Hospitality Faces 5pm Curfew

Ministers will meet to-day to consider an earlier closing time for hospitality and curtailed crowds at sports events on foot of fresh advice from public health advisers, as the HSE stepped up preparations for a wave of the Omicron variant.

It is understood Ministers will consider a closing time for hospitality of as early as 5pm from next week.

Government sources said that the mood had “darkened” around coming weeks and that major sporting events such as the Leopardstown races and forthcoming rugby fixtures hung in the balance. There is also a question around forthcoming gigs and concerts after it emerged the Omicron variant now accounts for 27 per cent of Covid-19 cases.

The National Public Health Emergency Team met on Thursday afternoon and finalised its recommendations to Government, which are aimed at reducing socialising before and after the festive period.

People will be asked to limit their social interactions in the lead-up to Christmas, especially if there will be 'intergenerational mixing.' Sources say that self-testing and PCR testing will be key to mitigating any spike in cases over Christmas.