Reopening: Frustrating ‘baby steps’ seen as the best way back to normality

Few risks were taken with pilot gigs like the James Vincent McMorrow concert last Thursday, but experts say this approach was correct despite rising optimism at the accelerated vaccine rollout

About 500 people attended a James Vincent McMorrow concert at the Iveagh Gardens last week as part of a pilot project to bring back live gigs. Picture: Mark Stedman

They say no news is good news and the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) did not even hold its weekly media briefing last Friday. Instead, the headlines were dominated by reports of the lucky folk who got to enjoy some of the pilot matches and concerts that took place around the country this weekend.

Covid cases in Irish hospitals are currently at a nine-month low, and on Friday Paul Reid, the HSE chief executive, ...