronavirus epidemic worsened across Europe, raucous celebrations among revellers in a Dublin pub in March forced the Irish government into one of the continent’s strictest lockdowns.

As the country emerges from the first wave of the crisis, the plight of the Irish pub has emerged as a key battleground between cautious policymakers and industry groups calling for much quicker loosening of economic restrictions.

Almost half of pubs may exploit a loophole in government rules by opening as a restaurant in June, according to a survey last week. Officially, watering holes can open their doors again in August, but those with restaurant certificates could open earlier — raising the prospect of drinkers having to book a table in advance and order their Guinness from a waiter.

Pubs and restaurants were not included in the government’s initial lockdown orders and were instead advised to adhere to strict social distancing measures. On March 15, though, images emerged on social media of a crowded pub in the Temple Bar, a popular Dublin city centre tourist hotspot, of young people huddled together singing along with a live band.

There was a widespread backlash among the public. The government immediately ordered the closure of all pubs and restaurants.

On March 12, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar interrupted his annual St Patrick’s Day engagements in Washington to give a live address on Irish TV.

The country has coped relatively well by international standards. The latest figures show 24,803 cases and 1631 deaths recorded.

However, the death rate is the eighth highest per capita in the world, but that is partly because the government included all Covidrelated mortalities in the official figures. — Telegraph Media Group