The Republic of Ireland have announced that the country will be moving to Level 5 restrictions, with personal care services closing from 24th December.
The government has today agreed that from midnight on 24 December until 12 January, Level 5 restrictions will apply nationally. There will be some specific adjustments to Level 5 and, in addition, certain transitional arrangements which will apply during the Christmas period.
Level 5 Provisions (source: Department of Taoiseach):
- up to 6 guests only are permitted at weddings
- up to 10 mourners only permitted at funerals
- religious services are online but places of worship may open for private prayer
- no organised indoor or outdoor gatherings should take place
- no matches or sports events are permitted, with exemptions for professional, elite sports and horse racing and greyhound racing behind closed doors
- non-contact training can take place outdoors in pods of up to 15 people. Individual training only is permitted indoors. No indoor exercise or dance classes are permitted
- hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs are open for those with essential non-social and non-tourist purposes
- nightclubs, discos and casinos remain closed
- personal services must close
- people should continue to work from home unless essential for work which is an essential health, social care or other essential service and cannot be done from home
- public transport capacity should be restricted at 25%
- outdoor playgrounds, play areas and parks to remain open
- LTRC Facilities visiting: suspended, aside from critical and compassionate circumstances
- childcare services, early learning and schools remain open
- higher, further and adult education should remain primarily online
- museums, galleries, libraries and other cultural attractions are closed
All personal care services, such as hairdressers, beauticians and barbers, in the Republic of Ireland must close on 24th December.
Read more about what Level 5 restrictions mean here.