Ministers are gearing up for the announcement on Thursday of what restrictions will ease over the coming months.
Meanwhile, they're also awaiting a decision on the roll-out of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
Timelines for this week:
Mon/Tues: NIAC decision on Johnson & Johnson expected
Mon/Tues: Adding India to mandatory hotel quarantine list
Tues: Regular Cabinet meeting
Wed: NPHET briefs cabinet COVID sub-committee
Thurs: 2nd cabinet meeting & announcement on restrictions— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) April 26, 2021
Ministers will make lots of big decisions this week.
Over the next 48 hours India is likely to be added to the mandatory hotel quarantine list.
They also hope NIAC will come back with a recommendation today or tomorrow.
They're meeting to discuss the use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
COVID-19 Vaccination Programme Update:
More than one in four now have had a vaccine
One in 10 are fully vaccinated pic.twitter.com/1mufGd5Ky3— Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) April 26, 2021
Roadmap For The Summer Is Expected
Tomorrow the cabinet holds it's regular weekly meeting and will be updated on the COVID situation.
NPHET will meet on Wednesday morning.
There the team will consider it's advice to Government on the re-opening of the country in May and beyond.
Health officials will brief a team of senior Ministers at the cabinet sub-committee that evening.
Then on Thursday the full cabinet will meet to sign off on the easing of restrictions through May, and a roadmap for what June and July will look like.
Fianna Fáil Ministers have played down how much detail will be in the plan for later in the summer.
Most of the plans have been well flagged in advance.
They include the return of religious services, retail, the full construction sector and personal services like hairdressers.
There is discussion ongoing about extra outdoor activities that may be allowed next month.
