New COVID restrictions in Ireland will force nightclubs to close next week

After Ireland reopened their clubs on October 31 following a year-and-a-half of closure, nightlife spaces will now be forced to close once again from December 7 to January 9.

In a new set of rules announced on Friday, BBC News reported that as well as club closures, music venues and sporting events will also have to cut their capacity for indoor events to a maximum of 50%.

The new restrictions have been put in place to reduce the spread of COVID and the new Omicron variant for the Christmas period.

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Taoiseach (Irish PM) Micheál Martin announced new restrictions in a televised address on Friday night after the Irish government took the decisions at a cabinet meeting with advice from the Chief Medical Officer and the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).

Mr Martin said the "risks associated with proceeding into the Christmas period without some restrictions to reduce the volume of personal contacts is just too high".

Other rules introduced include the table service only rule, social distancing, a maximum of six adults can sit together, a ban on multiple table bookings and masks be worn when not at the table.

According to The Times Ian Redmond, co-owner of Tramline in Dublin, said the new restrictions in place until January 9 that require table service and ban dancing had made the future of nightclubs “very ominous and bleak”.

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From today, travellers to the Republic of Ireland must show results from a lateral flow test taken up to 48 hours before arrival or a PCR test taken up to 72 hours earlier. This applies for all travellers including visitors from Great Britian.

Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter