Negative antigen test may be required for nightclubs when they reopen on 22 October

The expert advisory group on antigen testing is due to report in the coming days.

People may need to provide negative antigen tests to go to nightclubs when they reopen to the public, Art and Culture Minister Catherine Martin has confirmed. It comes as 450 people are set to attend Ireland's first nightclub pilot since the pandemic began in the Button Factory in Dublin tonight with  the use of Digital Covid Certs and antigen testing. Speaking the launch on Thursday, Martin said that Government are not ruling out the use of antigen tests when clubs reopen on 22 October. “It is maybe something they will need so that is why we are seeing the effect of it and the impact of antigen testing tonight,” she said. “So, no clear decision has been made on that. "The expert advisory group on antigen testing is due to report in the coming days and these are the sorts of issues we asked them to examine so it will help to have this done. "There are many challenges ahead for the live performance sector, particularly in a post-Covid-19 context." Nightclubs and other "high-risk" activities are to reopen fully on 22 October as the remaining Covid-19 restrictions are set to ease.