Living with Covid: Here’s what levels 1-5 mean for social gatherings, wet pubs, and weddings

Jade Hayden

Today, the government published its Resilience and Recovery plan for the next six months.

The plan includes a five tier risk-ranking system and corresponding restriction levels from 1 – 5, the former being the least strict and the latter being the highest possible threat.

These levels are expected to contribute to the country’s managing of Covid-19 for the next six months, but what exactly does each level mean, and what difference will they make for social gatherings, weddings, and the reopening of pubs?

(*Note: These restrictions are part of the government’s Resilience and Recovery plan, however Dublin is currently under special restrictions not in line with this plan due to the increased number of cases in the capital.

(Details of these specific restrictions can be found here.)

Level 1

Weddings

Up to 100 people can attend a wedding ceremony and reception.

Wet pubs

Open with protective measures in place (physical distancing, table service only, cleaning regimes, noise controls). Maximum numbers in bars linked to capacity of the establishment – taking account of public health advice.

Nightclubs, discos and casinos will remain closed.

Social gatherings in home or garden

You can have up to 10 visitors from up to three households.

Level 2 (Ireland’s current level)

Weddings

Up to 50 people can attend a wedding ceremony and reception.

Wet pubs (Dublin is currently under special restrictions where wet pubs are not permitted to open)

Open with robust protective measures in place (physical distancing, table service only, cleaning regimes, noise controls and so on).

Maximum numbers linked to capacity of establishment, taking account of public health advice including appropriate social distancing, but with individual groups limited to 6 people from no more than 3 households or the prevailing advice on the mixing of households.

Nightclubs, discos and casinos will remain closed.

Social gatherings in home or garden (Dublin is currently under special restrictions where only one household can visit another)

Visitors from 1-3 other households (maximum 6 people).

This will be determined by the prevailing public health advice for the county or other defined geographical area.