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IT HAD BEEN flagged well in advance, and today we got the government’s grand plan for living with Covid-19 for the next six months.
It’s a framework of five levels. At each level, there are different restrictions in place based on the current status of Covid-19 in the country.
If we’re at Level One, we’re coping quite well with Covid and the loosest guidelines are in place. Level Five is not where we want to be, and will be akin to the full lockdown we had in April and May.
Currently, the country is at Level Two. Well, most counties are. There will be extra restrictions in effect in Dublin from midnight tonight. But Dublin isn’t at Level Three. More a Level Two plus (more on that later).
Last week, the Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris said that today’s announcement would be a chance for the government to “press reset” and improve its communication with the people.
“We need to up our game on this,” he said. “And next week is an opportunity to do so.”
Not all clear yet? Little of the details were provided at the press conference earlier today, with the more in-depth details published by the government online this afternoon.
Let’s dive into each of these so-called levels and what each one will mean.
The government wants this system to mean we can go about our daily lives as much as possible while managing the “behaviour of the virus”.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that it’ll be some time before a vaccine is widely available so we need to be able to live with the virus while also living our lives at the same time.
According to the government’s plan, the “lower levels will be activated when there is a low incidence of the disease, with isolated outbreaks, low community transmission”.
On the other hand, “the higher levels will be used to deal with higher incidences of the disease”.
Moving from one to another will be based on a number of factors, including the 14-day and 7-day figures on new cases, the 5-day rolling average of cases by county and nationally.
Other indicators will be the reproduction number, positivity rate, the capacity and performance of contact tracing and testing, and the capacity and admissions hospitals and ICU.
If all of these are increasing, the decision could be made to up an area’s – or the whole country’s – level.
It’ll be possible for different regions and counties to be at a different level to the national level, depending on the incidence of the virus in those areas. For example, while it’s not yet at Level Three, Dublin has a far greater figure for cases per 100,000 population over the past two weeks.
The restrictions at Level Three are far more stringent than at Level Two, so it’ll be hoped that the spread of the virus can be stemmed in the capital in the next few days and weeks.
To move up a level, the situation would have to worsen considerably in an area.
This could include the capacity to test and trace being constrained due to demand, the admissions to hospital and critical care increasing, a significant increase in the incidence rate and multiple clusters with secondary spread.
Serious implications
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly was clear that updating an area’s level from two to three, for example, would have serious implications.
He told today’s press conference: “It’s a serious thing to do for any county. It has a serious impact on jobs, and a serious impact on how we live our lives.”
When asked why the advice within Level Two was different for Dublin compared to the rest of the country, Donnelly said that “within any level”, NPHET could provide advice.
The government document added: “At all times the priority guiding the plan will be to keep our schools open while keeping people safe and protecting the resilience of our economy and communities.”
This is where we want to be.
It’d mean that we’re at a level where there is a very low incidence of Covid-19 in an area. Community transmission is suppressed, hospitalisations are stable or decreasing, few or no clusters and all other indicators low.
But it also doesn’t mean we can do whatever we want.
Looking ahead to Christmas, for example, if we were to reach a stage where we were at Level One we could still only have 10 visitors from up to three households under this plan.
Members of different households can continue to meet socially in other settings – like pubs or restaurants – with strict adherence to guidelines.
Gatherings
Weddings of up to 100 people can take place.
When it comes to organised indoor gatherings, such as conferences, events in theatres and cinemas, most venues can have a maximum of 100 people in attendance.
Up to 200 patrons are allowed for “larger [indoor] venues” where strict two-metre seated social distancing can be observed.
When it comes to outdoor gatherings, such as sports events, most venues can have a maximum of 200 patrons. Outdoor stadia can have up to 500 patrons – with strict distancing – when there’s a maximum capacity of 5,000.
When it comes to sports, normal training sessions and games can take place indoors and outdoors with protective measures.
Religious services can take place for up to 50 worshippers, or more in larger venues.
Furthermore, those aged over 70 and the medically vulnerable should “exercise judgement regarding the extent to which they engage with others and in activities outside home”. Nursing homes and care homes can also open with protective measures in place.
Hospitality, retail and work
Bars, cafes and restaurants will be open under the guidelines already issued to the hospitality sector. Hotels and accommodation will be permitted to do likewise.
