From Christmas Eve, the Government will begin to implement a new list of strict rules being described as 'Level 5 minus' or in other words Level 5 with a few exceptions.
Worrying updates from both the Taoiseach and Tanaiste suggest that these restrictions could last from as short as two months to as long as half of 2021.
There are three significant dates when these changes start to come into force in the staggered introduction of the third lockdown - slightly better in comparison than the two times before when we were bombarded with all the changes at once.
The vital dates to keep an eye out for are Christmas Eve; December 27 and New Year's Day and here's exactly what changes are being made on those days:
24 December:
Visitors to your home - 2 other households max
Travel outside your county ? Yes
Cafes, restaurants and pubs operating as restaurants - On site dining closed at 3pm
Places of worship - 50 max until Christmas Day
Retail - Open
Weddings - 25 max
Hotels - Can serve food to non-guests until 3pm
27 December:
Visitors to your home - 1 other household
Travel outside your county ? No, except to return home after Christmas
Cafes, restaurants and pubs operating as restaurants - Delivery and take away only
Places of worship - Private and online worship only from 26 Dec
Retail - Open but with no January sales
Weddings - 25 Max
Hotel - Can provide food to guests only
January 1:
Visitors to your home - No visitors
Travel outside your county ? No
Cafes, restaurants and pubs operating as restaurants - Delivery and take away only
Places of worship - Private and online worship only
Retail - Open but with no January sales
Weddings - 25 on Jan 1 and 2; max of 6 from Jan 3
Hotel - Can provide food to guests only
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