Home visits are not allowed starting tomorrow night, except for essential reasons

Updated 40 minutes ago

As of tomorrow night, a RESTRICTION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL will come into force on visitors to homes, the Cabinet agreed.

The restrictions will remain in effect for four weeks, until Tuesday, November 10.

People are advised not to visit other homes indoors or in their gardens; exemptions will be made for compassionate and essential reasons such as childcare or childcare.

Up to six people from up to two households can meet outdoors while maintaining social distancing, the Taoiseach clarified.

Level 3 allows visitors from another home or no visitors. Previously, people were only allowed to receive visits from another household below Level 3.

Speaking after the cabinet meeting tonight, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the government has concerns about the virus across the country.

“Full implementation of Level 3 can have a significant impact on the spread of the virus, but only if everyone follows the rules, and especially the spirit of the rules.”

He said there had been “poor application or adherence to measures” in the areas of home visits, training, and sporting events, and people entering the workplace when “they could and should work from home”, as well as “slippage”. areas such as retail.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that although there is a perception that home parties are to blame for the lack of compliance with restrictions on home visits, he said that this was not the only example of this, and that “family dinners in the end week “should be stopped to limit the spread of the virus.

The cabinet also agreed to move Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal counties to Level 4 restrictions based on the high incidence rates in those border counties.

Ministers met tonight in the wake of Northern Ireland’s decision to impose new restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19, including school, pub and restaurant closures.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said that schools in Ireland will remain open despite current concerns about increasing Covid-19 cases, adding that positivity rates show that schools are relatively safe compared to other environments.

Previously, 1,095 new cases and five deaths were confirmed in Ireland, with 1,217 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed in Northern Ireland.

With information from Gráinne Ní Aodha