The Government has decided today that, from midnight tonight, the entire county of Dublin will be placed on Level 3 under the Plan for Living with Covid-19. This action is based on a review of the current public health advice and is in response to the deteriorating situation with the virus in Dublin.
The rest of the country remains at Level 2.
Dublin will be at Level 3 for a period of 3 weeks, until Friday 9th October, at which point the situation will be reviewed by the Government, based on the status of the virus and public health advice.
The Government has also announced a package of measures to assist Dublin businesses, with a 30% top-up to the Restart Plus grant and other measures at an estimated additional cost of €30 million.
NPHET advice
The Government decision was guided by advice from NPHET and followed detailed consideration at Cabinet.
NPHET has advised that the level and pattern of cases in Dublin is very different to anywhere else in the country. The high incidence rate and high growth rate means that the force of infection is currently 3-5 times greater than the rest of Ireland. NPHET advises there is now a very real risk of widespread transmission both across County Dublin but also to other areas of Ireland.
The NPHET recommendations are targeted specifically at limiting social contacts and reducing congregation. Given the severity of the epidemiological situation in Dublin, NPHET concluded that there is a necessity to apply measures at the limit of the options available under Level 3.
Placing Dublin at Level 3 has the following implications for those living or working in Dublin:
• Visitors to private homes and gardens should be limited to a maximum number of 6 from one other household.
o No social/family gatherings should take place, with exemptions to this for weddings and funerals (see below).
• No organised indoor gatherings should take place. Organised outdoor gatherings are permitted, up to a maximum of 15 people.
• People living in Dublin should remain in the county (i.e. they must not leave Dublin to travel either domestically or internationally), with the exception of those who must travel for work, education and other essential purposes.
• People living outside of Dublin should not travel to Dublin, with the exception of those who must travel for work, education and other essential purposes.
• People working in Dublin are asked to work from home unless absolutely necessary.
• Schools, Early Learning and Childcare services should remain open. Adult and Higher Education Institutions should remain open, but are asked to review protective measures and take steps to limit congregation as much as possible.
• You are asked to walk or cycle where possible so that public transport is available for use by essential workers and for essential work only.
Sports
• No matches or other sporting events should take place, with the exception of professional, elite, inter county and senior club championship – all to take place behind closed doors.
• Horse racing may continue, but behind closed doors.
• Non-contact training activities can continue in the outdoors and in pods of up to 15, with certain exemptions (see below).
• Indoor training should be confined to individuals only and no classes are to take place.
• All retail shops and shopping centres may remain open. All services such as hairdressers, beauticians, barbers, opticians etc. may remain open.
• Libraries will be available for e services and call and collect.
• All outdoor playgrounds, play areas, parks remain open.
• Gyms/leisure centres, swimming pools may remain open for individual use only and with protective measures.
• Hotels, Guesthouses and B&Bs may remain open, but with services limited to residents.
• The Framework allows for some flexibility in a number of measures in Level 3. Where the incidence of the disease is rising, it is necessary to have the option to respond on a proportionate basis, reflecting the nature of the increase. Level 3 allows for a range of restrictions on indoor dining, including limitations on groups gathering, reduced capacity and earlier closing times or a complete restriction on indoor dining.
• All options within that range were considered on this occasion. However, given the severity of the situation with the virus in Dublin, the public health advice is, on balance, that there is now a necessity to apply measures at the limit of the options available under Level 3 which is to no longer permit indoor dining. Restaurants and Cafes (including bars/pubs serving food) may remain open for take-away and delivery and outdoor dining to a maximum of 15 people.
• Those aged over 70 and the medically vulnerable are advised to continue to exercise personal judgement.
o It is recommended that they stay at home as much as possible, limit engagement to a very small network for short periods of time, while remaining physically distanced.
o When taking exercise outdoors, it is important to maintain 2 metres distance from others and wash hands on returning home.
o It is recommended to shop during designated hours only, while wearing a face covering, and to avoid public transport.
• Religious services will move online, though places of worship may remain open for private prayer.
• All indoor museums, galleries, cinemas and other cultural attractions should close.
• As the new restrictions come into force from midnight, Culture Night will go ahead on Friday 18th September as planned.
• Activities associated with the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) will also proceed as planned.
Business Supports
In recognition of the impact of these restrictions on businesses in Dublin, the Government has also decided to provide for a 30% top-up to the Restart Plus grant to help support those affected through the three-week period. Businesses who have previously benefited from the Restart Grant will be eligible to re-apply for this top-up. This will be available immediately through the normal application process at an estimated additional cost of €30m.
In addition, applications from Dublin will be prioritised for the wide range of existing loan and voucher schemes available to assist businesses affected by Covid-19.
Other employment and income supports, including the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, as well as the full range of employment, training and support services for affected workers, will also continue to be made available and funded by the Government.
NOTES TO EDITORS
• Weddings and Funerals
o For the weekend of 19th/20th September
1. Weddings can proceed as originally planned up to a limit of 50 guests. Dublin residents may attend weddings outside of Dublin and those outside of Dublin may travel to weddings in Dublin over this weekend.
2. The Level 3 measures for funerals come into effect on Monday 21st.
o From Monday, 21st September
1. Weddings in Dublin may proceed, but with a limit of 25 guests for ceremony and reception (irrespective of venue). It will not be possible for residents outside of Dublin to attend weddings in Dublin, nor will it be possible for those in Dublin to attend weddings in other areas of the country. Brides & Bridegrooms resident in Dublin with existing plans outside the county can travel to get married at another location.
• Visits to Long Term Residential Care facilities are suspended, with the exception of visits required for critical and compassionate circumstances.
• Public transport operates at 50% capacity.
• Non-contact training activities can continue in the outdoors and in pods of up to 15. There is an exemption to this for professional or elite athletes, for inter-county sports and for senior club championship training.
• No matches or other sporting events should take place, with the exception of professional, elite, inter county and senior club championship which should take place behind closed doors. Horse racing may continue, but behind closed doors.
• It has already been decided that so-called wet pubs will not open in Dublin on 21st September.
• Nightclubs, Discos and Casinos will remain closed.
• Travel for Work and Essential Purposes
o Travel to and from work, or for the purposes of work and where that work cannot be done from home
o To attend medical appointments and collect medicines and other health products
o For vital family reasons, such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people, but excluding social family visits and
o For farming purposes i.e. food production and/or care of animals