5 July is a date that is going to be marked on a lot of people’s calendars.
The government has confirmed the dates for the return of international travel, the return of indoor dining and drinking in pubs and restaurants and the return of crowds to outdoor and sporting events.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed the dates as part of a gradual further lifting of restrictions on a phased basis throughout the summer months.
It had previously been announced that from 2 June, hotels and guesthouses would be allowed to reopen, while from 7 June outdoor hospitality would be permitted to return.
Now, cinemas have also been given the green light to reopen their doors on 7 June. For a list of what movies you can expect to see in cinemas, see here.
Indoor service in pubs and restaurants is permitted to return on 5 July, while, as had been speculated, international travel is allowed for non-essential reasons from 19 July.
In terms of sport, from 7 June, 100 spectators will be allowed to attend outdoor events, which can be bumped up to 200 in stadiums with a usual capacity of 5,000.
Meanwhile, a larger number of spectators will be allowed to attend several specific sporting events in June and early July as part of the Government’s pilot scheme to trial large events.
From 5 July, a limit of 50 people will be able to attend wedding receptions, rising to 100 on 5 August.
The Taoiseach did state the easing of the restrictions will be “subject to us continuing to make progress” suppressing Covid-19.
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