DUBLIN: Taoiseach Micheál Martin has ruled out the possibility of a St. Patrick’s Day parade this time around in the wake of the COVID-19 spread.
The decision follows the cancellation of major parades across the country since last March in the wake of the country’s public health crisis. The St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17.
The Taoiseach said there would be no other celebrations this year as the vaccine could not reach the entire population of the country in a short period of time.
The coronavirus spreads at various stages and new variants are emerging. Therefore, vaccination is the only effective way to get rid of COVID-19, he said.
At the same time, the government has decided to allow children with special needs to return to school if necessary. Discussions on this are ongoing.
Only after the COVID situation has been re-evaluated at the end of January will it be determined whether to reopen schools in the country. However, Mr. Martin said there is no guarantee that the school would reopen in the face of COVID spread.
The Taoiseach added that the government is trying to conduct the Leaving Cert in a traditional way during the summer itself, and the various departments are coordinating the activities for this purpose.