By midnight on Wednesday, travel restrictions in Ireland will be reduced down to just 5km, mirroring a similar barrier that we faced at the start of the first major lockdown.
You are being advised to stay at home and exercise within this radius with penalties currently being put together, fining those who break this rule.
However, there are five exemptions which sees people able to cross this small and tight barrier from outside their home.
These include:
- Travel to and from work, where work involves providing an essential service.
- To attend medical appointments and collect medicines and other health products
- 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, that is food production or care of animals
- To visit a grave
Taoiseach Micheal Martin said if we “pull together” now we could reap the reward of enjoying a “meaningful Christmas” at the end of lockdown 2.
But the price will be high as it will hit the Exchequer for €250million every week in unemployment and business supports.
There’s a chance of a break after four weeks when there is a review but a Government source last night told Dublin Live: “Six weeks is the plan,” with saving Christmas the goal.
The Taoiseach delivered a State of the Nation address last night where he outlined the Government’s reasoning for our second shutdown.
He called on people to knuckle-down once more: “As Taoiseach, I’m asking everyone again to take this threat seriously.”
And he pointed out not everyone had obeyed the rules up to now, adding: “The Government cannot stop it [Covid] on its own.
“Many people have done everything that has been asked of them but some have not.”
Mr Martin said “further actions” are now required as a result.
