Effective today, Ireland placed on Level 3 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 – with special measures for a safe Christmas
What does it mean? Your quick guide to the Christmas changes
Covid19 December and Christmas Arrangements
ACTIVITY |
From 1 December |
From 4 December |
From 18 December |
| Visitors to you home |
No Visitors, apart from those in the support bubble |
No Visitors, apart from those in the support bubble |
2 other households |
| Places of Worship |
50 Max |
50 Max |
50 Max |
| Museums, galleries and cinemas |
Open |
Open |
Open |
| Restaurants |
Closed |
Open |
Open |
| Pubs operating as restaurants |
Closed |
Open |
Open |
| Wet pubs |
Delivery and take-away |
Delivery and take-away |
Delivery and take-away |
| Retail |
Open |
Open |
Open |
| Travel outside your county |
No |
No |
Yes |
Details of measures in place from 1 December
Social and family gatherings
In your home or garden
You should not mix with any other households outside of those within your support bubble.
Other settings outside your home or garden
In outdoor settings away from your home or garden, up to 6 people from a maximum of 2 households can meet while maintaining strict physical distancing.
Weddings
Weddings may proceed, but with a limit of 25 guests for ceremony and reception (irrespective of venue). It will not be possible to attend a wedding in another county.
Couples resident in a particular county, but with existing plans to get married, can travel to get married outside that county.
Organised indoor gatherings
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager.
For example: business, training events, conferences, events in theatres and cinemas or other arts events (excluding sport).
No organised indoor gatherings should take place.
Exception:
Cinemas may open with protective measures.
Organised outdoor gatherings
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager. For example: outdoor arts events, training events.
Gatherings of up to 15 people can take place.
Sports
Training
Outdoors: Non contact training only in pods of up to 15 (for example: golf, tennis, horse riding, hunting, Gaelic games, soccer, outdoor basketball).
There is an exemption for professional/elite/senior inter-county sports.
Indoors:Individual training only. No exercise or dance classes (for example: no ballet, gymnastics, basketball, racketball, squash, zumba, drama).
Matches and events
No matches or other sporting events should take place, with the exception of professional and elite sports, approved inter-county Gaelic games, horse-racing and greyhound racing, approved show jumping events, and approved coursing events, which should all take place behind closed doors.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools may remain open for individual use only, and with protective measures in place.
Swimming classes will be reviewed in January.
Religious services
Open for services with a maximum of 50 people.
Funerals
Up to 25 mourners can attend.
Museums, galleries and other cultural attractions
Open with protective measures in place.
Libraries will be available for browsing, e-services, and call and collect. No seating or events.
Bars, cafes and restaurants (including hotel restaurants and bars)
From Friday 4 December, restaurants and pubs operating as restaurants (serving a substantial meal) may reopen for indoor dining with additional restrictions, including a requirement for meals to be prepared on site, inside the premises.
This includes access for non-residents to restaurants in hotels.
Wet pubs
Delivery and take-away services only.
Nightclubs, discos and casinos
Nightclubs, discos and casinos will remain closed.
Hotels and accommodation
Hotels, guesthouses and B&B’s may remain open, but with services limited to residents.
Retail and services (for example: hairdressers, beauticians, barbers)
Face coverings must be worn.
All retail shops and shopping centres may remain open. All services such as hairdressers, beauticians, barbers and opticians may remain open with strict adherence to sectoral guidance on protective measures.
There is specific guidance available for:
shopping safely during the pandemic
Work
Work from home unless absolutely necessary to attend in person.
Domestic travel
Stay in your county apart from work, education, medical and other essential purposes, if appropriate.
Schools, early learning and childcare services, adult and higher education
Schools and creches are open with protective measures.
Further, higher and adult education should escalate all appropriate protective measures and limit congregation as far as possible.
Outdoor playgrounds, play areas and parks
All remain open with protective measures in place.
Transport
Walk or cycle where possible.
Public transport capacity limited to 50%.
Essential workers and essential purposes only.
