Four more people die and 16 new cases, bars and restaurants call for limit to be extended to two hours
A further four people have died after contracting the coronavirus as 16 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed this evening.
It brings the overall death toll as a result of the virus to 1,714 . There are now 25,355 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the State, according to the latest daily briefing from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
The latest casualties were confirmed as restaurants welcomed the introduction of the one-metre social distancing rule.
Cormac Cronin, owner of the Bodega restaurant in Waterford city, described it as a “fantastic” move.
“The news of the one-metre rule makes all the difference in the world,” he told RTÉ.
“Previously with us, we were an 85-seater restaurant and with the two metres we were going to be down to probably 35, maybe 40. I measured it out today with the one-metre guidelines and we will be able to get roughly 60 people in, which is a viable business again, thankfully.”
However, restaurant owners and publicans also sounded a warning about the viability of the 90-minute time limit for customers.
Some have called on the time limit to be extended to two hours, pointing out that customers can sometimes take half an hour ordering their meals and drinks before they are served.
