Easing of Covid restrictions
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed that Covid-19 restrictions will ease from May 10th.
Following advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet), the Cabinet has signed off on a raft of loosened Covid-19 restrictions, which will remain dependent on infection numbers and the vaccine rollout.
Mr Martin said the easing of restrictions would proceed in two main phases over the course of May and June, with higher-risk activities such as indoor hospitality to be considered at the end of June.
Surge in hotel bookings
The Irish Hotels Federation is encouraging anyone planning a break to book early amid a surge in interest.
The Government is to examine when people can holiday abroad, with Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan suggesting it will be later in the summer.
IHF president Elaina Fitzgerald Kane says many of the bookings made since yesterday are for June.
Ms Fitzgerald Kane told Newstalk: “There's great optimisim, we've already seen a surge in bookings and interest. A lot of it was for June, in a way maybe we're opening a little bit earlier than what we anticipated, but it certainly builds for a sustainable future because it's been a very rough road over the last year in terms of opening and closing.”
Hospital Covid numbers fall
The number of Covid-19 patients in public hospitals has fallen by 21 per cent in the past week.
The figure fell significantly last night to 136 - the lowest in more than 200 days.
The 5-day average of cases is now 426.
Five arrested after shot fire in Cork
Gardaí have arrested five people after a shot was fired during a Garda search operation in Cork this evening.
The incident took place when gardaí attached to the Cork City Detective Unit were searching a premises at Island View, Rochestown Road as part of an investigation into ongoing criminal activity in the city.
The search was carried out under warrant for Section 29 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, and conducted with the support of gardaí from the Armed Support Unit
