Great news for those missing golf courses and tennis courts.
Outdoor sports facilities and zoos will reopen today as Covid-19 restrictions in Ireland are eased further.
From 26 April, outdoor sports facilities such as pitches, golf courses and tennis courts are allowed to open again.
Activities in these areas are allowed to take place between a maximum of two households.
Any indoor facilities at these places – such as clubhouses, changing rooms, showers, kitchens and meeting rooms – must remain closed though, apart from essential toilet facilities.
There should not be any return to team sports or training activities, the Government has said.
Also allowed to return are outdoor visitor attractions like zoos, open pet farms and heritage sites.
That said, indoor areas at these places should remain closed and hospitality should only be open for take-away services.
The Government has also said robust protective measures – including limits on capacity – should be in place at these locations.
Amusement parks are currently not permitted to open.
In terms of other restrictions being eased, underage non-contact outdoor sports training in pods of 15 or fewer can restart.
Meanwhile, the maximum permitted attendance at funerals has increased to 25 people from 10.
The Government will meet this week to make a decision on the roadmap for easing restrictions further with personal services such as hair salons, and the return of non-essential retail, at the top of their agenda.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said over the weekend that he wants hair salons, retail and other sectors to be able “to “stay open” once restrictions are eased.
He stated that the continual reopening and closing of the economy has been “soul-destroying” for many people.
Over the weekend, the Taoiseach also confirmed that over one million first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland – which may be a factor in any decisions made by the Government this week.
Just been informed by @HSELive that we’ve reached 1 Million first doses of the #CovidVaccine
Great work by all the vaccination teams and GPs across the country.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 25, 2021
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