Covid-19: Household visits banned for entire country

At tonights Cabinet meeting, ministers met to discuss further restrictions nationwide.

The Government banned household visits across the country and moved border counties to level 4 restrictions.

The move, decided on by an extended cabinet meeting tonight, will come into force from midnight on Thursday.

The decision comes nine days after NPHET recommended Level 5 for the entire country as the state battles a second spike in coronavirus cases.

Due to the "deteriorating situation with the virus across the country", there will be increased restrictions for Level 3 counties. 

Household visits have been suspended across Ireland, while three border counties have been moved to Level Four restrictions.

The move, decided on by an extended cabinet meeting on Wednesday night, will come into force from midnight on Thursday.

Compassionate grounds and caring for someone, including a child, is excluded.

Gardai will not have any extra powers to enter private properties to enforce the guidelines but will continue to advise households not to congregate.

"It's been consistently the view of households and homes are one of the areas where the virus spreads the most," the Taoiseach said.

"It's an uncontrolled environment."

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said there is a misnomer about gatherings in homes are all house parties but said all informal gatherings in homes must stop.

“I think sometimes people associate home gatherings with house parties," he said.

"But it's not just that more frequently at smaller gatherings. It's family dinners at the weekend. It's a few friends over for a drink or a cup of coffee. All those things have to stop because they don't stop the virus can't be stopped. And that's what we're asking people to do. From today."

Border counties, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal will all be moved to Level 4 in order to marry up with guidelines to be implemented in Northern Ireland on Friday, the rest of the country will stay in Level 3 with increased restrictions.

"This will be difficult news. For many people, and many businesses," the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said.

"This government is prepared to do everything in its power to protect lives and public health, while working to minimise the damage to the economy, and help businesses stay afloat.

"When this passes, because it will pass. We will make it through this pandemic. We will do whatever is needed to make it through if we continue to adhere to the rules and if we all work together."

This immediate escalation needed in the three border counties will see changes including:

• No visitors to home or garden, with the exception of visits for essential purposes (e.g. family reasons such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people, and in particular those who live alone).
• In outdoor settings away from home/garden, up to 6 people from no more than 2 households can meet while maintaining strict social distancing – including for outdoor exercise and dining.
• The existing exemption which allows for Club Championship games to be played behind closed doors has been removed, gyms and pools are to close.
• Restrictions on hotels and all non-essential retail to close. A list of essential retailers, professional and personal services has been published by the government.

The Taoiseach said that people in every county should work from home unless necessary, noting there had been a "trickle back" to offices, and notably busier daily commute.

The cabinet meeting originally met to discuss restrictions in Northern Ireland which would see schools close for two weeks, while pubs and restaurants will close for four weeks, with the exception of takeaways and deliveries, in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus, a curfew on off-licenses will be implemented for 8pm.

The new restrictions are similar to that of Level 4 in the republic.

The new closer alignment of Covid guidelines north and south is due to a spike in cases linked to cross-border travel and business.

The decision was made due to what Ms Foster described as "the very worrying" increase in Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations, First Minister Arlene Foster said.

The change in the Republic of Ireland comes nine days after NPHET recommended Level 5 for the entire country as the state battles a second spike in coronavirus cases.

The Taoiseach was steadfast in his comments on the upcoming Hallowe'en midterm break, which will remain only as a period of one week for schools, telling the country that trick or treating, knocking on doors, street parties or any congregation of people cannot happen.

Level four restrictions 

Level 4 restrictions will come into effect on midnight tomorrow in Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal. They include the following:

• No social or family gatherings other than weddings (with up to 6 guests) and funerals (with up to 25 mourners) should take place.
•  No visitors are permitted into private homes and gardens, except for essential purposes. Visits to long-term residential care facilities are suspended except for critical and compassionate circumstances.
• People should stay in their county except for essential work, education and other essential purposes.
• Only essential workers should travel to work.
• Only essential retail and businesses that are primarily outdoors should open. All other retail and personal services should be closed. 
• Construction activities will continue.
• Manufacturing will remain open where necessary to ensure that all national and international supply chains are intact for essential goods.
• Schools, regulated childcare and childminding will remain open with existing protective measures.
• Further, higher and adult education moves primarily online with appropriate protective measures in place for essential attendance on site.
• People should avoid public transport, which will be operating at 25% capacity.
• Bars, cafes, and restaurants are open for take-away or delivery and outdoor seating for max. 15 patrons. No indoor service is permitted.
• Wet pubs may open for take-away or delivery and outdoor service for a max of 15 patrons. No indoor service is permitted.
• Hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs are only open to existing guests and for essential non-social and non-tourist purposes.
• Gyms, leisure centres, swimming pools, museums, galleries and other cultural attractions are closed.
• Religious services are online only. Places of worship remain open for private prayer.
• Outdoor playgrounds, play areas and parks remain open While non-contact training in pods of 15 can take place outdoors, in indoor settings individual training only should take place with no classes.
• No matches or events should take place other than limited exceptions -see below.
• No indoor gatherings should take place with outdoor gatherings limited to 15 people.

Earlier, the Department of Health confirmed 1,096 new cases of Covid-19 in the Republic with a further 1,217 new cases of the virus reported in Northern Ireland.