Parents have been asked to reduce their childrens’ opportunities for indoor socialisation for the next two weeks due to the impact of the current Delta wave of Covid-19.

In a statement published following a Cabinet meeting today, the coalition said that children aged 12 and younger should reduce socialisation indoors, following public health advice.

“Parents know their children best and know the activities/experiences that matter most to them. Therefore, parents are being asked to priorities their children’s activities – minimising indoor community gatherings and indoor mixed household gatherings” with the aim of reducing the opportunities for the virus to transmit.

Hospital Report

Parents are being encouraged to move activities outdoors and reduce the number of children involved in any particular activity. Meanwhile, the children from third class up will now be required to wear faces masks in school and on school transport, while the public health advice will be for children aged nine and over to wear face coverings on public transport and in indoor public settings.

Q&A: What are the new Covid measures on children’s activities and travel?

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The Government also agreed to re-establish the legal structure enabling the Mandatory Hotel Quarantine system, although a decision to restart the programme has not yet been taken. The aim is to pass the legislation this week, coalition sources said.

Testing for Covid-19 on people arriving into the country is set to tighten up, with mandatory PCR or professionally-administered antigen tests required for all those entering the country, except those coming from Northern Ireland. PCR tests can be taken up to 72 hours before flying, while antigen tests can be taken only 48 hours before flight. The rules will come into effect on Friday.