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Lock-down measures to combat the spread of Covid19 have been extended in the Republic of Ireland for another 3½ weeks; until after the May Bank Holiday Weekend.
The current restrictions includes people only being able
to exercise within a 2km radius of home, which has brought traditional training
rides for cyclists to an end.
That restriction has been in place for just over two
weeks and will be in place for a further 3½ weeks.
It means by the time the extended period expires, on May
5th, the 2km zone restriction will have been in place for almost six weeks.
The move by the Government to extend the lockdown measures – which also include businesses and schools being shut and only essential workers being permitted to go to work as normal – was expected.
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However, while cyclists still face just over three weeks
more on the home trainer, or cycling short distances in a 2km radius of their
homes, the first glimmers of hope that we may be nearing an end game have begun
to emerge.
As European governments have begun to discuss the
relaxation of some of their lockdown measures, so too has the Irish government.
If that were to happen, it is hoped the 2km exercise rule would be scrapped, which would represent a big step towards some kind of normality for cyclists.
The Irish Government now believes it is very close to reaching crucial progress points with the Republic's Covid19 testing system that must be reached before any restrictions are relaxed.
Minister for Health Simon Harris TD (FG) has said if the
Republic got the reproduction rate of the virus – known as R0 – down to one or
below, then the restrictions could be partly lifted.
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That effectively means the average number of people becoming infected by a confirmed case of Covid19 being one or less.
At present the Republic’s R0 rate is close to one having previously been 4.5. But it needs to be confirmed at one or less; a key tipping point in controlling Covid19 long-term.
Mr Harris said an R0 rate of less than one would result
in the numbers in intensive care coming down. This, he added, would create
capacity for ‘new case’ numbers to fluctuate when the process of lifting
restrictions commences.
He added the backlog in testing would be cleared by
around the end of next week. Once that happened, test results for ongoing
testing should be available within 48 hours, he explained; another key factor
required before restrictions could start to be lifted.
And when the timeline for test results was reduced, the
criteria for testing would be expanded meaning anyone who believed they may
have Covid19 could be tested; another crucial requirement before restrictions
could be lifted, Mr Harris said.
At present people can only secure a test if they are
suffering from at least two of the common symptoms of Covid19.
Whether the 2km exercise would be lifted as part of any first relaxation of restrictions is now clear.
However, it was one of the measures introduced yesterday fortnight when the most stringent set of restrictions, which are now extended until May 5th, were announced and hopefully it will be one of the first to be lifted.
It might mean people could go beyond 2km to exercise but for another period they could still not train in a group; though the precise shape of the first relaxation of measures is not yet clear.
In the meantime, cycling beyond 2km is not allowed – unless to perform an essential task or commute to work if you are classified as an essential worker. Gardai now have stronger powers to enforce the measures, with fines up to €2,500 and/or short terms of imprisonment now provided for.
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