What do Level 5 restrictions mean for Christmas in our Parish? Here’s everything you need to know

The specific transitional arrangements for the Christmas period are as follows:

The government has agreed that from midnight on 24 December until 12 January, Level 5 restrictions will apply nationally. There will be a number of specific adjustments to Level 5 and, in addition, certain transitional arrangements will apply during the Christmas period.

The government has considered a number of factors in arriving at this decision, including NPHET concerns at the rapid increase in COVID-19 case numbers over recent days, the nature of social interaction likely to take place over the Christmas period involving mixing between younger and older people and the risk that this could lead to a wave of infection with a higher risk age profile.

Religious services

• Christmas religious services may take place, but will move online after 25 December when places of worship may remain open for private prayer

Weddings

Up to and including 2 January 2020:

• weddings can have up to 25 guests

From 3 January:

• weddings can have up to 6 guests

The government has also agreed that the current restrictions on travel from Britain to Ireland should remain in place until at least 31 December, but kept under constant review in the light of unfolding information and circumstances.

Notes

Level 5 provisions

• up to 6 guests only are permitted at weddings
• up to 10 mourners only permitted at funerals
• religious services are online but places of worship may open for private prayer

So to recap:

Religious services and weddings
Churches will be open on Christmas Day. Masses and Church services will be online only from December 26. Up to 25 people will be allowed to attend weddings up to and including New Year’s Day. But wedding guests will be limited to six from January 2 onwards.