Pubs in South to reopen on September 21 with strict regulations

Pubs in the South will reopen later this month.

Pubs in the south which do not serve food - so called ‘wet’ pubs - have been given the green light to open on September 21.

The pubs, which have been closed since March, will be subject to strict regulations on social distancing and hygiene after discussions with the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET)

Previously, only pubs that served food were allowed to open and again, strict regulations were in place.

Draft guidelines for the reopening of ‘wet pubs’ would see the 105 minute time limit abolished where two metre social distancing can take place between people from different households. Other draft guidelines include the requirement to serve customers their drinks at tables only and for people to be gone from the premises by 11.30pm. Pubs would also be required to keep records of arrival times and contact details of customers and group numbers would be limited to six people from no more than three households.

The plans to reopen pubs are subject to local restrictions.

Yesterday, there were 307 additional cases of Covid 19 confirmed in the South, as well as one death. Of the 307 cases, 182 were in Dublin, 25 in Kildare, 19 in Limerick, 15 in Wexford, 15 in Louth, 8 in Wicklow, 6 in Galway, 6 in Clare, 6 in Kilkenny and the remaining 25 cases are located in Cavan, Cork, Donegal, Kerry, Longford, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath.