It’s Level 5 ‘light’.

With new cases of Covid-19 soaring across the country and new infections expected to exceed 900 by this evening, the Government has announced a raft of new restrictions in an effort to slow the surge and reduce the pressure on Ireland’s hospitals amid a worrying third wave of coronavirus.

Announcing the ‘Level 5 minus’ measures outside Government Buildings today, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the government is making decisions based on the assumption that a new strain of Covid-19 is already spreading in Ireland, adding that he will “do whatever it takes” to get through the pandemic safely.

Here are the main points from today’s announcement:

• Gatherings: Visitors from two households will be allowed to visit another home up until the day after St Stephen’s Day, December 27th, 2020. After that, visitors from just one household will be permitted until an all-out ban on house guests, apart from compassionate visits and childcare from New Year’s Day, January 1st, 2021.
• Inter-county travel: All new inter-county travel will be banned from midnight on St Stephen’s Day, December 26th, 2020. If you have travelled before that date you may still travel home.
• UK travel: According to Dubin Airport, the Irish Government has extended the travel ban from Britain until midnight on Thursday, December 31st, when it will be reviewed again. The ban applies to all passenger flights with exception of repatriation flights. Affected passengers should contact their airline.
• Pubs and restaurants: Pubs and restaurants will close at 3pm on Christmas Eve, December 24th.
• Retail: Non-essential retail will remain open with extra safety measures, but shops will be asked to refrain from holding sales.
• Other services: Hairdressers, beauty salons and barbers will close.
• Schools: Schools will remain open, with colleges advised to continue online.
• Hotels: Hotels will close to non-essentials bookings after St Stephen’s Day, December 26th.
• Weddings: While weddings weren’t mentioned by the Taoiseach in today’s address, it is expected that wedding guest numbers will be reduced to six from January 2nd, 2021.
• Religious services: Mass will go ahead on Christmas Day but services will be online thereafter.
• Gyms: Gyms and swimming pools will remain open for one-on-one training.
• Outdoor sports: Golf and tennis may continue.
• When will we know more? The latest restrictions will be reviewed on January 12th, 2021.

Meanwhile, the hospitality industry has been left scrambling to plan ahead once again, with CEO of the Restaurant Association of Ireland describing the latest news as “a dark day”, with 150,000 workers set to be let go on Christmas Eve.

Update

A dark day for Irish Restaurant & Hospitality industry with 150,000 workers being let go on Christmas Eve

Restaurant & Hospitality is the first, worst & longest hit sector since the pandemic started

Government must step up to the plate with a meaningful Aid Package

— Adrian Cummins 🇮🇪🇪🇺 (@adriancummins) December 22, 2020

Adrian Cummins said the Government “must step up to the plate with a meaningful aid package.”

Vaccine on the way

In more positive news, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly confirmed he expects the Moderna vaccine to authorised for use in Ireland during the first week of January.

Dr Lorraine Nolan, Chief Executive, Health Products Regulatory Authority described the announcement as “highly significant”:

“It is a key development in our continued efforts to tackling this pandemic,” said Dr Nolan.

“This will become one additional defence in our suite of public health actions to protect us from COVID-19.”

Main image credit: RTE News