The wet pubs can be open but nightclubs, discos and casinos will remain closed.
There are no restrictions on domestic travel so staycations can still be enjoyed.
Face coverings must be worn in retail settings and on public transport.
Museums, galleries and other cultural attractions can open in line with public health guidance.
Even at Level One, people are advised to work from home if possible. You are allowed attend work for specific business requirements and on a staggered attendance basis.
This is where we are right now.
At this level, the majority of areas of economy and society such as schools, restaurants, pubs and gyms are open.
Sporting activities can continue but with a higher level of restrictions than in Level One.
Gatherings
People can have visitors from a maximum of three households up to six people. In Dublin, no more than six people from two households can gather.
Members of different households can meet socially with up to 15 people outdoors, including Dublin. However, the guidance says that socialising can continue at indoor or outdoor public venues in Dublin “but only with people from your own household or one other household, and in groups of maximum six people”.
People in Dublin are encouraged to limit travel outside that region, and only meet one other household when outside the county.
Weddings with up to 50 people can take place.
Indoor gatherings can take place with at most 50 people, divided into pods or groups of six with no intermingling, and larger venues can have 100.
Up to 100 people are permitted at outdoor venues or 200 where the venue has a capacity of 5,000.
Sport training can take place in pods of 15 outdoors or 6 indoors. Up to 50 spectators/patrons indoors can attend sports events, 100 outdoors, and 200 in venues with a capacity of 5,000.
50 people can attend religious services or more in larger venues. Funerals can have a maximum of 50 people in attendance.
Those in at-risk groups should exercise judgement in how much they take part in activities.
Nursing homes and care homes are open with enhanced protective measures.
Hospitality, retail and work
Bars, cafes and restaurants will be open under the guidelines already issued to the hospitality sector. Hotels and accommodation will be permitted to do likewise.
Wet pubs will also be permitted to open at Level Two. However, in Dublin, they will not be permitted to do so. The set date for re-opening pubs in the rest of the country is 21 September.
There are no restrictions on domestic travel.
Face coverings must be worn in retail settings and on public transport.
Museums, galleries and other cultural attractions can open in line with public health guidance.
People are advised to work from home if possible but attend for essential on-site meetings, inductions, and training.
The restrictions get much stricter at Level Three, and it’s believed Dublin may be perilously close to getting upgraded to this level. NPHET is due to meet to discuss the situation in Dublin again on Thursday.
The government said the priority at this level is to keep schools and childcare facilities open and minimise disruption in the workforce.
It means that the likes of museums and other indoor cultural venues would be closed.
Gatherings
Visitors from only one other household are permitted.
No gatherings at all are permitted in social settings.
Up to 25 people can attend a wedding.
No organised indoor gathering (theatre event, cinema, training event, conference etc.) should take place.
Outdoor gatherings of up to 15 can take place.
For Sports, non-contact training only in pods of up to 15 (with an exemption for professional, elite, inter-county sports, senior club championship).
No matches or events can take place, except in those cases listed above. Horse racing is also permitted.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools can still open for individual training only.
Religious services will move online, although venues will remain open for private prayer and a maximum of 25 people can attend funerals.
Access to long-term residential care facilities (nursing and care homes) will be suspended aside from critical and compassionate circumstances.
Hospitality, retail and work
All museums, galleries and other cultural attractions will close.
Restaurants can remain open but with additional restrictions for indoor dining. Although the plan says “additional restrictions” would apply to wet pubs, an earlier version of the plan it says that pubs would close under Level Three.
Hotels will be permitted to open but with services limited to residents.
You’ll also be advised to stay in your county apart from work, education and other essential purposes. You are advised to work from home unless absolutely necessary to attend in person.
While schools will remain open, higher education facilities will be urged to escalate all protective measures and limit congregation as far as possible.
Public transport will be down to 50% capacity and limited to essential journeys only.
This is more serious again.
The government said the priority here is still to keep schools and childcare services open, even though the virus has significantly worsened in an area. It features measures similar to what we experienced earlier in the year.
It said: “Businesses and services which are essential will be open. No visitors to private homes or social gatherings will be allowed. All businesses and services will be closed, other than those deemed to be essential.”
