There are three options facing the Irish government.

Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris has said that there are three possible approaches to next week’s planned removal of restrictions.

Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland on Friday, the former Minister for Health said “I do think we have to move away from thinking there’s a binary when it comes to Covid and reopening. Is it a yes, is it a no, is it a proceed, is it not. I think there’s now a third way.

Harris confirmed that government would meet with NPHET and public health experts before deciding by next week how to proceed.

“I think there are three genuine options to consider and scrutinise. Proceed, pause, or proceed whilst retaining some safeguards.” Harris proposed that vaccine certs could remain in play for longer, or face-masks “in situations where they may not have been envisaged a few weeks ago.”

October 22nd has originally been planned as the date by which all restrictions would be removed, but a surge in cases, hospitalisations and deaths due to Covid-19 has affected those plans. 1,627 new cases of Covid were confirmed yesterday, while 415 people are hospitalised, 70 of which are in intensive care.