Ireland to remain in Level 5 lockdown until 5 March

The Irish Government has announced that the current Level 5 restrictions will remain in place until 5 March.

Ireland has been in the highest level of the Covid-19 restrictions since before the New Year, with the measures originally put in place until 31 January. They have now been extended for a further five weeks.

This means the hair, beauty and spa industry, which closed on 24 December, will remained shut until 5 March at the earliest.

The extended lockdown also includes some extra restrictions. There is to be a mandatory 14-day quarantine for arrivals from Brazil, South Africa and anyone without a negative Covid-19 test. All arrivals from overseas must self-isolate for 14 days, and this will be enforced by legal regulation.

Within the country, the five-kilometre travel limit for non-essential journeys is to be more strictly enforced, with increased fines. Primary and secondary schools will reopen incrementally in February/March.

The Government said that Nphet’s latest models show that in a best-case scenario at the end of February, there could still be 800-1,300 Covid-19 cases in hospitals, and 100 in intensive care.

“Although the announcement was not entirely unexpected, we know it is still deeply disappointing for our many salons and spas who are anxious to resume trading,” said the Irish Spa Association.