On 19 June, the Government approved a Revised Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, with most activity now being moved to Phase 3, beginning on Monday, 29 June 2020.
The acceleration of the Roadmap has been made possible thanks to the progress made by the Irish people in suppressing the virus and in keeping transmission levels low.
As the country is reopened in a controlled and measured way, personal responsibility will be more important than ever. Physical distancing must be maintained to the greatest extent possible, for as much time as possible, to prevent the spread of infection.
Everyone is being asked to consider four things before making a decision about doing something and to evaluate the risk by using the acronym DATE:
Distance
Activity
Time
Environment
Members of the public are advised to use a face covering (that is, a non-medical face covering) as an additional hygiene measure, when using public transport or when in enclosed indoor public areas such as retail outlets.
A new communications campaign launched this week encourages people to wear face coverings in these circumstances, and when visiting people vulnerable to COVID-19.