Ireland move to Level 5 Lockdown for up to 6 weeks

[OnDoutside]

The Cabinet has agreed to move the country to Level 5 restrictions with certain alterations from midnight on Wednesday for six weeks.

Level 5 is the highest level under the Government's medium-term Covid plan, which was introduced in mid-September.

It is similar to the level of restrictions experienced in March and April, except schools will remain open.

In an address to the nation this evening, Taoiseach Micheál Martin outlined what the new restrictions mean.

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment is to be restored to €350 a week for people who had prior earnings of €400 a week or above, the Cabinet has agreed.

People who were earning between €300 and €400 before the Covid-19 pandemic will get a weekly PUP payment of €300.

Those earning between €200 and €300 per week will get a payment of €250, while anyone with pre-pandemic earnings below €200 will continue to receive €203.

The Government has also agreed changes to the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme in an effort to keep as many people in employment as possible during the increased restrictions.

People will only be able to exercise within five kilometres of their home. They can meet up outdoors with one other household within this limit for an activity such as exercise.

There will be a penalty for breaching the five kilometre restriction except for essential purposes, such as: travelling to and from work, medical reasons, vital family reasons such as childcare provision or caring for an elderly relative, attending a wedding or funeral, visiting a grave, or farming purposes.

People should work from home unless providing an essential service. A list of essential services can be found here.

Social visits to homes and gardens will not be allowed.

Those living alone, those with mental health challenges and those parenting alone or with shared custody will be allowed to pair with one other household as part of a social support bubble.

Schools and childcare services will remain open.

Pubs, restaurants and cafes will only be allowed to operate a takeaway or delivery service. Wet pubs in Dublin will remain closed.

Hotels, guesthouses and Bed & Breakfasts can remain open, but only for guests who are providing an essential service.

The number of guests allowed to attend weddings is 25, while up to ten mourners can attend a funeral.

Religious services will be available online.

Museums, galleries and other cultural attractions will remain closed, while libraries will be available for online services only.

Outdoor playgrounds and play areas will remain open with protective measures.

Construction sites will remain open, as will most manufacturing facilities.

All non-essential businesses will close, including hairdressers.

Essential retail outlets, such as supermarkets, fuel forecourts and pharmacies, can remain open. A list of these can be found here.

Professional and elite sports, inter-county GAA games, horse racing and greyhound racing can all continue behind closed doors.

Non-contact training for school-aged children can continue in outdoor pods of 15.

Visits to long-term residential care facilities are suspended, except in compassionate circumstances.

Public transport will operate at 25% capacity to allow those providing essential services to get to work. School transport will not be affected.

There will be enhanced financial supports for individuals and businesses, as well as measures focusing on mental health.

[Lucinda]

1. KNR

[Cha]

2. Thank you for this report on what

Ireland is doing to contain COVID.