Level 5
From Department of the Taoiseach
Last updated on 11 April 2021
- Your quick guide to the changes
- Schools and higher and adult education
- Weddings
- Religious services
- Attendance at funerals
Your quick guide to the changes
If 2 weeks have passed since you got your second dose of the vaccine, you can meet with other fully vaccinated people from 1 other household indoors without wearing masks or staying 2 metres apart. If you have received the second dose, you have to wait 2 weeks until you can meet other fully vaccinated people indoors.
Schools and higher and adult education
Schools
12 April onwards (post Easter Holidays):
In-school teaching to fully return.
Higher and adult education
Higher, further and adult education should remain primarily online.
From 12 April
Schools and higher and adult education
Schools
12 April onwards (post Easter Holidays):
In-school teaching to fully return.
Higher and adult education
Higher, further and adult education should remain primarily online.
Weddings
Up to 6 guests are permitted.
Religious services
Services will be held online. This will be reviewed by 4 May.
Places of worship remain open for private prayer.
Attendance at funerals
The maximum attendance at funerals is currently 10. From 26 April, the maximum attendance at funerals will increase to 25, subject to public health advice.
All easing of restrictions can be viewed by following this link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/
Tuesday 22nd December 2020:
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
Friday 27th November 2020:
Under guidance laid out by the Government’s COVID-19 restrictions to level 3.
Religious services
Funerals:
Up to 25 mourners can attend.
Weddings:
Weddings may proceed with a limit of 25 guests for ceremony.
Current Mass Schedule:
Saturday: Vigil 6.30pm
Sunday: 9am & 11am
Monday: 9.30am
Tuesday: 9.30am
Wednesday: 9.30am
Thursday: 9.30am
Friday: 9.30am
Rosary recited at 9am each weekday prior to Morning Mass.
Please remember that all our Masses continue to be live-streamed on webcam:
Our 11.00am Mass on Sunday is also broadcast live on Finn Valley Radio, 95.8FM
14th October 2020:
The Government has, this evening, moved County Donegal COVID-19 restrictions to level 4. This has the following implications for Churches:
Religious services
Services will be held online.
Places of worship remain open for private prayer.
Funerals:
Up to 25 mourners can attend.
Weddings:
Up to 6 guests can attend a wedding ceremony and reception. (Weddings planned for 16th, 17th, 18th October may go ahead as originally planned up to a limit of 25 guests. From Monday 19th October, weddings may proceed but with a limit of 6 guests for ceremony and reception (irrespective of venue). Guests cannot leave their county to attend a wedding. )
No public Masses, sacraments or other Services may be celebrated with people present.
Therefore, the St. Patrick’s Church Mass schedule will be the same except it will only be on the WebCam. No one may attend any services in the Church. The Church will be remain open at all other daytime hours throughout the day for the purpose of private prayer if people wish to call in.
In addition to the current Mass schedule, Fr Colm will say the Rosary each day at 12 noon for our safe keeping.
The priority at Level 4 is to keep schools and childcare services open, while keeping people safe.
Only businesses and services which are essential will be open.
You can see the full list of essential services here.
You can see the full list of essential retailers here.
No visitors to private homes or social gatherings will be allowed.
All businesses and services will be closed, other than those deemed to be essential.
Social and family gatherings
In your home or garden
You can not have visitors from outside your own household.
Other settings outside your home or garden
No social or family gatherings should take place in other settings.
Under the Donegal Level 3 restrictions, the current regulations are in place until the 16th October.
The Government has moved County Donegal COVID-19 restrictions to level 3. This has many implications for Churches:
1. Churches may only open for private prayer.
2. Weddings can be celebrated with no more than 25 people present, which is an all-inclusive number.
3. Funerals can be celebrated with no more than 25 people present, which is an all-inclusive number.
No public Masses, sacraments or other Services may be celebrated with people present. These restrictions apply until 16th October.
Therefore, the St. Patrick’s Church Mass schedule will be the same except it will only be on the WebCam. No one may attend any services in the Church. The Church will be remain open at all other daytime hours throughout the day for the purpose of private prayer if people wish to call in. Please use the hand sanitiser provided as you enter the church, remain alert to social distancing and obey the signs that are there for your protection.
National Framework for living with Covid-19
Joint Statement on behalf of the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Rena Donaghey, Chief Executive of Donegal County Council, John G. McLaughlin, Chief Superintendant of An Garda Siochana, Terry McGinn and Director of Public Health North West Region, Dr Anthony Breslin.
It is clear that the Covid 19 numbers in Donegal have been growing in recent weeks and we are now at a critical juncture for this disease.
We have a window of opportunity to bring this disease under control and to keep Donegal at Level 2 restrictions. To do so we all need to act now to break the chains of transmission, to ensure we live as optimally as we can with the virus, keeping our schools open, resuming non-covid healthcare and protecting our vulnerable people.
We are asking you and your family to take positive action immediately, and change your current behaviours.
This means:
- Meeting less people inside your home.
- With those you do meet, be particularly attentive to safe practices – keep your distance, wear a face covering where appropriate, cough into a tissue and bin it, wash your hands.
- Limiting the number of people you meet outside your home as much as possible.
- Avoiding crowds.
- Prioritising the people you need to see, keeping groups small, and seeing them regularly, rather than meeting lots of different people from different households. Concentrate on your core circle in the coming weeks.
We all know the core messages, and it’s time to double our efforts to stay safe.
