It's beginning to look at lot like Christmas 2020. And it is beginning to feel like Groundhog Day. Or even déjà vu. But how are we back in this situation again?
That's the question that publicans, restauranteurs, nightclub owners and the wider hospitality sector are once again asking themselves this evening.
A year ago, they were facing into significant restrictions on their operations as Covid-19 spread. But a lot has changed since then.
We now have almost 90% of the population vaccinated against the virus. More than 913,000 of those have received a booster dose.