On July 15th, the Government announced that Phase 4 of the Reopening Roadmap is being paused, current public health measures will remain in place until the 10th of August. There has been a slow but steady increase in the number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Ireland in recent weeks. The Government’s decision to delay the move to Phase 4 was made to give Ireland the best chance of schools reopening, healthcare services safely resuming and to protect vulnerable groups.
The Government has also set out a number of steps which now must be taken to further protect public health.
Face coverings
Face coverings are now required on public transport and should be worn by all customers visiting shops or shopping centres.
Face coverings are recommended in all indoor settings where social distancing is difficult. They should also be worn by people who are visiting the home of someone who is cocooning.
CFI understand that for some people with cystic fibrosis, wearing a face covering / face mask can be difficult. Exceptions to the mandatory wearing of face masks have been included for people who have respiratory conditions. Should you find it difficult to wear a face covering / face mask and require support to access facilities where face coverings are mandatory, please contact Samantha Byrne, Senior Member Services Coordinator – sbyrne@cfireland.ie and we can provide you with a letter of support outlining your condition or a CF Medical ID Card.
Information on the correct use of face coverings can be found from the HSE, WHO and ECDC.
We must limit our contacts
People are advised to continue to limit direct contacts with those outside their household. Gatherings in homes are limited to a maximum of 10 people from no more than 4 different households. The limits on organised gatherings of 50 people indoors or 200 people outdoors remain in place until August 10th. People are urged to avoid crowded spaces.
Pubs, bars and casinos remain closed
Pubs, bars and casinos will remain closed until Phase 4 on the 10th of August. Any pubs and bars currently operating as restaurants must be fully compliant with the regulations.
Continue to avoid non-essential travel
The Government advice to avoid all non-essential travel remains in place.
People living with Cystic Fibrosis are advised to continue to follow cocooning guidance to keep themselves safe. You have a right to exercise your own judgement as to the extent to which the cocooning guidelines apply to you.
The Covid-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of Covid-19 in the community including daily county by county statistics. CFI encourages members to keep up to date with this information as it may be useful when assessing the level of risk of certain activities.
In general, if you choose to go outside you should:
- Strictly adhere to 2 metres physical distancing
- Avoid close face-to-face contact
- Avoid touching people or surfaces
- Wash your hands on returning home
Further advice and cocooning guidance can be found from the Health Protection Surveillance
Centre here.