Friday 30th April 2021
COVID-19 The Path Ahead, new public health measures announced
Last night, 29th April, the Government announced new public health measure, paving the way for ‘The Path Ahead’.
The government decided to move ahead with the Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead plan. We are now in the early stages of the Recovery phase of the pandemic. The National Vaccination Programme is well advanced and thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the Irish people, there has been a marked improvement in the status of the virus in the community.
The decision is based on advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), that a cautious and gradual phased reopening over May and June, with an emphasis on outdoor activity and a moderate increase in social contact, can be considered low to medium risk. NPHET has advised that there is scope to ease a range of public health measures in this manner with sufficient time between any easing of measures to assess the impact.
Your quick guide to the changes:
- Construction: All construction can restart
- Workers who work outdoors (for example: window cleaning, maintenance work) can return to work
- Travel: You can travel between counties in Ireland
- Visitors to your garden: Maximum of 3 households or 6 people from any number of households
- Outdoor gatherings: Maximum 15 people
- Outdoor training: Maximum 15 people
- Retail: Click and collect, in-store by appointment only, and outdoor retail can recommence. All remaining retail can reopen from 17 May.
- Personal services (hairdressers, barbers, beauticians): Can reopen for customers with appointments only
- Galleries, museums, and other cultural attractions: Can reopen
- Libraries: To reopen for lending servies. No access to reaser spaces / PCs
- Funerals: Maximum 50 mourners at service. No other events to take place
- Weddings: Maximum 50 guests at service. Maximum 6 guests at indoor reception or 15 outdoors
- Public transport: Public transport will run at 50 percent capacity
- Property viewings: By appointment only with licensed Property Service Providers
- An increase in the numbers that can meet outdoors for social/recreational purposes, including in private gardens – maximum of 3 households or 6 people from any number of households. This limit of 6 does not include their children aged 12 or younger
- Recommencement of in-person religious services. It is advised that other religious ceremonies such as Communions and Confirmations should not take place at this time
- Public Transport: increase in numbers on public transport, up to 50% of normal capacity
- Retail: All remaining retail can reopen
- Retail: All remaining retail can reopen from 2 June (subject to the public health situation at the time)
- Accommodation services (hotels, B&Bs, self-catering and hostels): Can reopen but services must be restricted to overnight guests and residents
Subject to the public health situation at the time
- Visitors: You can have visitors from one other household inside your home
- Restaurants and bars: Outdoor services can resume with groups limited to 6 people
- Weddings: Maximum guests at reception increases to 25
- Outdoor sports matches: Can be played but with no spectators
- Gyms, swimming pools, leisure centres: Can reopen for individual training only
The government has agreed that the following measures will apply:
- Continue to protect yourself and others by following public health advice.
- Everyone should continue to work from home unless absolutely necessary to attend in person.
Think safe, think outdoors – this must be the theme for the summer of 2021.
Please do not hesitate to contact any member of the team in CFI if you have any questions, need a chat or are looking for additional supports. You can contact the office on 01 496 2433 / email: info@cfireland.ie or alternatively you can contact the Member Services team directly on the details below:
| Samantha Byrne |
Caroline Heffernan |
Rory Tallon |
| Member Services Senior Co-ordinator |
CF Advocate |
CF Advocate |
| 01 496 2433 ext. 201 |
087 932 3933 |
087 932 3930 |
| sbyrne@cfireland.ie |
cheffernan@cfireland.ie |
rtallon@cfireland.ie |
A list of available mental health supports and services can be found here.
Further information
Further information on the new plan can be found here.
Click here for Information on CF and COVID-19.
For information on the COVID vaccines click here