Those aged over 70 and the medically vulnerable
Those aged over 70 and the medically vulnerable are advised to continue to exercise personal judgement.
It is recommended that they stay at home as much as possible, limit engagement to a very small network for short periods of time, while remaining physically distanced.
When taking exercise outdoors, it is important to maintain 2 metres distance from others and wash hands on returning home.
It is recommended to shop during designated hours only, while wearing a face covering, and to avoid public transport.
Long-term residential care facilities (nursing and care homes)
Visits suspended, aside from critical and compassionate circumstances.
Specific guidance will be available shortly from the Department of Health.
Details of measures in place from 18 December
Social and family gatherings
In your home or garden
You can mix with a maximum of 2 other households.
Other settings outside your home or garden
In outdoor settings away from your home or garden, a maximum of 3 households can meet while maintaining strict physical distancing.
Weddings
Weddings may proceed, but with a limit of 25 guests for ceremony and reception (irrespective of venue).
Organised indoor gatherings
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager.
For example: business, training events, conferences, events in theatres and cinemas or other arts events (excluding sport).
No organised indoor gatherings should take place.
Exception:
Cinemas may open with protective measures.
Organised outdoor gatherings
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager. For example: outdoor arts events, training events.
Gatherings of up to 15 people can take place.
Sports
Training
Outdoors: Non contact training only in pods of up to 15 (for example: golf, tennis, horse riding, hunting, Gaelic games, soccer, outdoor basketball).
There is an exemption for professional/elite/senior inter-county sports.
Indoors: Individual training only. No exercise or dance classes (for example: no ballet, gymnastics, basketball, racketball, squash, zumba, drama).
Matches and events
No matches or other sporting events should take place, with the exception of professional and elite sports, approved inter-county Gaelic games, horse-racing and greyhound racing, approved show jumping events, and approved coursing events, which should all take place behind closed doors.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools may remain open for individual use only, and with protective measures in place.
Swimming classes will be reviewed in January.
Religious services
Open for services with a maximum of 50 people.
Funerals
Up to 25 mourners can attend.
Museums, galleries and other cultural attractions
Open with protective measures in place.
Libraries will be available for browsing, e-services, and call and collect. No seating or events.
Bars, cafes and restaurants (including hotel restaurants and bars)
Restaurants and pubs operating as restaurants (serving a substantial meal) can open for indoor dining with additional restrictions, including a requirement for meals to be prepared on site, inside the premises.
This includes access for non-residents to restaurants in hotels.
Wet pubs
Delivery and take-away services only.
Nightclubs, discos and casinos
Nightclubs, discos and casinos will remain closed.
Hotels and accommodation
Hotels, guesthouses and B&B’s may remain open, but with services limited to residents.
Retail and services (for example: hairdressers, beauticians, barbers)
All retail shops and shopping centres may remain open. All services such as hairdressers, beauticians, barbers and opticians may remain open with strict adherence to sectoral guidance on protective measures.
There is specific guidance available for:
shopping safely during the pandemic
Work
Work from home unless absolutely necessary to attend in person.
Domestic travel
You can travel anywhere in Ireland.
Schools, early learning and childcare services, adult and higher education
Schools and creches are open with protective measures.
Further, higher and adult education should escalate all appropriate protective measures and limit congregation as far as possible.
Outdoor playgrounds, play areas and parks
All remain open with protective measures in place.
Transport
Walk or cycle where possible.
Public transport capacity limited to 50%.
Essential workers and essential purposes only.
Those aged over 70 and the medically vulnerable
Those aged over 70 and the medically vulnerable are advised to continue to exercise personal judgement.
It is recommended that they stay at home as much as possible, limit engagement to a very small network for short periods of time, while remaining physically distanced.
When taking exercise outdoors, it is important to maintain 2 metres distance from others and wash hands on returning home.
It is recommended to shop during designated hours only, while wearing a face covering, and to avoid public transport.
Long-term residential care facilities (nursing and care homes)
Visits suspended, aside from critical and compassionate circumstances.
Specific guidance will be available shortly from the Department of Health.