The Government announced that all non-essential retail outlets should close to help flatten the coronavirus curve.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the latest measure at a government address to the country at 4pm.
But what exactly is considered essential and non-essential? The National Public Health Emergency Team have listed the following as essential and therefore they can stay open while implementing social distancing.
Essential retail outlets
- Retail and wholesale sale of food, beverages and newspapers in non-specialised and specialised stores.
- Retail sale of household consumer products necessary to maintain the safety and sanitation of residences and businesses.
- Pharmacies/chemists.
- Opticians/Optometrists.
- Retail sale of selling medical and orthopaedic goods in specialised stores.
- Fuel stations and heating fuel providers.
- Retailers involved in the repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycle repair and related facilities.
- Retail sale of essential items for the health and welfare of animals, including animal feed and medicines, animal food, pet food and animal supplies including bedding.
- Laundries and Drycleaners.
- Banks, Post Offices and Credit Unions.
- Retail sale of safety supply stores.
- Hardware stores, builder's merchants and stores that provide hardware products necessary for home and business maintenance, sanitation and farm equipment, supplies and tools essential for gardening/farming/agriculture.
- Retail sale of office products and services for individuals working from home and for businesses.
- Retailers providing electrical, IT and phone sales, repair and maintenance services for home.
Social distancing measures required
- Ensure adequate distancing between customers and retail assistants in line with public health guidelines.
- Only let people into stores in small groups and ensure spaces are not crowded.
- Manage queues inside and outside the door to maintain necessary social distancing.
- All retail outlets are encouraged to designate certain times of the day to facilitate vulnerable groups who may need to use their services.
- Where practicable and in so far as is possible, parents are encouraged to limit bringing their children with them when visiting essential retail outlets.
- All retailers are encouraged to provide on-line services where that is possible and appropriate to minimise footfall.
- All such retailers are encouraged to offer contactless payment arrangements.
- All other retailers can continue to operate if they can do so on an on-line basis having regard to general social distancing measures appropriate to all workplaces.
