New Covid-19 restrictions come into effect tonight

New measures to respond to the Covid-19 emergency have been announced by Government – including new income supports and closures of ‘non-essential retail outlets’ and gatherings outdoors to be limited to four people

Announcing the measures, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “These are unprecedented actions to respond to an unprecedented emergency.”

Restrictions announced a fortnight ago are being extended until April 19.

And from tonight at midnight, the following measures come into effect:

• markets, casinos, bingo halls, libraries and other similar outlets are to shut
• all hotels to limit occupancy to essential non-social and non-tourist reasons
• all non-essential retail outlets are to close to members of the public and all other retail outlets are to implement physical distancing
• all cafes and restaurants are to limit supply to take away food or delivery
• all sporting events are cancelled, including those behind closed doors
• all playgrounds and holiday/caravan parks will close
• all places of worship are to restrict numbers entering at any one time to ensure adequate physical distancing
• all organised social indoor and outdoor events of any size are not to take place

The Taoiseach said: “Gardai will increase interventions where venues are not in compliance with, or where groups of people are not adhering to recommended physical distancing.

“All household contacts of a suspect case (that is, a person who is awaiting a test or test result) should restrict movements until the test is reported negative or for 14 days since the onset of symptoms, whichever is shorter.

“Individuals should work from home unless attendance at workplace is absolutely essential.

“Social gatherings of individuals outdoors should be no more than four persons, unless all are from the same household.

“All non-essential indoor visits to other persons’ homes should be avoided. All crowded places, including public amenities, should be avoided. All scheduled cruise ship travel will cease,” he said.

He added that the Government are raising the Covid Unemployment Payment to €350 a week.

“This is approximately 75% of average earnings in the sectors most affected, and compares favourably to what is being done in other countries. The first payments will be made on Friday.

“The Covid Illness Benefit will also increase to €350 per week and can be topped up by employers. This will be paid to people self-isolating.

“In order to encourage employers and companies badly affected by the Emergency to keep staff on the payroll, a wage subsidy scheme will be introduced to co-fund 70% of the cost of salaries up to a maximum of €38,000 a year. At a salary of €38,000 the subsidy will equate to €410 a week in take-home pay.

“The cost of this will be great. Many billions of euro in the coming months. But we can bear it and we will be able to pay it back as a nation. We do so willingly because it is the right thing to do and because we owe it to our fellow citizens.

“I believe that maintaining the link between employees and employers and companies will make it easier for us to bounce back when this is all over. We will keep our economic infrastructure intact. We will give businesses the best chance of making it through this.

“The self-employed will also be covered. I know the sacrifices so many of our self-employed have made to build up their businesses and practices and I know how worried they are now,” the Taoiseach said.

The Cabinet this morning approved the ‘Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Covid Bill’.

This legislation, for the duration of the Emergency, will:

The Government also approved a framework agreement with the private hospitals. “They will operate effectively as public hospitals under Section 38 of the Health Act for the duration of the Emergency thus adding over 2,000 beds, nine laboratories, critical care capacity and thousands of staff to our health service,” said Mr Varadkar.

List of essential retailers:

1. Retail and wholesale sale of food, beverages and newspapers in non-specialised and
   specialised stores;
2. Retail sale of household consumer products necessary to maintain the safety and
   sanitation of residences and businesses;
3. Pharmacies/Chemists and retailers providing pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical or
   dispensing services;
4. Opticians/Optometrists;
5. Retail sale of selling medical and orthopaedic goods in specialised stores;
6. Fuel stations and heating fuel providers;
7. Retailers involved in the repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycle repair and
   related facilities (e.g. tyre sales and repairs);
8. Retail sale of essential items for the health and welfare of animals, including animal
   feed and medicines, animal food, pet food and animal supplies including bedding;
9. Laundries and Drycleaners;
10. Banks, Post Offices and Credit Unions;
11. Retail sale of safety supply stores (for e.g. work clothes, Personal Protective
    Equipment);
12. Hardware stores, builders’ merchants and stores that provide hardware products
    necessary for home and business maintenance, sanitation and farm equipment,
    supplies and tools essential for gardening/farming/agriculture;
13. Retail sale of office products and services for individuals working from home and for
    businesses;
14. Retailers providing electrical, IT and phone sales, repair and maintenance services for
    home.