From Monday, most Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted in Ireland. It comes a day before the second anniversary of the country's first case of the virus, which was announced by NPHET on Saturday 29 February, 2020.
Here are the restrictions that will be lifted:
Mask mandate
From Monday, the mandatory requirement to wear a mask will be removed.
It will be replaced with public health advice that masks should still be worn while on public transportation and in healthcare settings.
Schools
Physical distancing measures in schools, such as pods, will end, while testing and tracing will be scaled back.
Measures such as social distancing and the staggering of breaks can also end.
Infection prevention and control measures, including ventilation, hygiene measures and advice to stay at home if symptomatic will continue.
The current antigen testing programme will also continue.
PCR requirements
PCR tests will only be recommended for certain symptomatic people, including those aged over 55, those with a high-risk medical condition and those who are immunocompromised.
Symptomatic people who live in the same house or who support people who are immunocompromised - as well as pregnant women – will also be required to take PCR tests if they have symptoms of Covid-19.
For everyone else, the public health advice is to self-isolate until 48 hours after symptoms resolve, with no PCR requirement.
Close contacts with no symptoms no longer need a test, unless they are a healthcare worker who is a household close contact.
Restrictions that remain
The requirement to isolate after a positive Covid-19 case remains in place.
Government advice for people over the age of 13, is to wear a medical grade mask or FFP2 for 10 days after positive result, whereas children between the ages nine to 12 should wear a well-fitted standard mask for 10 days.
There is no change to the current measures regarding international travel, including the requirement for a Digital Covid Certificate.
