The Taoiseach has announced that the country is moving to Level 3 Covid-19 restrictions.
The new restrictions will begin first thing on Wednesday morning, at 00.01am to be precise, and will last until October 28 – exactly three weeks.
The Level 3 restrictions will be reviewed by the government then.
Dublin and Donegal have been under these restrictions for the last couple of weeks but now the rest of the country has joined them.
The National Public Health Emergency Team had recommended that the country move to Level 5, the highest level, for four weeks but this is the first time the government have chosen to go against their advice.
The full restrictions for Level 3 from the government’s website are posted below but some changes to these are envisaged.
It is understood that wet pubs outside of Dublin, those that do not serve food, can remain open but no indoor seating will be permitted and a maximum of 15 people will be allowed outdoors.
People will be allowed to have visitors from one other household.
However, people will be instructed to remain in their county and these restriction on movement will be given force of law – with Garda overtime being sanction to increase enforcement.
Schools will remain open while so too will Third Level institutions but they are to use online facilities where possible.
While people will be asked to work from home unless absolutely necessary to attend in person.
Mr Martin said: “There has been an exponential growth of the virus … until there is a distributed vaccine it will continue to have an impact.
“We must continue to manage it and protect ourselves. The virus is still deadly and can cause lasting harm to those who contract it.
“NPHET says trends in most of the country are a major concern … if we do not alter these trends there will be a serious impact …
“We must respond and the challenge is to be as effective and proportionate as possible.
“Central to our discussions has been looking at the wider implications … it’s important to understand that we are in a very different situation to last March – severe restrictions now would cause backlogs that services and businesses may not be able to recover from.
“We have decided at this stage not to move to a more comprehensive lockdown.
“It’s important to understand that the potential implications of such a move are severe and very different to those we faced earlier this year…
“It could involve the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs… an immediate comprehensive lockdown would make it much harder to deal with non-covid health concerns, including the impact of isolation on the mental health of many of our people…
“But it is essential that steps be taken, and taken now, to bring down the rate of infection and bring down the number of people who require hospitalisation and critical care.
“This is not about public health and businesses competing with each other; it’s about protecting lives and livelihoods. We can’t protect one without the other.
I have no doubt that we can and will get through this. We will reach a time when we can again go about our lives without worrying whether we can catch or transmit this terrible virus … what happens next rests in our own hands, and in our responsibility to each other.
“The spirit of community, of caring for others, lies at the heart of what’s best in the Irish character. Now, as much as ever before, we have to recommit ourselves to this spirit. Ní neart go cur le chéile.”
Check out what Level 3 means below:
LEVEL 3
The priority at Level 3 is to keep schools and childcare facilities open and minimise disruption in the work force.
This means that a number of services will be moved online, some businesses will be closed (for example: pubs, museums and other indoor cultural venues). Restaurants will remain open for take away and outdoor dining only.
In order to keep people safe, you will be asked to reduce the number of people you meet to a minimum and stay in your own region.
Social and family gatherings
In your home or garden
Visitors from one other household only OR your own household only. This will be determined by the prevailing public health advice for the county or other defined geographical area.
Other settings outside your home or garden
No social or family gatherings should take place in other settings.
Weddings
Up to 25 people can attend a wedding ceremony and reception. But you must not attend a wedding in a different county to yours.
Organised indoor gatherings
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager.
For example: business, training events, conferences, events in theatres and cinemas or other arts events (excluding sport).
No organised indoor gatherings should take place.
Organised outdoor gatherings
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager. For example: outdoor Arts events, training events.
Gatherings of up to 15 people can take place.
Sports
Training
Outdoors: Non contact training only in pods of up to 15 (exemption for professional/elite/inter-county sports/senior club championship).
Indoors: Individual training only. No exercise or dance classes.
Matches and events
No matches or events to take place.
Exemption: professional/elite/inter-county/club championship/horse-racing can take place behind closed doors.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools
Gyms/leisure centres/swimming pools open with protective measures, for individual training only. These can open with protective measures, for individual training only.
Religious services
Services move online. Places of worship remain open for private prayer.
Funerals
Up to 25 mourners can attend.
Museums, galleries and other cultural attractions
All venues closed. Libraries will be available for e-services and call and collect.
Bars, cafes and restaurants (including hotel restaurants and bars)
Additional restrictions for indoor dining.
Wet pubs
Additional restrictions.
Nightclubs, discos and casinos
Nightclubs, discos and casinos will remain closed.
Hotels and accommodation
Open but services limited to residents.
Retail and services (for example: hairdressers, beauticians, barbers)
Face coverings must be worn. Open with protective measures in place.
Work
Work from home unless absolutely necessary to attend in person.
Domestic travel
Stay in your county (or other defined geographical area) apart from work, education and other essential purposes, if appropriate.
Schools, early learning and childcare services, adult and higher education
Schools and creches are open with protective measures.
Further, higher and adult education to escalate all appropriate protective measures and limit congregation as far as possible.
Outdoor playgrounds, play areas and parks
All remain open.
Transport
Face coverings must be worn. Walk or cycle where possible. Public transport capacity will be limited to 50%. Essential workers and essential purposes only.
Those aged over 70 and the medically vulnerable
Those aged 70 years and over and the medically vulnerable should exercise judgement regarding the extent to which they engage with others and in activities outside home.
Long-term residential care facilities (nursing and care homes)
Suspended, aside from critical and compassionate circumstances.
SEE ALSO – Laois nursing home at centre of Covid-19 outbreak
