Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned that measures to ease the lockdown planned for July including pub openings and indoor dining may have to be reviewed if there is evidence of people not following Covid-19 guidelines.
The Taoiseachs spokesman was responding as gardaí were forced to disperse crowds in Dublin city centre for a second day and after chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said he was shocked by weekend scenes of crowds.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar also warned about potential future local lockdowns yesterday.
The Taoiseach reassured that the reopening of hotels on June 2 and outdoor hospitality on June 7 are not in jeopardy, but told the Irish Independent: Everything planned for July is always open to be reconsidered. There must be continued progress in the battle against Covid and there will be a review to determine if there is to be any change of plans.
Mr Martins spokesman said easing of restrictions due this week and next which include hotel and guesthouses reopening and the start of outside service at restaurants and bars will go ahead. But he stressed that planned restriction lifting for July and August was always going to be subject to a review.
Only July 5, bars and restaurants are set to be reopened for outdoor service, while air travel is expected to begin again from July 19. From August 5, numbers of people allowed attend indoor and outdoor events will increase.
The Taoiseachs spokesman said the weekend events had to be seen in the context of fine weather suddenly coinciding with news of major changes to restrictions which had endured for five months. We will not make major changes based on these happenings. But we have to maintain progress in the battle against the virus.
The Taoiseachs comments came after Tánaiste Leo Varadkar warned local lockdowns remain an option amid scenes of large crowds across the country over the weekend.
The Tánaiste also said there is a risk of a fourth wave due to more people socialising but that the Government aims to have 2.5 million people fully vaccinated by the end of July.
He was speaking yesterday as a number of people were arrested in relation to large gatherings in cities, while there was disgust at scenes of litter and empty drinking vessels abandoned on city streets and other popular spots after the sunny weather.
Asked if local lockdowns could be introduced to deal with outbreaks, Mr Varadkar told reporters they are a policy option, even though they had mixed results previously.
It is an option if we need to use it, but hopefully we wont have to, he said.
He added that since the third wave ended, there has been a concern about a fourth.
The course were taking in the view of Nphet and the CMO is a low to moderate risk, but low to moderate risk doesnt mean no risk.
And of course there is a risk of repeating what happened in December.
Tomás Ryan, Trinity College assistant professor of immunology and member of the Independent Scientific Advisory Group (Isag) which advocates for zero Covid, said Isag was very worried about the faster spread of the variant first identified in India..
A lot of those young people who are out there [in crowds] are going to be expected to work in indoor hospitality settings very soon, with a one-metre distancing which is not sufficient since we know the virus is airborne and I dont think that has been really well thought out, he said, calling for more focus on ventilation.
The Isag position is one of caution. We want a situation whereby we can get through vaccination without a fourth wave and without having to bring back restrictions in autumn or sooner.
As a neuroscientist, I am increasingly concerned about the effects of long-Covid. It is important to remember that long-Covid doesnt care about your age. It affects all people, and I dont want this to turn into a summer of long-Covid on top of the risk of exposure to death.