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Covid-19 Level 3 (plus): Here are the changes that come into force for Dubliners at midnight

The capital is facing additional measures on top of the stated Level 3 restrictions.

003 Phoenix Park Phoenix Park in Dublin during the April lockdown. RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

IT’S NOW BEEN confirmed that Dublin is to be moved to Level 3 of Covid-19 restrictions for the next three weeks.

The move was widely anticipated and comes following advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) yesterday. 

In addition however, there are to be a number of additional restrictions placed on Dubliners beyond the previously stated Level 3 measures.

Dublin faced other “additional measures” when it was placed at Level 2 on Tuesday. 

So what exactly changes for Dubliners when the new level comes into effect from midnight?

87598_fba3e092-8f8d-4441-8945-8842459df73c-page-001 gov.ie gov.ie

Home visitors

Was: Just one visiting household up to six people
Now: Just one visiting household up to six people

Dubliners were already living under stricter measure in terms of visitors to homes compared to elsewhere in the country, so this won’t change under the new alert level. 

It essentially means that visitors from just one other household can visit your home.

Social gatherings

Was: Just two households up to six people can meet in other settings
Now: No social or family gatherings should take place in other settings

The government’s plan states that no social or family gatherings should take place in ‘other settings’.

Speaking at a government briefing following tonight’s announcement, Acting Chief Medical Officer Ronan Glynn said people from two households could meet in another setting, such as outside in a park. 

Bars, cafés and restaurants

010 Garda Powers A closed pub in Temple Bar RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

Was: Wet pubs closed but restaurants open with measures in place
Now: Indoor restaurants closed to patrons, take away or delivery only. Outdoor dining up to 15 patrons. Wet pubs remain closed.

This measure has provoked significant opposition since the advice from NPHET was reported last night, with businesses saying it could leave them in dire financial circumstances. 

It’s now been confirmed that the government has decided to follow the advice and patrons will not be allowed dine in restaurants.  

Weddings

shutterstock_768169024 File photo Shutterstock Shutterstock

Was: Up to 50 guests allowed
Now: Up to 25 guests allowed

Weddings are in effect an exception to rules around social gatherings, with the government saying these events require significant planning and that therefore some kind of reassurance is required. 

Despite Level Three coming into effect from midnight, the reduction in numbers for weddings will not kick in until Monday. 

Funerals

Was: Up to 50 mourners 
Now: Up to 25 mourners

Religious services

Was: Up to 50 worshippers in attendance
Now: No worshippers present, services streamed online

Organised indoor events (e.g. theatre, cinema)

Was: Up to 50 or 100 people depending on the size of venue
Now: Events should not take place 

Sporting matches or large events

garry-ringrose Leinster players in the Aviva Stadium ahead of tomorrow's match against Saracens. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Was: Up to 100 people can attend
Now: No matches/events can take place (with some exceptions)

This means a significant change for sport in the capital, with sporting organisations earlier telling an Oireachtas Committee that they need additional support.

Despite matches being effectively banned from taking place for most people, there is an exemption for professional/elite sports that can continue to be played behind closed doors. 

Sports training

Was: Up to 15 people outdoors, six indoors
Now: Non contact training outdoors only up to 15 people

Gym/leisure centres/swimming pools

Was: Open with measures in place such as social distancing
Now: Open for individuals, no classes allowed

Museums/galleries

90364127 National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks in Dublin. Leah FarrellRollingNews.ie Leah FarrellRollingNews.ie

Was: Open with protective measures
Now: All venues must close

Working from home

Was: If possible, attend for essential meetings
Now: Work from home unless absolutely necessary

Third-level colleges

Was: Should consider enhanced protective measures
Now: Escalate all measures and limit congregation

Dublin’s four universities announced earlier that they have decided to go further than the required advice, announcing that they had suspended the majority of on-campus activities and moved classes online.

UCD, Trinity College, DCU and TU Dublin announced that all teaching and learning will be online except for practical workshop and lab-based tuition that cannot be done remotely.

Travel outside Dublin

005 Dublin signs Motorway signs near Dublin. Eamonn Farrell / Rollingnews.ie Eamonn Farrell / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

Was: People encouraged not to leave Dublin if possible
Now: People should only leave or enter the county for work, education or other essential reasons (such as caring for a relative)

People aged over 70 and those medically vulnerable

Was: Exercise judgement regarding engaging with other people
Now: Exercise judgement. Stay at home as much as possible and limit social contacts

Long-term residential care facilities (e.g. nursing homes) 

Was: Open for visits with enhanced protective measures
Now: Visits suspended apart from critical or compassionate grounds

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23 Comments
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    Mute Rosa Lopez
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    Sep 18th 2020, 7:25 PM

    Fair play to this goverment daring to put unpopular measures to keep us afloat. Hopefuly 3 weeks of restrictions help to achieve what should have been easy to achieve if people had complied with guidelines.

