Ireland to Return to Level 5
The Irish government have announce a phased return to level 5 of their Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for living with COVID-19. The phases will start on Christmas Eve, further measure enforced on the 27th with a final return to level 5 on New Years Day 2021.
Ireland in effect will begin closing on Christmas Eve as it re-enters level 5 lockdown. On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Stephen's Day only 2 other households may enter your home. Visitors may come from outside your county and you may visit others in different counties. All Cafes, Pubs and Restaurants will close at 3pm on Christmas Eve. Hotel may serve non-guests until 3pm that day. Retail will remain open. On Christmas Day churches may only be attended by a max of 50 people. A max of 25 may attend weddings and funerals, until the 3rd of January and then only 6 may attend.
From the 27th of December only one other household may visit your household. You may not travel outside your county, unless you are returning home. Cafes, pubs and restaurants may only provide delivery and take away food. Hotels may only serve guests. Places of worship return online on St. Stephen's Day. Retail may open but they may not have January Sales.
From the 1sf of January you may have no visitors to your home. You may not travel outside your county.
From then Ireland will be in level 5. Level 5 restrictions include: -
Schools and childcare services are to remain open. Only essential businesses and services remain open.
Level 5 prohibits visitors to your home or garden. No family or social gatherings can take place in other settings. Only meet with one other household in an outdoor setting.
Domestic Travel Restrictions
Stay within 5km of your home. Penalties will apply, with exemptions for travel to work if it is an essential service, attending medical appointment, collecting medicines, vital family reasons, farming purposes and to visit a grave.
Vulnerable people
Those aged 70 years and over and the medically vulnerable should exercise judgement regarding the extent to which they engage with others.
Family Events and Religious Services
No more than 6 people may attend a wedding. No more than 10 people may attend a funeral. All religious services go online. Visits to Long-term residential care facilities are suspended, aside from critical and compassionate circumstances.
Indoor
No organised indoor gatherings can take place, no exercise or dance classes, all museums and galleries and cultural attractions are closed.
Pubs, cafes and restaurants may only provide takeaway and deliveries, while pubs not serving food, nightclubs and casinos are closed.
Visits to nursing and care homes are suspended, except for critical and compassionate circumstances.
Gyms, swimming pools and other venues are closed.
Outdoor
No organised outdoor gatherings can take place.
No matches and events can take place, with exemptions for GAA and professional sports, all of which will be behind closed doors. Non-contact training can continue for school aged children in pods of 15.
Playgrounds and parks remain open with protective measures in place.
Transport
Face coverings must be worn on public transport. Public transport capacity will be limited to 25%. With Essential workers and essential purposes being given preferential treatment. People are asked to walk or cycle where possible and to avoid public transport.