Press release
Ireland placed on Level 5 Restrictions of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 - with a number of specific adjustments
The government has today agreed that from midnight on 24 December until 12 January, Level 5 restrictions will apply nationally. There will be a number of specific adjustments to Level 5 and, in addition, certain transitional arrangements will apply during the Christmas period.
The government has considered a number of factors in arriving at this decision, including NPHET concerns at the rapid increase in COVID-19 case numbers over recent days, the nature of social interaction likely to take place over the Christmas period involving mixing between younger and older people and the risk that this could lead to a wave of infection with a higher risk age profile.
Republic of Ireland re-enters Level 5 - hereâs what comes into effect
Here are the Level 5 restrictions that will come into place across the Republic of Ireland from this Thursday, December 24, Christmas Eve, and will remain in place until January 12.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools may remain open for individual training only
Hotels may only open for essential non-social and non-tourist purposes except for guests who already have a booking and are due to check-in up to and including December 26th
People must remain within their county (as opposed to within 5K of their home) apart from travel for work, education or other essential purposes
Non-contact training in pods of up to 15 may take place outdoors
No matches/events should take place except for professional and elite sports, horse racing, greyhound racing and approved equestrian events behind closed doors
Businesses on the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) will have to provide Revenue with a six-month sales projection within 10 days or lose their eligibility for the programme, the Irish Independent has learned.
Following updated guidance from Revenue on Friday implementing changes made to the Finance Bill by Finance Minister Paschal Donohue last month, employers claiming a subsidy under the scheme must now show a 30pc reduction in turnover will occur for the period January 1 to June 30.
Companies must make the calculation by December 31 and compare it to the corresponding period in 2019, demonstrating to Revenue s satisfaction that their business will still qualify for the supports under the new terms.