Irish hair and beauty industry slated to reopen in May

The Irish Government has announced an easing of Covid-19 restrictions from April, with personal services such as hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons slated to reopen in May.

In an address to the nation, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said that the current Level 5 lockdown will begin to lift from 12 April, with the nationwide 5km travel restriction being increased as  people will be allowed to move about within their own county, or within 20km of their home if that crosses their county border.

May should see the return of personal services such as hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons, as well as the phased reopening of non-essential retail. Click-and-collect will also resume in May.

While some had hoped that click-and-collect might return earlier, there was reportedly a concern that this would cause people to begin moving about more than necessary, increasing the Covid-19 risk.

From 12 April, two fully vaccinated people will be permitted to meet indoors, and outdoor meetings of two households will be allowed. Home building workers will return to work as part of staggered return of construction industry.

From 26 April, golf and tennis will resume, and zoos and places of heritage will reopen. There will be an increase in attendance at funerals from 10 to 25 people. Museums and galleries are slated to reopen in May.

There is also to be an overhaul of Ireland’s vaccination programme; it’s being proposed that once the over-70s are inoculated, as well as those with underlying health conditions and vulnerable groups, vaccinations will be given on the basis of age only, rather than age and profession. These changes won’t come into effect until people with underlying conditions and those under the age of 65 in long-term residential facilities are vaccinated.

According to the Taoiseach, “we are on the final stretch of this terrible journey”.

“This summer, our businesses and our public services will safely reopen,” he said. “We will finally be meeting, and enjoying the company of friends and family once again, and we will be able to travel within and enjoy our beautiful country. Jobs and livelihoods will be restored and, most importantly, the worst of this awful pandemic will be behind us, steadily and safely. Let’s get through this final phase together.”