Updated Level 5 restrictions in place until the end of January

Rory Cashin

The updated Level 5 restrictions were announced on Wednesday evening.

In light of the drastic increase in positive Covid cases in Ireland, which led to the CEO of the HSE stating that ‘our worst concerns about Covid from before Christmas are being realised’, the government have announced a series of updated Level 5 restrictions, in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.

A record high of 1,718 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed today for the Republic of Ireland alone, as well as 13 deaths, while Northern Ireland reported 2,143 cases earlier today and a further six deaths.

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health said the following about the daily numbers:

“Ireland is no longer in a containment phase and is once again in a mitigation phase. Given the current levels of transmission in the community, every individual should consider themselves potentially infectious.

“It is essential that we all limit our contacts to our own household now, restrict our movements and do not give COVID-19 any further opportunities to spread. Everyone needs to stay at home other than for essential work or care. This is not the time to be visiting other houses.”

Earlier this week, the General Secretary of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) formally requested that the Irish government delay the return date for schools to Monday, January 11, and this request has been accepted.

These increased Level 5 restrictions will bring the following changes nationwide:

The reintroduction of a travel limit of 5km from people’s homes for non-essential reasons
Closure of non-essential retail services from close of business on Thursday, December 31
Closure of gyms and leisure centres to close from COB on Thursday, December 31
A ban on household visits from midnight tonight
Schools now to remain closed until Monday, January 11
Weddings can have a maximum of 25 guests up to and including Saturday, January 2 and then maximum of 6 guests from Monday, January 3
Funerals may have a maximum of 10 mourners

The full layout of the new restrictions can be found here.

These new restrictions are expected to remain in place until the end of January, with the government to reconvene before then to discuss the possible removal or extension of these updated restrictions.

Previously, Leo Varadkar had stated that restrictions may well remain in place for the country until March 2021.