Cabinet meeting today to decide on easing restrictions

Retailers, gyms and hairdressers are expected to be given the green light to open on Tuesday following today's Cabinet meeting.

The Cabinet will meet later today to consider advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) about easing of Covid-19 restrictions for Christmas..

The public health team recommended that pubs and restaurants should only be allowed serve takeaway throughout December, but it is expected the Cabinet will allow the reopening of restaurants next month.

Gastropubs are also understood to be allowed to reopen with additional restrictions in place.

Religious services are also expected to resume in December but with strict rules about choirs.

It is expected that museums, galleries and cinemas will reopen under the Government’s early phase of reopening.

Inter-county travel will be restricted until later in December, but the 5km guidance will be lifted in the earlier phase.

The Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, said earlier this week it was hoped that restrictions on household visits could be eased for up to two weeks to allow people visit their friends and family around Christmas time.

Last night, the sub-committee on Covid-19 were discussing at allowing a meeting of three households, plus your own, with a maximum of six people, but it is believed Cabinet might opt for a max of ten.

The date for easing those restrictions is expected to be in and around the 18 December.