In some ways, it’s more straightforward as most things will be closed. Here’s a breakdown:
This is absolutely not where we want to be.
Under the plan, it says that we’ve reached a stage where hospital or critical care capacity is “likely” to be exceeded.
It means that the number of deaths, the number of new cases, the number of hospital admissions, the number of outbreaks – all are rapidly increasing.
And we already know what it’s like to live through Level Five. We did so, more or less, throughout April and May.
Here’s a breakdown of the measures:
Reading through these levels, it’s clear that whichever way we go we’re going to be living with this virus for a long time.
Even if we reach Level One – and let’s really hope we do – it still won’t be life as we know it.
And, if it goes the other way, the government’s plan emphasises the importance of communicating effectively to the public the reasons why an action is being taken and what must be done to help stem the spread of the virus.
It says: “As the plan is executed, government will work to ensure that the rationale for the measures, the public health triggers that raised the risk level and the implications for specific groups, sectors, individuals are clearly articulated.
The more challenging the message, the more important it is that we provide opportunities for engagement and debate, but ultimately ensure that public gets clear and unambiguous messages.
With a long way to go before we see the back of Covid-19, communicating to the public effectively will be vital as we go forward with the potential for very strict restrictions to take effect again.
However, we are currently at Level Two. The overall aim of the plan is understood to be about setting out a more steady approach and avoid the kind of overnight shock announcements of severe restrictions that we saw earlier in the year.
With this plan now in place, the government will have to succeed in its aim of communicating more effectively as we go through this.
And let’s hope we’re all at Level One in time for Christmas.
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Poor bunnys aren’t getting their drugs through. And of course the union etc etc
@Shelly Levine: DUP/ UDA always one and the same thing. Shoosh nobody knows.
@Joe Johnson: The UDA is basically the Twitter account of the DUP.
This to me is the words of a hugely insecure group with an uncertain future. We may well be at an end game here which could result in violence.
@Mjhint:
It’s just little old men who love to hate, and corrupt younger minds to do the same. Sad.
@Mjhint: the brits want out cop on loyalists
“Not welcome in northern Ireland”. The. Irony.
@Biscuits Patinkin: Thats Norn Irony
@D H: excellent!! XD
Why do loyalist PARAMILITARIES still exist?.
@Leonard O’mahony: probably because the republicans ones do
@Leonard O’mahony: Good question
@Leonard O’mahony: To sell drugs, basically.
@Patrick O Connell: The difference being everyone on uk mainland has heard of the Republicans but ask anyone over there about loyalist or unionist paramilitaries – they never heard of them.
@Margaret Doyle: that is complete and utter bs.
@Patrick O Connell: I was wondering how long before someone blamed “ira-sinn Fein” , The Uvf are older than the IRA and they also killed the first victim of the troubles (any random innocent Catholic would have done)
@Margaret Doyle: You do realise nearly 30% of people in England have Irish ancestry and 10% have Grandparents born in Ireland, the majority are still alive and most are living in Ireland, more people in England have grandparents who were born in Ireland than people in Ireland do.
“They haven’t gone away you know”. Imagine the uproar if it was a nationalist paramilitary group. Anyway long and shot of it is these people represent less that 1% of the people of Northern Ireland. They should be ignored because the wishes of the people of Northern Ireland cannot be undermined by terrorists.
@Diarmuid O’Braonáin: Well said
@Diarmuid O’Braonáin: excellent
@Diarmuid O’Braonáin: Apparently the UDA have 12,500 fully paid up membership. Unlike the IRA, they never decommissioned their weapons and receive pots of peace money from EU, Irish and British governments.
There’s a good story here for a brave journalist to investigate with brave being the operative word here.
Outrageous. Who’s their spokesman? They’ve said they are democrats, which was easy when they had a clear majority, but it’s almost even Stephens now, so if they can’t accept democracy, then they will have to move to Britain.
Like why do they give a rats? If you identify as British what difference does it make in your life if others in your community have access to Irish language material? How does it affect your life in any way shape or form?
@S J king: It’s not identifying as British per se. It’s identifying as supremacist, anti-irish, anti-Catholic British
@S J king: When unionists and loyalists go abroad they always say they’re Irish so they’re just making tics of themselves.
@Margaret Doyle: That’s because been Irish abroad is an advantage. I met many NI Unionists abroad and they socialise with other Irish people from this island.
