27/10/2020 gov.

ie - Ireland placed on Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19

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Press release

Ireland placed on Level 5 of the Plan for

Living with COVID-19
From Department of the Taoiseach (/en/organisation/department-of-the-taoiseach/) 
Published at 19 October 2020
Last updated 22 October 2020
 

The government has decided today that, as of midnight on Wednesday 21 October, all of
Ireland will be placed on Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID with a small number
of exceptions as set out below.

This action is based on current public health advice, the deteriorating situation with the
disease across the country and the government’s objectives to support families by
keeping schools and childcare facilities open, maintaining non-COVID health services
and protecting the vulnerable.

Level 5 restrictions will remain in place for a period of 6 weeks.

Given the dif culties that these restrictions place on individuals and families across the
State, the risk of job losses and of poverty and homelessness, the government has
agreed that the moratorium on evictions be reinstated and that Pandemic
Unemployment Payment and the Employee Wage Subsidy Scheme be amended to
re ect these challenges.

Placing the country at Level 5 Restrictions will have the following implications:
• people are asked to stay at home. People should work from home unless providing an
essential service for which their physical presence is required (see below for essential
services)
• people will be permitted to exercise within a radius of 5 km of their home

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• there will be a penalty for movement outside 5km of home, with exemptions to this for
essential work and essential purposes (see notes to editors)
• 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
• in addition, in recognition of the impact on children and young people of restrictions,
non-contact training can continue for school aged children, outdoors in pods of 15. All
other training activities should be individual only, with some exemptions, see below
• there should be no visits to other people’s homes or gardens
• however, there will be the concept of an extended household (or support bubble) for
de ned categories of individuals to support those at risk of social isolation and/or
mental ill-health (see notes to editors)
• no social/family gatherings should take place, with the exemptions to this for weddings
and funerals (see below)
• it is possible to meet with one other household in an outdoor setting which is not a
home or garden, such as a park, including for exercise
• there should be no organised indoor or outdoor events
• essential retail and essential services will remain open (see below)
• public transport will operate at 25% capacity for the purposes of allowing those
providing essential services to get to work [School transport unaffected]
• in line with current NPHET advice in respect of Level 5, professional, elite sports and
inter-county Gaelic games, horse-racing and greyhound racing can continue behind
closed doors
• bars, cafes, restaurants and wet pubs may provide take-away and delivery services
only. Wet pubs in Dublin remain closed
• hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs may remain open, but only to support provision of
essential services
• 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
• religious services will be available online
• museums, galleries and other cultural attractions will remain closed

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• libraries will be available for online services only

• outdoor playgrounds, play areas and parks will remain open with protective measures
• visits to Long Term Residential Care facilities are suspended with the exception of
visits required for critical and compassionate circumstances

ENDS

Notes

Essential purposes for travel (permitted outside 5km limit)

• to shop for essential items

• travel to and from work, where work involves providing an essential service (see
below)
• to attend medical appointments and collect medicines and other health products
• for vital family reasons, such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable
people, and in particular for those who live alone, as part of an extended household
but excluding social family visits
• to attend a wedding or funeral
• for farming purposes i.e. food production and/or care of animals
• to visit a grave

Exemptions for weddings (irrespective of venue):** Up to 25 guests for wedding

ceremony and reception.

Exemption for funerals: Up to 10 mourners.

Sports/Training/Matches

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No training or matches should take place, with the exception of professional, elite sports
and inter-county Gaelic games, horse-racing and greyhound racing, which are being
permitted to continue behind closed doors.

Extended Household Concept

In order to support those who risk isolation, such as single adult households and those
who have shared parenting or shared custody arrangements; those living alone who
have mental health challenges, or those living with partner with dementia for example, it
will be possible for those in such circumstances to nominate one other household with
whom they can mix. This will allow for social support beyond the caring exemptions
already available.

Amendments to PUP and EWSS

We know the move to Level 5 will have a signi cant impact on businesses – we know
many people will temporarily lose their jobs on Thursday

As a result of the fact that businesses have to close we are making changes to the PUP
and the EWSS

The new payment structure for the PUP is as follows, with the rate of €350 restored to
those who were earning in excess of €400 per week:

Prior Weekly Earnings (Gross) PUP Payment

less than €200 €203

€200 - €299.99 €250

€300 - €399.99 €300

more than €400 €350

This change to payment rates will apply for payments issued from Tuesday 27 October
(PUP is paid weekly on a Tuesday) in respect of all existing and new applicants.

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The EWSS is also being amended to align with the amendment to PUP. This means here
will be 5 payment rates/bands as follows:
• 0 - €151 = €0
• >€151 < €203 = €203
• >€203 < €300 = €250
• >€300 < €400 = €300
• >€400< €1,462 = €350

The main aim of this scheme is to ensure where possible employees retain their link with
their employer rather than become unemployed. This revised scheme will run to end
January 2021.

See the list of essential retailers here. (https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/60ecc-

essential-retail-outlets-for-level-4/)

See the list of essential services here. (https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9158-

essential-services/)

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