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The Cabinet Covid-19 subcommittee is to meet later to recommend a timeline for the further easing of a number of Covid-19 restrictions.
A plan for the easing of remaining curbs, including a timeline for the reopening of the live entertainment, culture and arts sectors, is to be agreed at a full Cabinet meeting next week and announced by the Government.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) wrote to the Government earlier this week advising that more than 90 per cent of people over the age of 16 should be fully vaccinated before any further unwinding of restrictions takes place.
If that target is agreed by the Cabinet, it would likely mean there would be no further changes to pandemic curbs for around six weeks.
Minister for Culture Catherine Martin has been pushing for an earlier lifting of the restrictions and limits on the live events and arts sectors. She is seeking to have a full reopening of indoor events for fully vaccinated people next month.
Ms Martin is also expected to push for a reopening of indoor arts, drama and dance classes in September included in the latest Government plan.
Other Ministers are to support allowing a number of currently closed businesses such as bingo halls, bowling alleys, yoga and dance studios to reopen for the fully vaccinated.
The Cabinet meeting may also discuss a potential vaccine booster campaign to be rolled out in the autumn, and advice for businesses around employees returning to the office.
Optimism
Speaking earlier this week, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said he was “optimistic” the country would be in a position to move on from some of the current restrictions “in the near term”.
There were 314 patients in hospital with Covid-19 as of 8pm on Thursday, according to latest Health Service Executive (HSE) figures. Sixty-one patients with the virus are in intensive care, with 26 requiring ventilation.
There were a further 1,866 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed on Thursday by the Department of Health.
A large number of Covid-19 vaccination centres will again offer walk-in clinics over the weekend for both first and second doses, to encourage younger people to receive the vaccine.