Updated Level 5 Guidelines
Non-essential construction will stop at 6pm on Friday. Essential construction projects will be exempt including health projects specific to Covid-19, housing adaptation grants, repairs and critical maintenance for rail and utility projects and roads. There will also be an exception for education and social housing construction. Sole traders such as plumbers will be able work on an emergency call-out basis. There will also be an exemption for major foreign direct investment projections for exporting.
The Cabinet has agreed to close schools from next Monday, due to rising Covid-19 infections, but Leaving Cert students will be allowed to attend three days a week.
Your guide to the new changes
| Activity | Guidance |
| Schools | Closed until 1 Feb with some specific exceptions for final year Leaving Cert students, special education and specialised settings |
| Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) | The resumption of the ECCE programme is delayed until 1 Feb |
| Childcare | Closed with exceptions for vulnerable children and children of essential workers |
| Construction | Construction will close from 6pm on Friday 8 Jan, with limited exceptions |
| Retail | Essential retail only. Click and collect from non-essential retail outlets will no longer be permitted after existing orders are fulfilled. Click and deliver will continue |
| Travel into Ireland | No travellers from Great Britain or South Africa until 9 Jan. All travellers from those locations after that date must have a negative PCR COVID-19 test result (COVID-19 not detected) within 72 hours prior to arrival |
At Level 5, the public health risk means that you will be asked to stay at home, except for travel for work, education or other essential purposes, or to take exercise within 5km of home. There will be no gatherings other than small numbers at funerals and weddings. (Text Credit: www.gov.ie)