The Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has said that the new lockdown that’s going to imposed on the Irish public from St Stephen’s Day is likely to last at least 2 months.
Varadkar made the comments in relation to advice issued by the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan who reportedly told the government that he wanted a full and immediately Level 5 lockdown from St Stephen’s Day.
The government took Holohan’s advice and is practically going to lock the country down once again from St Stephen’s Day – possibly up until the end of February or beyond.
Restaurants and gastro-pubs are going to close at 3pm on Christmas Eve.
Hairdressers are to close on Christmas Eve again.
Non-essential retail will remain open but shops will be asked to postpone January sales to try and stop people going out to them.
No new inter-county travel will be allowed after St Stephen’s Day for the foreseeable future.
Up until St Stephen’s Day, visits from up to two other households will be permitted only. Household visits will be reduced to one other household from 27 December onwards.
From 1 January, absolutely no household mixing will be allowed except for compassionate reasons.
Hotels can provide food and bar services to guests only after 3pm on Christmas Eve, no one else. Hotels may only open to guests for essential purposes after December 26th.
Religious services will move online from December 26th again.
The number of wedding guests remains at 25 until New Year’s Day, then guests will be reduced to just 6 people from January 2nd.
Schools will return as normal in January after the Christmas break at this time.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools will remain open for individual training only at this time.
Non-contact training in pods of up to 15 may take place outdoors.
No matches/events should take place except for professional and elite sports and horse-racing and greyhound racing behind closed doors only.
The lockdown will be reviewed once again in January.
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