Taoiseach Micheál Martin, when he took to the podium this afternoon to announce a change to the reopening plan, said: "We do not want to lose the progress we have made".
NPHET advised "in stark terms", he said, that proceeding with the next stage of reopening as planned on 5 July carries a very real risk of more illness, more hospital admissions and more deaths.
So what route has the Government decided on? Indoor hospitality The return of indoor service in bars, restaurants and other indoor activities such as group exercise, training and dance, has been delayed.
It had been due to resume on 5 July - next Monday. The Taoiseach said NPHET's advice was based on modelling in the context of the new Delta variant, which is more transmissible than