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LEVEL 3 RESTRICTIONS have now been implemented across the country as Covid-19 cases continue to rise.
The National Public Health Emergencies Team (NPHET) on Sunday recommended moving the country to Level 5. However, the government rejected the advice on Monday and instead chose to align the rest of the country with Dublin and Donegal at Level 3. .
Yesterday, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that the government believes that moving to Level 3 is “the best decision.”
Donnelly said that if the government was looking at the situation “purely from a public health perspective” and “did not need to consider anything other than virus suppression,” Level 5 may have been the right path.
“If we didn’t have to consider the entire country, then clearly it could be argued that everyone needs to go home, close deals, not leave home. And, obviously, we know that the virus would be suppressed.
But we have to make what we think is the best decision on behalf of the whole country, that is what we have done.
According to the government, the priority is to keep schools and early childhood education and care services open, and to minimize disruptions to the workforce.
But what does level 3 mean to you?
First, the government wants you to stay in your own county, unless it’s for work, education, or other essential purposes.
- If you need to move, the advice is to walk or bike to your destination whenever possible. Public transportation will continue to operate at 50% capacity, social distancing measures will be implemented in transportation and face coverings are mandatory.
- Visitors from another household are only allowed up to a maximum of 6 people.
- Schools, day care centers and child care services remain open. So are playgrounds and parks.
- If you are over 70 years old, the advice is to “exercise your judgment regarding the extent to which you interact with others and activities outside the home.” It is recommended that you stay home as much as possible, limit participation to a very small network for short periods of time, while remaining physically distanced.
- Visits to nursing homes are also prohibited, except for critical and compassionate reasons.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin addressing the nation on Monday night
Source: Photograph by Julien Behal via RollingNews.ie
Weddings, funerals and meetings
All religious services will be moved online.
However, 25 people will be allowed to attend weddings and funerals.
Couples who reside in a particular county, but plan to marry in a particular location, may travel to marry outside of their county.
Speaking Monday night, Donnelly said that “unfortunately,” the government was not in a position to extend a grace period to couples who had arranged their weddings according to Level 2 guidelines.
A grace period was extended to weddings in Donegal when it became known that the county would move to Level 3 last month. On that occasion, the new restrictions were announced Thursday, but weddings scheduled for that weekend could be held with 50 guests instead of 25.
All meetings organized indoors, including conferences and events in theaters and cinemas, must not take place.
Organized outdoor meetings are allowed, up to a maximum of 15 people.
Sport
Gyms are allowed to remain open, but only for individual training, which means exercise classes are canceled.
Non-contact sports training is allowed in capsules for up to 15 people, with strict compliance with the relevant protection measures. There is an exemption to this for professional or elite athletes, for inter-county sports, and for senior club championship training.
No games or other sporting events should take place, with the exception of professional, elite, inter-county and senior club championships, which must take place behind closed doors.
Camogie bosses suspended club matches at all levels yesterday morning “with immediate effect and until further notice.” This decision, “made in the interest of public safety,” follows similar moves by GAA and LGFA earlier this week.
Horse racing can continue, but behind closed doors.
Gardaí on patrol in a car on Henry Street in Dublin
Source: Leon Farrell via RollingNews.ie
Retail and services
Shops, hairdressers and other services may remain open, but face covering is mandatory and other protective measures must be in place.
Hotels, guesthouses, and B & Bs may remain open, but with limited services to residents.
Government councils for the different sections can be found below:
Pubs and restaurants
Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced that all indoor dining in pubs and restaurants will be banned across the country under the Level 3 restrictions now in place.
Outdoor seating and service will be allowed outside of wet bars and restaurants.
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However, the wet pubs (those that don’t serve food) will remain closed in Dublin.
Night clubs and casinos are closed.
Garda application
There will be fixed garda checkpoints on 132 major highways across the country under Operation Fanacht.
However, at a press conference yesterday afternoon, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said that the Gardaí will have no new powers to restrict people’s movements.
“People will not be able to travel around the country. You will be restricted to your county, you should only go to your workplace if absolutely necessary; otherwise, their travels will be extremely difficult, ”Harris said.
On RTÉ News at One yesterday, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said that under Level 3 it would be a crime to host an event and that other pre-existing legislation will support the garda’s police efforts.
McEntee said garda’s focus will continue to be “engage, educate, encourage and enforce.”
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