Living with Covid plan: Each of the Five Stages explained

The Living with Covid plan was announced by the Dáil yesterday

The official announcement of the government’s Living with Covid plan sparked a backlash among many Irish people yesterday. Publicans in the capital lamented having their reopening date pushed out again, while many people across the country complained that the guidelines were unclear and confusing to follow.

The country is officially in Stage Two of the plan, with Dublin under some additional restrictions – the number of visitors to different households in Dublin has been lowered from 6 people from up to three households to six people from one other household; and wet pubs will not open in the capital on the 21st of September.

If you’re confused about the plan, and how each stage differs, here’s an explainer:

Stage One

• 10 people from up to three households can visit in each other’s homes.
• 50 people can visit outdoors or in your garden.
• Up to 100 people can attend organised indoor events, with up to 200 allowed in larger venues.
• Up to 200 people can attend outdoor sporting events, with up to 500 allowed in stadia or other venues with a capacity of over 5000.
• 100 people can attend a wedding.
• Bars, cafés and restaurants will be open, with social-distancing measures
• Pubs will be open with social-distancing measures.
• There will be no restrictions on domestic travel.

Stage Two

• 6 people from one, two or three households can visit in each other’s homes (depending on public health advice at that time).
• 15 people from up to three households can visit outdoors or in your garden.
• Up to 50 people can attend organised indoor events – 100 in larger venues.
• Up to 100 people can attend outdoor sporting events, with up to 200 allowed in stadia or other venues with a capacity of over 5000.
• 50 people can attend a wedding.
• Bars, cafés and restaurants will be open, with social-distancing measures, and only six people from one, two or three households can gather together.
• Pubs will be open with social-distancing measures, and only six people from one, two or three households can gather together.
• There will be no restrictions on domestic travel.

Stage Three

• People from one other household can visit in each other’s homes.
• Visitors are allowed in your garden, but no gatherings are allowed elsewhere.
• No organised indoor events.
• No outdoor sporting events. Training is allowed for professional/elite/inter-county sports/senior club championships only.
• 25 people can attend a wedding.
• Bars, cafés and restaurants will be open, with social-distancing measures and additional restrictions.
• Pubs will be open with social-distancing measures and additional restrictions.
• You will be asked to stay within your county, apart from work/education or essential purposes.

Stage Four

• No visitors are permitted in each other’s homes.
• No visitors are permitted outside your home.
• No organised indoor events.
• No outdoor sporting events, except professional/elite/inter-county sports/senior club championships.
• 6 people can attend a wedding.
• Bars, cafés and restaurants will be open for takeaway or delivery. Outdoor dining will be permitted with a maximum of 15 people dining.
• Pubs will only be open for 15 patrons to sit outdoors.
• You will be asked to stay within your county, apart from work/education or essential purposes

Stage Five

• No visitors are permitted in each other’s homes.
• No visitors are permitted outside your home, except for a funeral or wedding.
• No organised indoor events.
• No outdoor sporting events.
• 6 people can attend a wedding.
• Bars, cafés and restaurants will only be open for takeaway or delivery.
• Pubs will only be open for takeaway or delivery.
• You will be asked to stay within 5km of your home, except to exercise.