According to state broadcaster RTÉ this morning, the Irish government is planning to open up indoor drinking and dining to fully vaccinated people only.
Writing on RTÉ’s website Mícheál Lehane says:
The Cabinet will meet this morning to consider a proposal to develop a system that would permit only those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to eat and drink inside bars and restaurants.
This would mean that the reopening of indoor hospitality, planned for next Monday, would be delayed for several weeks to allow time for the system to be established……
If there is agreement at Cabinet today, the Government will aim to have a plan ready by mid-July that would lay the foundations for the return of indoor hospitality.
It would see fully vaccinated people getting clearance to spend time inside pubs and restaurants.
This follows a recommendation from the National Public Health Emergency Team that indoor hospitality, apart from hotels, should be confined to this group.
If the Irish government proceeds with the plan, there’s a very good chance that it’ll be extended to sporting events too. Irish transport minister Eamon Ryan told RTÉ:
“I think what we have to do is sit down with restaurant’s association and other interests, a whole variety of different stakeholders…including sporting organisations and others who might be affected, and we will work out solutions with them.”
I called this early last year. I hoped I was wrong. I wasn’t. Will the UK follow suit? Probably. The Telegraph reported last week that the UK government is looking at similar schemes that would keep hospitality open this Winter.
The government is warning of a Winter flu resurgence that combined with covid mutations, could overwhelm the NHS. They’re saying that they understand that pubs and restaurants cannot be shut down indefinitely. It seems inevitable to me, that their solution will be the vaccine passport.
It’s highly likely then, that only the double jabbed will be dining out in the UK this Winter.
No thanks.
