New ticketing rules for nightclubs and late bars begin today, just hours after they were published.
All customers must buy a ticket at least an hour before, and keep a social-distance of one-metre while queuing for a drink.
Venues who don't comply could face closure, a fine of up to €5,000, and one year in prison.
Director of the Factory Night Club in Waterford, Neill Kelly, says the guidelines make no sense;
"The social distancing queues and you're not allowed have congregation outside your clubs when they want us to have stringent checks on the front door, that's absolute insanity. It beggars belief that somebody has actually put this together thinking its going to work."
Antigen tests
Close-contacts of Covid-19 cases will start to receive rapid antigen tests today.
The HSE yesterday began posting packs of five to vaccinated people who don't have symptoms. They'll be asked to use three of them, and book a PCR test if any turn up positive.
Cases
Almost 15,000 cases of Covid-19 have been reported over the past week. That's an increase of nearly 1,300 on the previous seven days.
It's after 2,605 were confirmed yesterday, which is the highest in over nine months. Cases among 5 to 12 year old's have increased by about 50 per cent in the past two weeks.
