Leo Varadkar announces changes to restrictions from Monday

Alan Loughnane

Ireland will begin Phase One of easing restrictions on Monday.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that Ireland will enter Phase One of easing restrictions on Monday.

At the start of the month, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced a five step plan for lifting the measures put in place to slow the spread of Covid-19.

Each phase will be separated by at least three weeks.

As part of Phase One, people will be allowed to leave home in the following instances:

To go to work if your workplace is open and you cannot work from home.
To shop for items you need.
To exercise within 5kms.
For medical reasons or to care for others.
To meet friends and family within 5kms, in groups of no more than four.

The four basic hygiene measures remain the same:

Wash hands regularly.
Maintain two-metre physical distance when possible.
Sneeze or cough into your elbow or tissue.
Stay home and isolate if you feel unwell.

Outdoor spaces and tourism sites, along with golf clubs and tennis courts, can re-open as long as social distancing is in place.

School and college buildings can reopen for access by teachers for organisation and distribution of learning materials.

Some non-essential retailers will also reopen and outdoor work will resume. According to government advice, these include:

Opticians and optometrists, outlets providing hearing test services, selling hearing aids and appliances.
Retailers involved in the sale, supply and repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycle repair and related facilities.
Hardware stores, builders’ merchants and stores that provide hardware products necessary for home and business maintenance, sanitation and farm equipment, supplies and tools essential for gardening / farming /agriculture.
Retail sale of office products and services for individuals working from home and for businesses.
Retailers providing electrical, IT and phone sales, repair and maintenance services for home and businesses.

All businesses must implement social distancing arrangements in their premises to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission.

They must also put a number of health measures in place such as limiting interactions between workers and could include having a smaller number of workers return initially, shift work and staggered hours among others.

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