this is what ‘essential services’ will continue under Tier 5

THE GOVERNMENT HAS announced that the country is moving to Level 5 restrictions starting Wednesday night, so what retailers and services will be able to continue?

Retail Excellence Ireland had warned the government that “all retail should be classified as ‘essential’ to avoid the potential loss of 60,000 jobs, especially in the run-up to Christmas.

As was the case in the last shutdown, retailers and essential services will be the only ones authorized to open under Level 5.

The list of essential retailers and services is longer than at the peak of the last closing, with hardware stores, bike repair shops and opticians joining supermarkets, newsagents and pharmacies this time around.

Points of sale of essential items for the health and welfare of animals, laundries and dry cleaners, banks, post offices and credit unions will also be allowed to remain open.

Meanwhile, services related to agriculture, farm work, agricultural and animal production, commercial fishing, animal welfare, forestry and veterinary medicine are allowed.

And motorist services such as driving tests and the NCT will continue for the six-week period.

However, hair salons and barbers will not remain open, nor will bookstores or clothing stores.

All pubs will have to operate takeaway and delivery services, while the “wet pubs” in Dublin will have to remain fully closed.

Hotels, guesthouses and B & Bs may remain open, but only to support the provision of essential services, while bars, cafes, restaurants, and pubs with drinks may offer take-out and home delivery services.

All other retailers can open for a click-and-collect service, where this can be properly managed within public health guidelines.

The full list of essential outlets includes:

• Mixed retail offering retailers that have discrete essential and non-essential retail spaces should arrange for separation of relevant areas.
• Points of sale of food or drink to take away or newspapers, either retail or wholesale and in a non-specialized or specialized point of sale.
• Markets that, totally or mainly, offer food for sale.
• Points of sale of products necessary for the maintenance and essential operation of places of residence and businesses, whether retail or wholesale.
• Pharmacies, chemists and retailers or wholesalers that provide pharmaceutical or pharmaceutical or dispensing services, either retail or wholesale.
• Points of sale of health, medical or orthopedic products in a specialized point of sale, either retail or wholesale.
• Fuel service stations and heating oil suppliers.
• Points of sale of essential items for the health and well-being of animals (including veterinary feed and drugs, pet food, bedding and animal supplies), either retail or wholesale.
• Laundries and dry cleaners.
• Banks, post offices and credit unions.
• Outlets that sell safety supplies (including workwear, footwear, and personal protective equipment), either retail or wholesale.
• Hardware outlets, builder merchants, and outlets that provide hardware products necessary for the maintenance or construction and development of homes and businesses, agricultural sanitation and equipment, or essential supplies and tools for agricultural or agricultural purposes.
• Outlets that handle the repair and maintenance of power-driven vehicles or bicycles and any related facilities (including the sale and repair of tires).
• Points of sale of opticians and optometrists. only in an emergency.
• Outlets that offer hearing testing services or sell hearing aids and aids, in an emergency only
• Points of sale selling office products and services for companies or relevant people working from home, whether retail or wholesale, also only in case of emergency.
• Points of sale that provide services for the sale, repair and maintenance of electricity, information and communication technology and telephone for places of residence and businesses, only in case of emergency.
• Any other retail outlet that operates an online or other remote product ordering system for pickup purposes at the retail outlet.
• Points of sale of food or beverages, either retail or wholesale and either in a non-specialized or specialized point of sale if they sell food or drinks to take away or for consumption outside the facilities, if the staff canteens that operate for the exclusive use of people who work in or in a particular premises, or in hotels or similar accommodation services to the extent that they sell food or beverages for consumption on the premises by residents of the service.

The government has also said that although those who travel more than 5km from home will be penalized, there will be exemptions to this.

Those who work in essential stores or who provide essential services will not be penalized, while people will be able to travel more than 5 km to go shopping.

With reporting by Gráinne Ní Aodha.