Tuesday 20th October

COVID-19 Restrictions moving to Level 5 nationwide

Tuesday 20th October 2020

COVID-19 Restrictions moving to Level 5 nationwide

The Government announced that all counties will be moving to Level 5 of the Framework for Restrictive Measures. This is the highest level of restrictions under the government’s framework for living with COVID-19. This guidance comes into operation from midnight on Wednesday, October 21st. Level 5 restrictions will be in place for six weeks, with a planned review after four weeks.

At Level 5 everyone is asked to stay home, with exceptions for outdoor exercise (within 5km of home), essential shopping and other specific exceptions.

At Level 5 you are only permitted to travel or exercise within 5km of your home and penalties will be in place if you exceed this 5km limit. There are exemptions for travel outside of the 5km radius, including an exemption for individuals who have to travel for medical appointments or collect medicines.

CFI appreciate this continues to be an anxious time and these changes may worry you. Our team is here to help you and provide you with information and supports that you may need. If you have any questions, concerns or would just like a chat, please get in touch with a member of the CFI team.

Advice for medically vulnerable:

The current government advice for people who are medically vulnerable, including people with CF who are deemed ‘High risk’ of COVID-19 infection (updated 20th October 2020):

Those aged over 70 and the medically vulnerable are advised to continue to exercise personal judgement.

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.

When taking exercise outdoors, it is important to maintain 2 metres distance from others and wash hands on returning home.

It is recommended to shop during designated hours only, while wearing a face covering, and to avoid public transport.

Support bubbles

To support individuals who risk isolation, a ‘social bubble’ can be formed to link isolated individuals with one other household (of any size). You then act as one extended household.

People living with CF who live alone may choose to form a support bubble with one other household for support (referred to as your ‘small network’ within the advice for medically vulnerable), however individuals should exercise personal judgement and ensure your ‘social bubble’ understands the additional precautions that should be taken to protect you. Physical distancing should still apply and engagement kept to a minimum.

If anyone within your support bubble develops symptoms or test positive for COVID-19, stay at home and contact your GP or CF Unit.

Level 5 Restrictions

Please find a full breakdown of Level 5 restrictions below.

Click here for more information (last updated 20th October 2020)

Work

Work from home unless you are deemed an essential service.

Those working in essential services, including healthcare employees, essential retail, essential transport, agriculture, manufacturing and construction are still permitted to enter the workplace. For the full list of essential services click here.

For the full list of essential retail outlets, click here.

Schools, Creches and Education

In line with current NPHET advice in respect of Level 5, schools, early learning and childcare services will continue to remain open and are deemed essential.

Higher Education will continue to be primarily online with exemptions for essential onsite activities.

Social and family gatherings

For the six week duration of the Level 5 restrictions, there should be no other social visits to homes or gardens.

It is possible to meet with 1 other household in an outdoor setting which is not a home or garden, such as a park, including for exercise.

No other social or family gatherings should take place.

Transport

Face coverings must be worn.

Walk or cycle where possible.

Public transport will operate at 25% capacity for the purposes of allowing those providing essential services to get to work.

School transport is unaffected.

Domestic Travel

Stay at home.

Exercise within 5 kilometres of home.

There will be a penalty for movement outside 5 kilometres of home, with the following exceptions:

travel to and from work, where work involves providing an essential service
to attend medical appointments and collect medicines and other health products
travel to attend disability day services
for food shopping
for vital family reasons, such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people, and in particular for those who live alone but excluding social family visits
for farming purposes, that is food production or care of animals
to attend a wedding or funeral
to visit a grave

Organised Gatherings

Organised events, gatherings or sporting events

No organised indoor or outdoor gatherings can take place.

No exercise or dance classes are permitted.

Gyms/leisure centres/swimming pools closed.

No sport training or matches should take place, except for:

non-contact training can continue for school aged children, outdoors in pods of 15
professional, elite sports and inter-county Gaelic games, horse-racing and greyhound racing are permitted to continue behind closed doors

All other training activities should be individual only.

Weddings, funerals, religious services

Up to 25 guests can attend a wedding ceremony and reception, whether indoors or outdoors.
Religious Services will be held online.
Up to 25 mourners can attend a funeral

Retail services

Face coverings must be worn.

Only Essential retail and essential services will remain open. This includes food shopping.

All other retail and personal services are closed.

CFI Office

In line with government guidance and good practice, staff in CFI will once again be working remotely from Monday, October 12th. The only difference this makes to our services is that our actual offices in Dublin and Limerick will be closed to visitors and meetings. If you want to contact us, you can phone the main office as normal number during work hours, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (closed for lunch 1-2pm).

CF House, Dublin
LoCall: 1890 311 211 Tel: 01 496 2433 Email: info@cfireland.ie

TLC4CF
Tel: 087 195 4213 Email: TLC4CF@cfireland.ie

COVID-19 Restrictions moving to Level 5 nationwide

COVID-19 Restrictions moving to Level 5 nationwide

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Level 5 Restrictions

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