Clowns
@Mark: that’s them told
@Mark: they are lovely people. Threats for everyone. Unionism must be a delicate flower if everyone needs to be warned to protect it! The NI protocol is down to Boris. Irelands politicians are just asking the UK to stick to what they agreed. Not sure how this is such a bad thing?
@Mark H: The NIP is down to unionist MPs in Westminster who voted against or abstained on every single one of May’s motions which would have insured there was no border anywhere and kept the UK aligned to the EU’S customs union and single market.
Their threats have given the UK Government a problem. Do they give in and make themselves look weak in the face of domestic terrorists. Or do they go in hard and attempt to crush the threat once and for all, thus showing the world that it will not be cowed by the Ulster version of ISIS (religious and political fanaticism ).
@Mick.: Well said
They do know if they collapse the NI Government the British Government is just gonna enact the Irish language act August
Are these the working class loyalists that Eoghan Harris wants to access and assure? Lovely people.
@David F. Dwyer: These thugs have had their jackpots on the throats of Protestant working class communities for years. They threatened and intimidate their own communities so they live in fear.
They threatened the UUP when they announced a candidate to stand in N. Belfast at the last General election. The following day, the UUP withdrew their candidate leaving SFs John Finucane -v- DUPs Nigel Dodds to contest. John Finucane won N. Belfast. SF won W. Belfast, SDLP won S. Belfast and DUP won E Belfast, though Naomi Long increased her vote significantly.
So let Stormont collapse under threats from these thugs and let the DUP find out what it has been like for working class Protestants who’ve lived in fear of these thugs for years.
Then it’s back to Westminster. Are they going to allow democracy to be subverted by these criminals and thugs. They might find British troops back on their streets yet but this time find themselves the target.
@Teresa Ryan: Jackpots ??
They lost their guy when Poots resigned, now they’re making sure Donaldson here’s the threats…..
@Tricia G: *hears (d”oh)
@Tricia G: *Doh ;)
Dear drug dealing terrorists your days are over, now go get lost.
Headline should be “loyalist t3rrorists warn DUP leader to stop concessions to sinn fein. That’s what they are, violent h@te filled s3ctarian t3rrorist sçum. The psni needs to round them up and charge them with being part of a terrorist organisation.
When you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression –
sting of a dying wasp
Can’t wait to see what slant R.T.E. put on this.
@Sean Higgins: in the words of Kneecap “ Ná Éist le RTÉ”
“Repair the damage they have created”, you brought this on yourself lads! Time to put the big boy pants on and be accountable for the mess you got yourself in.
Just down from a trip up north, covered around 400km in 2 days, must have seen 1000 loyalist flags, not one republican, peace yes, no reconciliation, if anything it’s more intimidating than previous years…horrible lot.
@Charles Coughlan: The republicans and SF are playing a smart game, they are saying nothing and letting the unionists take all the rope.
Hilarious
The level of delusion, ignorance and lies from unionists about the Irish government’s role in the quagmire that Northern Ireland finds itself in as a result of Brexit is shocking. Its time the Irish government start some kind of educational campaign to inform voters in the north that the responsibility for signing the Brexit deal lies firmly with the UK government. This blaming the Irish government by Unionists needs to stop.
@Mr T: Also at the hands of the DUP who could have ushered in the Teresa May proposals but they held out for the return of a land border on the island of Ireland and that miscalculation is at the very centre of the current impasse. It seems that as ever in NI it’s the shouters who get to set the agenda and the ordinary citizens get to keep their mouths shut but maybe what’s needed now is a general election to see exactly where the support is.
Things are getting heated and now threatening southern politicians.
What makes them so dangerous is that they are playing their last card and it ain’t even a trump card, excuse the pun. If they only realised that we don’t want to visit them and certainly don’t want them to come visit us. They have already outstayed their welcome. Slan agus beannacht an fear oraiste.
But the IRA and stuff…
The squatters are getting nervous as the end of their hundred years as first class citizens is nearing a end
@frank_66: Because of people like you there can never be a peaceful united Ireland.
Who will the unionist paramilitaries attack if the protocol is not removed, will it be London who signed the agreement or Europe.
@Michael Sweeney: it will be us in the Republic of course.
Or they’ll do in their own leader
So once again unelected bullies take it upon themselves to threaten the peaceful majority if they don’t get their way.
•Hardline pick for first minister ✔
(But apparently not hardline enough for DUP)
•Loyalist paramilitaries threats ✔
•Unionism under threat check ✔
• Northern assembly poised for collapse ✔
• Next stop marching season…
If starts up (hope not ) wonder will the RUC/UDA supply the weapons again.
@Gerard Heanue: this time we have Drew Harris maybe he was a good move
Who will the paramilitaries attack if the protocol remains. Will they set bombs in London because they signed the deal or Europe.
Moderates will suceed the Bigots days are numbered
Lovely fellas aren’t they those loyalists . Very reasonable and open minded
They are doing more for a united ireland than other group. Work in England and you will see they are disliked by most and despised by many with their bigoted views. Brexit was all about little England and the north is not part of the equation anymore.
@Kevin O’Hara: I have absolutely no interest in a united Ireland if it involves any concessions to these un evolved half wits. There can never be a united Ireland until there is a united northern Ireland. We are decades away from that.
Sinister and weak.
Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses..
Loyalist clowns be clowning. Gtfo off the island. They are so desperate for control and a return to unionist domination that they will say anything to try a spread fear. I truly hope the ordinary people stand together, across this island, against these absolute fooooooools.
@JustMeHere: problem is that Loyalists are here longer than Americans in America and Australians in Oz.
@Liam Hunter: same in 1921 , just 100 years less
@keyboardwarrior: Another person who needs a history lesson.
The Next Leader to go Is Borris
I miss Pootsy
But Johnson is welcome?
Bright lads or what ?
Micheàl Martin not welcome thought he was friends with the Loyalist having met the UDA & decided he was no longer a Republican,
Terrorist paramilitaries who cares what they say
@Gerrard: The DUP and UUP obviously care about what they say. And that is very interesting because it must be obvious to anyone thinking about taking up the leadership mantle of the DUP that they are expected to do the UDA/UVF’s bidding.
Lets not forget, only 3 weeks ago, Jeffrey Donaldson claimed some of his supporters were threatened by the UDA to vote for Pootsy. Now, Jeffrey is said to be favorite for the job again, so who does he think will be calling the shots this time and who does he think the Loyalists at last nights rally were directing their message to?
Jeffrey the ex UDR officer and gunman, might be swimming against the tide of history, but he’s not a fool. He knows what the loyalists want but he also knows that is not compatible with sharing power. Its not about the protocol or about giving into SF, its about giving to the wishes of democracy and sharing power as equals.
That also means respecting the will of the people if and when they decide by a ballot that they want a united Ireland. Thats what this is really all about, but neither the DUP or their loyalist puppet masters are ready to admit that!
Up to the Irish government to “repair the damage they created”??!! I think our Unionist brethren may find the damage was created by English nationalists who voted for Brexit. But hey ho, why let facts get in the way of a good old sulk.
@Paul Shepherd: You forget to mention Paul, that the DUP went against the wishes of their own voters and majority in the north, who wanted to remain in the EU, and instead cheerlead Boris and the Tory’s to get the hardest Brexit possible, including the very protocol they now oppose.
@Angela McCarthy: How many times do you have to be educated? The referendum question was about the UK not NI.
The way you think you must agree then that Donegal should be an independent country right now because they voted twice against the Lisbon treaty? In fact there should of never been a second vote because under the Irish constitution all referendums are binding and final!
Some Irish people are worthy of being butts of jokes.
@Paul Shepherd: As you already know the referendum was about the UK not NI, NI was no where in the question.
As you think the way you do you must agree then that Donegal should be an independent country right now because they voted twice against the Lisbon treaty? Hows it fair for Europhiles to drag Donegal into the EU against their will, especially when there should of only been 1 vote because in Ireland all referendums are suppose to be binding and final?
Send them back to their Masters in London, who don’t want them and many don’t know they exist.
@brendan o connell: OK Brendan how about you come out from behind your screen and kick the trash back to London? Go on good man you take the lead!
Everyone to blame but themselves what a bunch of numpties.
Time for a tub of popcorn.
Theres troubles ahead. I never want to see a united ireland its pie in the sky nonsense
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