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    Mute Thomas
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    Sep 18th 2020, 8:05 PM

    @Rosa Lopez: although I do feel for the business’s that where complying. I do agree.

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    Mute Damo
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    Sep 18th 2020, 8:26 PM

    @Rosa Lopez: gracias Rosa

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    Mute Rosa Lopez
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    Sep 18th 2020, 8:34 PM

    @Thomas: I do too, even for the one’s not complying. It is very difficult to go against of what it is natural and too much to lose to wish it on anyone. Mostly they are too ignorant to see the consequences.
    Hopefully everyone comply these 3 weeks. 3 weeks is all its needed for incubation and transmission time to pass without spreading or with very little spreading rate.

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    Mute Rosa Lopez
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    Sep 18th 2020, 8:35 PM

    @Keith Flood: bollix, exactly!! We need to do our best and stop with the “bollix” attitud. There are too many people lives and livelihoods at stake to be acting “bollix”.

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    Mute Gordon Walsh
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    Sep 18th 2020, 7:01 PM

    There was a lot of D reg cars heading west today – kids lumped into the cars straight after work

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    Mute Richy
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    Sep 18th 2020, 7:12 PM

    @Gordon Walsh: Bet there wasn’t

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    Mute Eric Gaffney
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    Sep 18th 2020, 7:35 PM

    @Gordon Walsh: Did ye follow them ye big granny?

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    Mute Ciarán Ó Dubhda
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    Sep 18th 2020, 7:52 PM

    @Gordon Walsh: I’m from Dublin, live in Dublin but have a SO reg, am I safe to travel west?

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    Mute Niall K
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    Sep 18th 2020, 7:53 PM

    Nanny state if someone wants to get the virus then they should be free to do so 3 weeks of lockdown is pointless really

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    Mute Thomas
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    Sep 18th 2020, 8:06 PM

    @Niall K: what a selfish comment…me, me, me… No thought for the ICU department.

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    Mute Niall K
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    Sep 18th 2020, 8:13 PM

    @Thomas: 3 weeks of lockdown won’t change that people still going to have house parties, drinking on the streets, etc. you still to think for yourself before you criticize me

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    Mute Isabel Oliveira
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    Sep 18th 2020, 8:25 PM

    No sports, no arts, no entertainment, no socialising , no jobs. Welcome to limbo existence.

    I’m off to commiserate the disaster Tetris levels of NPHET government with indoor dining , a few bottles of wine some Van Morrison , all windows closed , no ventilation a lot of loud speaking and singing and no social distancing. In other words a bit of the old normality which can now only be had at home with a maximum of 6.

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    Mute Brian Madden
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    Sep 18th 2020, 8:57 PM

    @Isabel Oliveira: you whine non stop. You sound like great craic.

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    Mute Dawn Tallon
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    Sep 18th 2020, 9:40 PM

    @Isabel Oliveira: Yeah, but Isabel what I want to know is Red or White???

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    Mute Derek Poutch
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    Sep 18th 2020, 7:10 PM

    Yes thank god we’re in this all together.

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    Mute Ger Murray
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    Sep 19th 2020, 1:25 AM

    No body want’s to see this, But I believe the continued high cases in Dublin made this inevitable. It’s certainly strange times.

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    Mute Louise
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    Sep 18th 2020, 11:54 PM

    So up to six people from 1 household – is that at a time, per day or for the duration of the 3 weeks?

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    Mute Trevor Donoghue
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    Sep 22nd 2020, 8:19 PM

    So no difference then, go to work, go home, sleep, go to work buy a bit of shopping on the way home and repeat. Only now i can’t even get a decent meal every now and then.

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    Mute Monty Donotno
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    Sep 18th 2020, 8:32 PM

    Great stock photos at least.

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    Mute Emer Tannam
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    Sep 19th 2020, 12:28 PM

    Is that visitors from one household for the duration of the level 3 restrictions, or one household at a time ?

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    Mute Bramley Hawthorne
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    Sep 30th 2020, 7:52 PM

    These are recommendations and so are utterly pointless.

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    Mute Darren MacCionnaith
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 4:44 AM

    So in 3 weeks the government think the cases will drop,, I dont think this so called lockdown will only be for 3 weeks it will be a lot longer like the last one was for 2 weeks lasted 3 months longer for the pubs,, So every time cases rise the government will close business,a lot will never recover from this ,,may be sort out the ones that’s not following guidelines but we shouldn’t all suffer over the minority

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