Roadmap for reopening society and business

Published: 1 May 2020
From: Department of the Taoiseach and Department of Health

1. Roadmap to reopening society and business
2. Phase 1 (18 May)
3. Phase 2 (8 June)
4. Phase 3 (29 June)
5. Phase 4 (20 July)
6. Phase 5 (10 August)

The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar has confirmed Ireland’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business as well as some changes to the public health guidelines.

The 2 changes that will come into place next Tuesday, 5 May are that:

people can travel up to 5 kilometres from their home to exercise
that those who are cocooning can leave their homes for exercise or a drive so long as they avoid all contact with other people

Roadmap to reopening society and business

There are 5 phases in the Roadmap to ease restrictions. Each phase consists of a menu of options will be considered by government as it gradually opens up economic and social activities.

These are just predictions at this stage and will depend on the medical advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team at the time in question.

Examples of the types of actions which will be considered under the various phases include:

Phase 1 (18 May)

allow outdoor meetings between a maximum of 4 people from different households while maintaning social distancing (keeping at least 2 metres away from each other)
open up childcare for healthcare workers
phased return of outdoor workers (for example: construction workers and gardeners)
open retailers which are primarily outdoor or those which were open during first level of restriction (for example: opticians)
opening of certain outdoor public amenities (for example: carparks, beaches, mountain walks where people can move around without coming into contact with each other and they keep at least 2 metres away from each other)
open outdoor public sports amenities (for example: pitches, tennis courts, golf courses) where social distancing can be maintained

Phase 2 (8 June)

allow visits to households (visits to those who are cocooning can occur if all parties wear facemasks, gloves and maintain a distance of at least 2 metres away from each other)
develop plans and supports to open up business with consideration for safety of staff and customers
open small retail outlets and marts where social distancing can be observed
open public libraries

Phase 3 (29 June)

allow small social gatherings
opening of crèches, childminders and pre-schools for children of essential workers in phased manner
return to work for those with low levels of interaction
open non-essential retail outlets with street level entrance and exit
open playgrounds
allow “behind closed doors” sporting activities events where arrangements are in place to enable participants to maintain social distancing

Phase 4 (20 July)

opening of crèches, childminders and pre-schools for children of all other workers on a gradually increasing basis
return to work for those who cannot work from home
gradual easing of restrictions for higher risk services (for example: hairdressers)
opening of museums, galleries, places of worship
allow sports team competitions (for example: soccer and GAA) but only where limitations are placed on the numbers of spectators and where social distancing can be maintained

Phase 5 (10 August)

allow larger social gatherings
return to work across all sectors
on a phased basis, commencing at the beginning of the academic year 2020/2021, opening of primary and secondary schools and 3rd level institutions
further easing of restrictions on high risk retail services