Remember this disease can spread even if you have no symptoms. Act as though you have the virus to protect the friends and family and colleagues and others you meet going about your day. Keeping that little bit of extra distance from others is really important as we try to work safely while living with the threat of this virus.
Know the symptoms and come forward quickly for testing if you have any concerns. Isolate yourself from others and phone your GP if you feel unwell – remember that a referral and test for COVID are free.
Our individual actions do matter. They all count. They do work. The good news is that we know the most effective tools to keep this virus at bay. We just need to keep working with them.
As a collective we are appealing to the people of Donegal to please maintain social distance and limit your number of close contacts in the coming days. Whether in our workplaces, our homes or social settings let us all be advocates of Covid good behaviour.
The National Framework for living with Covid-19 is available here...
It is in our hands!
FACE COVERINGS IN CHURCHES:
A message from the Bishop regards the wearing of facemasks:
At this time, both in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland, the governments have not made mandatory the wearing of face coverings at services of worship.
However, following recent consultations with public health authorities, the leaders of the four main churches in Ireland decided to recommend and encourage the use of face coverings at Masses and other liturgical celebrations, from Sunday 30th August 2020. I am writing to make you aware of this call. While many individuals may decide to wear face coverings in church, it is important to remember that some people are exempted from the wearing of face coverings, even in situations which would otherwise be mandatory, as outlined in the two jurisdictions: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-face-coverings and https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/aac74c-guidance-on-safe-use-of-face-coverings .
+ Donal
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) & Irish Government guidelines pertaining to Places of Worship as of 18th August until 25th September 2020
We would like to update you on the current protocols now in place and effective until the 15th September that may affect our Parishioners:
Social/family visits and gatherings
Indoor and outdoor social visits to people’s homes should be limited to a maximum of 6 visitors from no more than 3 other households.
This is to allow for physical distancing of 2 metres and for adequate ventilation if they are taking place indoors.
Meeting people outdoors is safer than meeting indoors. Physical distancing should be observed at all times when meeting others.
You are advised to limit the number of people you meet with. The more contact you have – the greater the risk of getting and spreading the virus.
You are asked to keep a daily log of people you meet for contact tracing purposes.
Mass gatherings
Limits on mass gatherings have now been reintroduced.
(However we understand that this has been amended to exempt Church attendances to remain at 50).
Weddings are exempt from this guidance and can be held with up to 50 people in attendance including staff working at the venue.
Indoor gatherings and events are now limited to 6 people from no more than 3 households.
Outdoor gatherings and events are limited to 15 people.
Meeting people outdoors is safer than meeting indoors. Physical distancing should be observed at all times when meeting others.
Your risk of getting the virus increases as you meet and engage with more people. Spontaneous mass gatherings such as parties, gatherings, demonstrations and so on are not recommended at this time and may be dispersed by Gardaí.
Covid-19 Protocols: Clonleigh Parish:
Please assist our faith community by observing the protocols which have been put in place as a consequence of Covid-19 and for the safety of all. Thank you.
Facemasks:
We are now advising that, for the time being, parishioners should consider the wearing of facemasks when attending Church services. We must all play our part in reducing the risk of spreading or indeed contracting the virus.
Personal Hygiene:
All are advised to wash your hands before coming to Church and then avail of the sanitizers placed at the entrance to the church building.
Please observe hygiene etiquette of maintaining social distance, coughing into your elbow, using a tissue when sneezing etc
Movement:
Please co-operate with the one-way system
Entrance: Via the two backdoors ONLY.
Exit: Via side doors ONLY.
Seating:
Households:
Those who live in the same house may sit together in the same seat.
Non-household:
Please use the seat markers to ensure appropriate social distancing.
Receiving Holy Communion:
Come forward to the sanctuary via the centre aisle.
Please maintain single file as you approach the sanctuary.
Keep social distance from the person in front of you.
You are asked to receive Holy Communion only on the hand.
After receiving Holy Communion, return to your seat via side aisles or exit the Church via the side doors if received at the end of the Mass.
In an Emergency:
If someone suddenly becomes unwell, do not gather around her/him. Keep social distance. One person who is wearing a mask gloves should attend to the person and the emergency services should be contacted immediately.
We recommend that you regularly check for updates from the HSE on issues pertaining to Covid-19 by logging into this section of the HSE website:
https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
COVID Tracker app
Stay safe. Protect each other.
We would ask you to consider downloading the official Covid Tracker app from the HSE and use it every day or whenever possible to check in and help our Healthcare Professionals to track and suppress the virus from our country.
COVID Tracker is a free app for your mobile phone. It will help us to protect each other and slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ireland.
Using the COVID Tracker app along with the existing public health measures will help us all stay safe when we meet up, socialise, work or travel.
Close contact alerts
If you use the app you will:
- be alerted if you have been in close contact with another app user who has tested positive for coronavirus
- be able to track any symptoms you have and get advice on what to do to protect yourself and others
- be able to anonymously warn other app users that you were in close contact with, if you test positive for coronavirus
Close contacts alerts – what they look like and how contact tracing works
COVID check-in
Track how you are feeling each day, find out if you have symptoms of coronavirus, and get trusted advice.Why use the app
Privacy protected
The COVID Tracker app protects the privacy of all app users. The app was designed to protect your privacy.How we use your data
Technology used
The app uses Bluetooth and anonymous IDs to log close contact with any phone that also has the app.Technology used in the app
Download the app today
- Download the app from your usual app store.
- Choose what information you want to share – or not.
- Play your part in slowing the spread of coronavirus and helping to protect each other.
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