Taoiseach declares ‘today’s a good day’ as restrictions are VOIDED from 6am after Ireland ‘fixes storm Omicron’

TAOISEACH Michael Martin has declared Ireland “past storm Omicron” as he announced that nearly all restrictions will be lifted from 6am tomorrow.

Speaking live in a speech to the nation, Taoiseach said the Government would not impose restrictions on individual liberties for longer than necessary.

first

Praising the public’s efforts during the pandemic, Martin said: “You responded. You did what you were asked… Your collection efforts have saved thousands of lives.”

He said the country had had some dark days over the past two years but “today is a good day” and Ireland has “made it through Hurricane Omicron”.

Almost all Covid-19 measures will be lifted from 6am on Saturday,

The only rules that will still apply will be masks, self-isolation after testing positive for the virus, and Covid tickets for international travel.

Pubs and nightclubs can return to normal operations with late opening hours, bar service, no contact tracing and no social distancing.

Attendees of sporting and arts events will have no restrictions, no Covid certificates required to eat indoors, but they will be kept in place for international travel.

Taoiseach expressed gratitude to the public for doing what they were asked to do within “unprecedented restrictions” on their lives.

“Today is a good day, before that, my government colleagues and I met to review the latest report from the National Public Health Emergencies Group,” he said.

“That report confirms that we’ve weathered Hurricane Omicron, it confirms that infection rates are falling, and that all the key metrics we made decisions on are stable and on track. asserts that the world of Ireland-class vaccination programs and the deployment of boosters have completely changed our situation.

“Based on this evidence, we have concluded that the rationale and justification for continuing most of our public health restrictions no longer holds.

“Therefore, as of 6 a.m. tomorrow, most of the public health measures that we have to live with will be removed.”