Restaurants, bars, cafes, and food courts across Ireland would be permitted from Monday to provide indoor services to customers fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Those that had recovered from the disease in the past six months, as well as children under 18 in their care, would also be allowed, according to the Irish government’s new guidelines.

Customers must show their EU Digital COVID Certificate or other valid proof of immunity before entering indoor hospitality venues.

They would also be required to bring their photo identification (ID), such as passports or driving licenses, to verify their identity.

Children would not have to show proof of immunity, but they may be checked for their age at the premises.

Businesses providing indoor hospitality services would be required to record the name and phone number of each customer for contact tracing purposes.

Those aged under 18 would be exempted, while contact details of customers must be kept for 28 days.

Customers would be required to wear face covers at all times while seated.

A maximum of six people aged 13 or above can be served at a table.

This limit does not include children younger than 12.

There is no time limit on how long customers can stay, but all businesses must close at 11:30 p.m.

Ireland has banned indoor hospitality services for more than 16 months since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country in late February 2020.

This had caused huge losses to its hospitality sector, which employed an estimated 180,000 people prior to the pandemic, according to local media reports.

While the reopening of indoor hospitality services was widely welcomed by businesses and consumers, it also raised concerns among local public health officials and residents.

Statistics released by the Department of Health of Ireland showed a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases in the country in recent weeks.

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In the past seven days, the moving average of cases in Ireland has been over 1,200, more than double the average from a month ago, the department said.

The COVID-19 Delta variant now accounts for over 90 percent of the new cases in Ireland, according to public health officials.