Ireland had been due to move to Phase 4 of the roadmap on reopening last month, but it was already deferred once due to a rise in the Covid-19 reproductive rate. The Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said that there has been a concerning increase in the disease over the past seven days.He said that a significant proportion of new cases in recent weeks are being found under the age of 45. Today’s Covid Count: 0 Deaths, 45 New Cases.This means the total number of fatalities remains at 1,763, with a total of 26,253 coronavirus cases.
Micheál Martin also said the size of crowds gathering will remain at 200 for outdoors and 50 for indoors and he said the evidence will be reviewed again in three weeks’ time.
Hotel bars, nightclubs and casinos will also remain closed; this will be reviewed again on 31 August.
Face coverings will also be made mandatory in shops and shopping centres from next Monday, 10 August.
Malta, Cyprus, Gibraltar, San Marino and Monaco have now been dropped from the Green List of countries that are safe to travel to.
The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly has said what was driving public health advice and the government decision was public safety and public health, the health of the economy and a focus on reopening schools.
ANNETTE J DUNLEA 
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