Home visits banned, restaurants and pubs shut under new lockdown restrictions
Restaurants and pubs will shut once more on Christmas Eve and home visits banned from New Year’s Day as Level-5 restrictions will come back into force in the coming days.
An Taoiseach Micheal Martin announced the government’s plans for the reimposition of the highest level of Covid-19 restrictions from outside Government buildings this lunchtime.
The Taoiseach said “it is responsible to proceed on the assumption” the new strain of Covid-19 has made its way to Ireland from the UK, but there is no definitive evidence as yet.
Under the new plan announced:
- Level-5 restrictions will be in place from Christmas Eve to the January
- Non-essential retail can remain open, but are asked to refrain from putting on January sales.
- Restaurants and gastropubs will close from 3pm on Christmas Eve.
- Schools, early learning and childcare centres will remain open.
- Visits from two or more households will be allowed until St Stephen’s Day, from New Year’s Day, no visits are allowed to any house – including garden visits, unless the visit is essential.
- Gyms and swimming pools may remain open.
- If you travel for Christmas, you will be allowed return to your principal residence, after that travel outside your county will once again be prohibited.
The Taoiseach ended on a more positive note stating the rollout of the vaccine will begin next week, with the most vulnerable in society the first to receive the jab.
