Public Health Measures - Ireland is moving to Level 5
At Level 5, the public health risk means that you will be asked to stay at home, with certain exceptions. A brief overview of the restrictions and implementation dates are below.
| Activity | From December 24th | From December 27th | From January 1st |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitors to your home | 2 other households max | 1 other household max | No Visitors |
| Travel outside your county | Yes | No - except to return home after Christmas | No |
| Cafes, restaurants and pubs serving food | Onsite dining closed at 3pm | Delivery and take-away food only | Delivery and take-away food only |
| Places of worship | 50 max until Christmas Day | Private and online worship only from December 26th | Private and online worship only |
| Retail | Open | Open but with no January Sales | Open, but with. no January Sales |
| Weddings | 25 Max | 25 Max | 25 on January 1st & 2nd, Max of 6 from January 3rd |
| Hotels | Can serve food to non-guests until 3pm | Can provide food to guests only | Can provide food to guests only |
You can see the current measures in place here. (These include recent changes)
HSE COVID-19 Test and Trace is open this Christmas
If you feel unwell on a public holiday, the weekend or in the evening, the GP out of hours service can refer you for a test too.
The GP referral and test are both free of charge. Most people will get a test appointment within 24 hours.
A new Test and Trace video is available here and sets out step by step how test and trace works.
Contact tracers will continue to call people who test positive for COVID-19 and trace their close contacts to give them public health advice throughout the Christmas and New Year. Contact tracers will advise close contacts to restrict their movements for 14 days and arrange a COVID-19 test. People who test positive and/or who have symptoms of COVID-19 must self-isolate in a room on their own and avoid other people. This will help stop the spread of the virus.
GP out of hours services are available throughout the country at weekends and evenings this Christmas.
You can find contact details for your local GP Out of Hours Service here.
Community Call supporting vulnerable people 7 days a week 8 am – 8 pm on 0818 222 024
If you are caring for people who would benefit from help with collection and delivery of essential items like food, ‘meals-on-wheels’, fuel or medicine or who are socially isolated you can call the Community Call line. Community Call has been significantly expanded to reach out to anyone who is vulnerable or isolated regardless of age or location.
Community Call is supported by the HSE, An Garda Siochana, Local Authorities, An Post, charities and residents’ associations.
Call 0818 222 024 (open 7 days a week 8 am – 8 pm).
Updated illustrated guide for children about COVID-19 tests
An illustrated guide for children about going to a COVID-19 test centre has been updated. This reflects changes to how children are being tested for COVID-19. The test that children have is simpler than the test adults have. Their test sample is taken using a nasal swab. It's easier and quicker for your child. The guide for children is available here. For more information on tests for children, see this hse.ie advice for parents.
Free flu vaccine extended to children up to the age of 17
The flu vaccine and its administration has been made available for free for the first time in Ireland for children and young people aged from two to 17 years. Originally available for children aged two to 12 years, nearly 200,000 children have received the nasal flu vaccine through GP practices and pharmacies across the country.
The first batches of nasal flu vaccine are due to expire in the middle of January so it’s important for parents to come forward to get their children vaccinated now. You can find more information here.
Public Health Information
As always, for the most up to date information and advice on Coronavirus, visit the Health Protection Surveillance Centre website by clicking here. Clinical and professional guidance relating to COVID-19 is available on www.hpsc.ie where you’ll find up to date guidance for healthcare settings and non-clinical settings.
You can view the latest information on how Ireland is responding to cases of COVID-19 here.
Ireland’s COVID-19 Data Hub is available here.
Northern Ireland
New measures are to be published shortly, including travel between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Click here for the latest advice.