With Ireland set to move to Phase 2 of the roadmap for easing Covid-19 restrictions on Monday, 8 June, Moira Hannon explores what the future might look like in Ireland. Coronavirus has cost more than 1,600 lives, crashed the economy and had a huge societal impact - from shutting children out of schools to isolating over 70s from their family and friends.
But there is no doubt that the restrictions introduced have saved many lives and latest indicators show the virus has been suppressed in the community with the R (reproductive rate) reduced to between 0.4 and 0.7.
Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the National Public Health Emergency Team Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said the easing of restrictions in Phase 1 has not