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Large mass gatherings will remain banned until end of August due to COVID-19

Large mass gatherings will remain banned until at least the end of August due to the coronavirus ...
Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

17.15 21 Apr 2020


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Large mass gatherings will rem...

Large mass gatherings will remain banned until end of August due to COVID-19

Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

17.15 21 Apr 2020


Share this article


Large mass gatherings will remain banned until at least the end of August due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Cabinet discussed the ongoing restrictions this morning.

The ban on mass gatherings through August will likely mean the cancellation of summer gigs and music festivals, while events such as the National Ploughing Championships could be impacted if it continues into September.

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The continuing ban will apply to gatherings of 5,000 people or more that require licences, although smaller events could also be impacted by any continued requirement for social distancing.

In a statement, the Government said many large-scale events due to be held in the summer require licensing and the involvement of the HSE and gardaí.

The statement notes: "While the issue of restrictions on future mass gatherings is a decision to be taken by the NPHET, in the case of these particular events, and taking account of the impacts on the integrity of the licensing process in the short-term due to restrictions on stakeholder involvement, local authorities have been advised by Government that event promoters should be informed that events requiring licences in excess of 5,000 will not be considered for the period up to the end of August."

Health Minister Simon Harris has previously warned that it's "highly unlikely we're going to be seeing very large kind of mass gatherings this year".

A number of large events have already been cancelled or postponed this year - including the likes of the Dublin Horse Show, Dublin Pride and the Tullamore Show.

It comes as the Finance Minister said no decision has yet been made on which parts of the economy might be released from restrictions first when restrictions begin to be eased.

Paschal Donohoe has this afternoon warned that 220,000 jobs could be lost this year.

He said it's clear the economy is "now in the midst of a severe recession", as projections suggest the economy may not return to where it was until 2022.

Reporting by Sean Defoe and Stephen McNeice
Main image: File photo, RollingNews.ie.

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