12,000 Firms Re-Open Today With Easing Of Covid

Inter-county travel, personal services and non-essential retail resume.

A major relaxing of Covid restrictions gets underway today for the first time this year, with 12,000 businesses expected to reopen this week.

What changes from today? All the key points in 50 seconds 👇⏱️

🛍️Click & Collect
✂️Hairdressers & Barbers
🖼️Cultural attractions
🏐Sports for adults in pods of 15
🛣️Intercounty travel
🌳Outdoor gatherings of 15

Full Covid-19 update👉 https://t.co/dpBOmLqHS1 #StaySafe pic.twitter.com/GGIG86vjzX

— MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) May 10, 2021

Travel across counties and haircuts are allowed, as well as click and collect.

Religious services are also permitted, and galleries, museums and libraries are also back open.

On Friday, 50 thousand Covid-19 vaccines were administered here - the largest in a single day.

Professor Sam McConkey from the RCSI says the vaccination rollout should help society ease restrictions further:

Non-essential retailers across the country are preparing to re-open their doors for the first time this year.

As we enter the end game of COVID 19, I would like to wish all our friends & colleagues who reopen and restart their businesses tomorrow the very best of luck - Hairdressers & Barbers @irishhairfed - Click & Collect Retailers @RetailExIreland @Retail_Irl #nogoingback

— Adrian Cummins 🇮🇪🇪🇺 (@adriancummins) May 9, 2021

As part of the phased re-opening click and collect is available once again and shoppers can visit stores from today by appointment only.

Duncan Graham from Retail Excellence says the pandemic has led to changes in consumer habits:

These shoppers at Penneys in Newbridge in Co Kildare have been getting a few bits.

Irish Hairdressers Federation President Danielle Kennedy says they're thrilled to welcome customers back to salons:

Faith groups across the country are looking forward to welcoming more people to mass and religious services from today.

As part of the easing of restrictions 50 people will be allowed to attend mass, funerals and weddings within church settings.

Fr. Richard Gibbons is the Parish Priest of Knock and Rector of Knock Shrine.

He says it's a welcome development:

Bus Eireann says capacity on public transport is increasing to 50 per cent from today.

As capacity on public transport returns to 50% & the reopening of intercounty travel from tomorrow Monday, 10 May we ask customers to travel outside of peak demand - try to travel between 9am & 4pm & after 6pm. @TFIupdates @aaroadwatch @ExpresswayIRE pic.twitter.com/iu1rf8pGG1

— Bus Éireann (@Buseireann) May 9, 2021

Its Chief Customer Officer, Alan Parker is asking people not to travel at rush hour:

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar says after a long lockdown, today is welcome: