January 2021 - Your Restrictions Q&A Megathread

Hi all,

Wanted to get some thoughts here as I can't seem to find much online regarding my situation. We've just moved to level 5 restrictions with a 5km travel limit. Northern Ireland is also currently on quite strict restrictions.

I'm due to be moving job in February, moving from Galway to Belfast. I'd be going to Belfast at the end of January to look for a place to live. I'll be working remotely from my house in belfast.

My grandparents house is currently vacant, so I was going to go up, stay there for 2 weeks and look for a place to live while there, then move straight in whenever I secure a place.

Is it a good idea to move in the current circumstances with Covid restrictions? If I was to receive a letter from my employer as proof of me moving and starting a new job, would this be sufficient proof and a valid reason if I was to be stopped by a garda/policeman?

Qwerty77 wrote: »

I understand no gatherings are allowed, even in gardens etc, but I’ve some stuff to deliver & pick up from family (within the designated distance) - is this now also off bounds? Do I need to wear a Hazmat suit?

I doubt the hazmat suit is required, during first lockdown i did shopping for a family quarantining droped it at door and left. Just didnt stay for a chat etc

Qwerty77 wrote: »

I understand no gatherings are allowed, even in gardens etc, but I’ve some stuff to deliver & pick up from family (within the designated distance) - is this now also off bounds? Do I need to wear a Hazmat suit?

So long as you have document confirming delivery/pickup, siigned by your local priest, then Bob's your uncle.

I've searched in vain for any mention of over-70s in todays new policy. Does that mean we can continue to 'exercise judgement' re essential shopping, going outside 5km if necessary?

(Perhaps I should explain that I simply need to know one way or the other; further discussion is always interesting of course, but however good the advice out there is, not all of it's possible to follow in my case).

Well any idea as to when the government is going to update their list ?

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/3bd76-essential-workers-at-level-5/

I am reading conflicting information what is says here https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/coronavirus/600140/an-updated-list-of-essential-workers-who-can-leave-home-on-during-the-january-level-5-lockdown.html for instance is completely different to what's written here https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9158-essential-services/.

I'd say the last link is the old list of essential workers even though it says last updated on 6th of January.
When I originally looked at the first link yesterday it was pretty much as restrictive as we had back in the March lock down.

Mechanics seem to be removed from the essential retail list according to this:

Repair and installation of Machinery and Equipment
- the supply, repair and installation of machinery and equipment and industrial machinery and equipment for essential services

angela1711 wrote: »

Mechanics seem to be removed from the essential retail list according to this:

Repair and installation of Machinery and Equipment
- the supply, repair and installation of machinery and equipment and industrial machinery and equipment for essential services

Where did you read that? The below explicitly says that mechanics can stay open. See point 12.

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/60ecc-essential-retail-outlets-for-level-5/

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/3bd76-essential-workers-at-level-5/

New one is currently being updated. This is the most recent thing that I could find an-updated-list-of-essential-workers-who-can-leave-home-on-during-the-january-level-5-lockdown

angela1711 wrote: »

That's an old list you are looking at it was last updated on the 31/12.

From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on 14 October 2020
Last updated on 31 December 2020

I assume it's still current. It explicitly says it's the "list of essential retail outlets at Level 5" so just because it hasn't been updated in a week doesn't necessarily mean it's outdated. It's all the public has to work with at the moment.

How do you know there's a new one being updated?

angela1711 wrote: »

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/3bd76-essential-workers-at-level-5/

New one is currently being updated. This is the most recent thing that I could find an-updated-list-of-essential-workers-who-can-leave-home-on-during-the-january-level-5-lockdown

Hmm. That's essential workers which I guess should correlate with essential retail outlets.

angela1711 wrote: »

Sorry I never posted the link:
https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/coronavirus/600140/an-updated-list-of-essential-workers-who-can-leave-home-on-during-the-january-level-5-lockdown.html

Interesting. NCT centres still seem to be operating so I imagine mechanics would also need to be open to? Will have to wait and see I guess.

Are all these changes coming into effect from Friday?

angela1711 wrote: »

That's an old list you are looking at it was last updated on the 31/12.

From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on 14 October 2020
Last updated on 31 December 2020

That poster's link (https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/60ecc-essential-retail-outlets-for-level-5/) now bears the following:

From Department of the Taoiseach

Published on 14 October 2020

Last updated on 7 January 2021

And still includes reference to garages remaining in the list of essential businesses. At the same time, your link is still reported as being updated - confusion abounds?

cython wrote: »

That poster's link (https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/60ecc-essential-retail-outlets-for-level-5/) now bears the following:

And still includes reference to garages remaining in the list of essential businesses. At the same time, your link is still reported as being updated - confusion abounds?

That list has also now been updated and confirms garages will remain open:

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9158-essential-services/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/publication/3bd76-essential-workers-at-level-5/#supply-repair-and-installation-of-machinery-and-equipment

poollad wrote: »

Can someone explain to me if creches are currently open or when do these restrictions kick in? We have received no communication from our creche and they appeared to be operating as normal this morning.

Just ring them.
The rules are fairly grey and each creche has a different take on it.