An-Najah News - Health Minister Simon Harris said in a statment"Ireland is highly unlikely to allow large gatherings this year and the “cocooning” of people over 70 years old in their homes may persist for quite a while.

“I can’t see how people can be in packed pubs again as long as this virus is still with us and we don’t have a vaccine or an effective treatment.”

Ireland’s chief medical officer declaredthe first wave of the coronavirus outbreak had been contained in the population at large that raised hopes that stay-at-home restrictions could begin to be rolled back from May 5.

Currently people can only go out to shop for groceries or for brief physical exercise within a 2 kilometre radius of their homes. Over 70s have been told not to leave their homes.

Harris said he would like to see a situation where schools could reopen or at least partially reopen.

Allowing students back just one day a week “would provide breathing space for families and information and I think that would help,” Harris said.