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The SO-CALLED ‘SOCIAL BUBBLES’ have been introduced under the latest level of Covid-19 restrictions.
Certain groups of people, including adults living alone and parents with joint custody arrangements, will be able to interact with another designated household under Tier 5 plans.
“This will allow social support beyond the care waivers already available,” the government said.
Those interactions can occur indoors and the homes do not have to be within 5k of each other, but the designated home should not change during the six week blackout period.
In a statement, the government confirmed that the proposal is to support people at risk of isolation, including:
- single adult households
- those who have co-parenting or joint custody arrangements
- those who live alone who have mental health problems
- those who live with a partner with certain conditions such as dementia
In his address to the nation tonight, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “I understand that social isolation and anxiety is a very real problem for many people and especially for those who live alone.
“Therefore, we are including, as part of the ‘own home’ provisions, the concept of a ‘support bubble’.
“This will allow people who live alone, who raise alone or who are at a similar risk of social isolation to mate with another household as part of a ‘bubble of support’.”
Speaking on Claire Byrne Live on RTÉ One, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said the system was designed for single-adult households.
However, he added that there is an exception for adults caring for couples with dementia, for example, “out of compassion.”
Multiple bubbles are not allowed and a “chain” of bubbles cannot be formed.
For example, three adults living in a shared house cannot form an individual bubble with another house. In this scenario, the three adults would be counted as one unit and would simply form a bubble with only one other household.
The Taoiseach told reporters at a press conference that the system has to work with the “good faith” of the people.
In the UK, the Department of Health and Welfare recently published guidance that allowed social bubbles to form during the pandemic.
Social bubbles have been introduced in the UK over the last month, and were present throughout the New Zealand shutdown.
Separately, the guide says that households can blend in with another household during the six-week period, but only in outdoor settings (but not in home gardens).
Guidance for over 70s
In its new guide tonight, the government urged people over 70 to continue to exercise personal judgment because of their vulnerability to the virus.
According to the new advice, “It is recommended that they stay home as long as possible, limiting engagement to a very small network for short periods of time, while remaining physically apart.
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“When exercising outdoors, it is important to keep a distance of two meters from others and wash your hands when you return home. It is recommended to shop only during designated hours, while covering your face and avoiding public transportation. “
With information from Sinéad O’Carroll
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