Ireland is at level 3 of restrictions.
But from 18 December to 6 January you can:
- meet with up to 2 other households
- travel outside your county
Read advice on this page on how to stay safe this Christmas during:
- Christmas Day
- Christmas visiting
- going to cafes, restaurants or pubs
- shopping
Higher risk of spread at Christmas
Meeting people increases your risk of getting COVID-19 and spreading it to others. The more people you meet up with, the higher the risk.
Follow the public health advice to protect yourself and others:
- wash your hands properly and often
- practice social distancing
- cover coughs and sneezes
- avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- wear a face covering when shopping, dining out or in busy indoor places
It’s safest to meet your friends and family outdoors. But we know this won’t always be possible, particularly on Christmas Day. If you do meet indoors, keep a window open for ventilation. Even opening a window a small amount will make a difference.
Try to avoid places where you cannot keep 2 metres apart from other people. If you are in a public place where it is difficult to keep 2 metres away from others, wear a face covering.
Leave an area if it becomes too busy and you feel uncomfortable.
Why the risk is higher
COVID-19 is spread in droplets that enter the air or land on surfaces. The droplets are usually spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs. But they can also spread if they breathe out (exhale) heavily, talk loudly or sing.
The longer you spend around an infected person, the higher the risk that you will get the virus.
Read more about how COVID-19 spreads
Open windows and ventilation can lower risk
The virus spreads easiest indoors, especially in places where there is poor ventilation, like houses.
If there is no fresh air to move the virus away, it will stay in the air or land on surfaces. The virus is like smoke, in this way - if a window or door is not open, the virus cannot leave a room. The longer you spend in that room, the more chance you might inhale the virus, if it is in the air.
Even opening a window a small amount while you are in a room will make a difference. Wear extra layers to stay warm.
Christmas Day
Limit the number of people you meet up with in the weeks before Christmas Day. It can take up to 14 days for symptoms of COVID-19 to show. You can spread the virus without having symptoms.
It’s possible that you could get the virus in the 2 weeks before Christmas and spread it to the people you spend Christmas Day with. The lower the amount of people you meet up with, the less risk you have of getting and spreading the virus.
Keep the number of people that you’ll spend Christmas Day with small.
Do
ask everyone to use hand sanitiser when they arrive and to wash their hands regularly over the day
keep windows and doors open where possible - even opening a window a small amount will make a difference
use extractor fans, air purifiers or fans if you have them
keep your distance from people you do not live with, if possible
allow extra space at the dinner table
seat people from the same household together
wear a face covering when cooking and serving food
limit the number of people in the kitchen
socialise outdoors, if possible
Don't
do not spend time with other people if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been told you are a close contact
do not hug, kiss or shake hands
do not share items such as knives, forks and glassware
do not share food
do not line up for food like a buffet - serve people while they are seated style set ups
do not sing
do not spend too much time in the one room
Christmas visiting
It’s safest to meet your friends and family outdoors. If you do meet indoors, keep a window open for ventilation.
When you visit someone’s home or they visit you remember to:
- wash your hands properly and often
- practice social distancing
- cover coughs and sneezes
- avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- wear a face covering when not eating or drinking
Visiting people at higher risk of COVID-19
COVID-19 (coronavirus) can make anyone seriously ill. But for some people, the risk is higher.
If you are meeting someone at higher risk from COVID-19:
- everyone should wear a face covering
- open a window for ventilation
- limit the amount of time you spend together
- make sure the person you are meeting with is OK with you visiting
Going to cafés, pubs and restaurants
Always remember to:
- wash your hands properly when you enter and leave
- practice social distancing
- cover coughs and sneezes
- avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- wear a face covering when moving around the building, including going to the bathroom
- follow the advice of staff
Christmas shopping
Try to do your Christmas shopping at off-peak times and keep your shopping time to a minimum.
When shopping you should:
- wear a face covering
- follow good hygiene practices
- practice social distancing
- minimise contact with people outside of your household
Read more advice about shopping safely during the COVID-19 pandemic
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