Level Five is returning to Ireland now that Christmas has ended, as the number of COVID-19 cases in the country continue to soar.
Most of the restrictions will kick in from tomorrow, December 27, with household visits limited to one other family until January 1, and inter-county travel banned from this date.
In a different move to the last lockdown, non-essential retail will be permitted to open from today although St Stephen's Day and January sales will have to be put on hold.
Health chiefs were on standby last night to receive Ireland’s first batch of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said he was “delighted” to sign the regulation clearing use of the jab, which arrives today.
It will be administered to the vulnerable from Wednesday.
Here's the Level 5 lockdown rules you need to keep in mind:
Your guide to the changes
| Activity | From 24 December | From 27 December | From 1 January |
| Visitors to your home | 2 other households max | 1 other household max | No visitors |
| Travel outside your county | Yes | No - except to return home after Christmas | No |
| Cafes, restaurants and pubs operating as restaurants | Onsite dining closed at 3pm | Delivery and take-away food | Delivery and take-away food |
| Places of worship | 50 max until Christmas Day | Private and online worship only from 26 Dec | Private and online worship only |
| Retail | Open | Open but with no January sales | Open but with no January sales |
| Weddings | 25 max | 25 max | 25 on 1-2 Jan; max of 6 from 3 Jan |
| Hotels | Can serve food to non-guests until 3pm | Can serve food to guests only | Can serve food to guests only |
Social and family gatherings
If you live alone, you can form a support bubble with another household.
Current provisions (visits from up to 2 other households) remain in place up to and including 26 December.
Visits to private homes/gardens will be allowed from one other household up to and including 31 December. In both cases, for those who are part of a support bubble, the bubble counts as one household.
From 1 January no visitors are allowed in private homes/gardens except for essential family reasons, such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people, or as part of a support bubble.
Weddings
Up to and including 2 January, 25 guests can attend a wedding ceremony and reception, whether indoors or outdoors.
From 3 January, up to 6 guests are permitted.
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.
Organised outdoor gatherings
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager. For example: outdoor Arts events, training events.
No organised outdoor gatherings should take place.
Exercise and sporting events
Outdoor golf and tennis are permitted. Participants should be from a maximum of 2 households.
Training and matches
No training or matches should take place, with the following exceptions:
- non-contact training in pods of up to 15 may take place outdoors
- professional, elite sports, horse-racing and greyhound racing and approved equestrian events are permitted to continue behind closed doors
All other training activities should be individual only.
No exercise or dance classes are permitted.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools may remain open for individual training only.
Religious services
Christmas religious services may take place.
Religious services move online after 25 December.
Places of worship may remain open for private prayer.
Funerals
Up to 10 mourners can attend.
Museums, galleries and other cultural attractions
All venues closed.
Libraries will be available for online services only.
Bars, cafes and restaurants (including hotel restaurants and bars)
Cafes, restaurants and pubs operating as restaurants can only offer delivery and take-away food.
Hotels may provide food and bar services to guests only after that point.
Wet pubs
Closed.
Nightclubs, discos, casinos
Nightclubs, discos and casinos will remain closed.
Hotels and accommodation
Hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs may remain open, but only for essential non-social and non-tourist purposes.
Hotels may provide food and bar services to guests only.
Exception:
Guests who already have a booking and are due to check in up to and including 26 December.
Retail and services (for example: hairdressers, beauticians, barbers)
All retail and essential services will remain open. This includes food shopping and marts.
The retail sector is asked to defer January sales events.
All other personal services, such as hairdressers, beauticians and barbers, are closed.
Work
You should work from home unless essential for work, which is an essential health, social care or other essential service and cannot be done from home.
Domestic travel restrictions
Stay at home.
Exercise as close to home as possible.
Travel outside your county will continue to be permitted up to and including 26 December. Those away from their place of residence after that period will be permitted to return to their place of residence.
From 27 December you must stay within your county unless you need to leave for essential purposes, as follows:
- travel to and from work, where work involves providing an essential service
- to attend medical appointments and collect medicines and other health products
- travel to attend disability day services
- travel to attend a court
- for vital family reasons, such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people, and in particular for those who live alone but excluding social family visits
- for farming purposes (food production or care of animals)
- to attend a wedding or funeral
- to visit a grave
Schools and creches
In line with current NPHET advice in respect of Level 5, schools, early learning and childcare services will continue to remain open and are deemed essential.
Higher and adult education
Primarily online with exemptions for essential onsite activities.
Outdoor playgrounds, play areas and parks
Open with protective measures in place.
Transport
Walk or cycle where possible.
Public transport will operate at 25% capacity for the purposes of allowing those providing essential services to get to work. Transitional arrangements will apply in light of the Christmas period.
School transport is unaffected.
Social work and care services
In line with NPHET advice on Level 5, social work and social care services, (including disability services, mental health services, child protection and welfare services, domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services) and homeless services including homeless outreach services will remain open and are deemed essential.
Over 70 and medically vulnerable individuals
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.
Visiting long-term residential care facilities (nursing and care homes)
Suspended, with the exception of visits required for critical and compassionate circumstances.
