General News / November 27, 2020

Government set to reopen restaurants and gastropubs in December

Credit: Priscilla Du Preez
General News / November 27, 2020

Government set to reopen restaurants and gastropubs in December

Words: Dylan Murphy

The news arrives with suggestions of tighter restrictions on numbers in restaurants during the festive period.

Despite advice from National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) the Government is set to permit the reopening of restaurants and gastropubs from early December while also permitting household visits.

The news follows a five hour meeting on Thursday night where it was suggested that a large part of the hospitality sector should open from December 7.

However, since then it has been reported by RTÉ News that this could be pushed forward to as early as December 4.

Though it is not likely household visits will be permitted around this time, the rules will change on December 18 alongside the lifting of travel restrictions in order to allow people to return home.

From next week, it is anticipated that gyms, retail shops and hairdressers will also reopen.

According to The Irish Times Senior sources suggested that stricter rules around numbers in restaurants would be introduced.

The news comes after Nphet wrote a letter to the government recommending the hospitality sector should be restricted to takeaway services only throughout the final month of 2020.

Reports suggest the Cabinet will meet today (Friday 27) to confirm the the move to level 3 following six weeks at level 5.