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In line with the plan set out in COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead, the Government announced on 30 March the continued phased easing of restrictions for the month of April, to commence on 12 April.
If you have received the second dose of the vaccine more than 2 weeks ago, you can meet with other fully vaccinated people from 1 other household indoors without wearing masks or staying 2 metres apart. This measure comes into place immediately.
If you have received the second dose, you have to wait 2 weeks until you can meet other fully vaccinated people indoors.
You can read the latest public health advice issued by the Government in full here.
In your home or garden
No visitors are permitted in private homes or gardens except for essential family reasons such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people, or as part of a support bubble.
Other settings outside your home or garden
From 12 April, you may meet people from 1 other household outdoors, but not in your garden or theirs. Any meetings outdoors should be safe, with continued practising of social distancing and other safe behaviours.
Masks should be worn in crowded outdoor spaces.
People are required to stay at home except for travel for work, education or other essential purposes, and will be permitted to take exercise within 5km of home. From 12 April, you can travel within your own county or within 20km of your home if crossing county boundaries.
You can travel outside 5km of home for the following reasons:
Those aged over 70 years and over and others at increased risk of severe illness should exercise judgement regarding the extent to which they engage with others and in activities outside home.
However, guidance for those most vulnerable to the severe impacts of COVID-19 that have been fully vaccinated will be aligned with that for the general population (for example: regarding use of public transport, going to shops).
Those who have the full protection of the vaccine may visit indoors with one other household who also has full protection.
Full protection is not in place if it has been less than 2 weeks since the second vaccine dose.
See guidance for people at increased risk of severe illness.
Residents may be facilitated to receive 2 visits per week on general compassionate grounds. This will be possible following two weeks after full vaccination of approximately 8 out of 10 of all residents and healthcare workers in the nursing home.
There is no requirement to limit visits to less than one hour.
See the new guidance on visits to Long Term Residential Care Facilities (LTRCFs), which came into effect from 22 March 2021.
If you have any common symptoms of Covid-19, self-isolate (stay in your room) and phone a GP straight away. Your GP will tell you if you need a free test. Other people in your household will need to restrict their movements (stay at home).
Family Carers Ireland has produced an Emergency Care Scheme in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Please click here to find out more.
For a guide produced by Family Carers Ireland to Covid-19 social welfare supports for family carers including a list of FAQs, please click here.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has published COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for family carers who support people in their own homes. Please click here to download.
For guidance from the HPSC on reducing the risk of Covid-19 infection for Older People and Others at Risk of Severe Diseases, please click here.
An FAQ document for people with disabilities and family carers (prepared jointly by the HSE, Family Carers Ireland and Inclusion Ireland) can be found here.
As part of the Government response to the COVID-19 crisis, your local authority (council) has established a COVID-19 Community Call Forum. Your local forum works with State agencies and community and voluntary groups to provide supports or services to any vulnerable person who needs them.
Your forum brings together different organisations to provide important services like: collection and delivery of essential items like food, ‘meals-on-wheels’,
household items, fuel or medicine (in line with guidance) support if you are experiencing social isolation or are cocooning
If you need help, if you know someone who needs help, or if you would like to offer help, please use the numbers or email for your local authority (council) as listed in this leaflet.
