DOWN TO THE BARE ESSENTIALS
Sweeping measures close clubs and cafés
‘Surge in grocery demand has eased’
ALL non-essential retail businesses are to close, including all theatres, clubs, libraries, and markets, the Government has announced.
Cafés and restaurants will also close, although they will be allowed maintain a takeaway meals and drinks facility.
Non-essential businesses were closed from midnight last night. They include gyms, marts, hairdressers, casinos, theatres, bingo halls, clubs, leisure centres, betting offices, markets, libraries and ‘other similar outlets’.
All hotels will operate with limited occupancy solely for ‘essential, non-social and nontourist reasons’ – echoing moves already made by the K Club and other resorts to house frontline medical staff dealing with the emergency.
In a stark warning yesterday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: ‘We’re in this for the long haul, and this could go on for weeks, perhaps months.’ The Government also announced that all gatherings outdoors are limited to a maximum of four people but not in the case of families.
More park rangers will be on patrol in public spaces to ensure social distancing measures are enforced while gardaí will ‘increase interventions’ to ensure compliance with the measures, the Taoiseach said.
Mr Varadkar made his comments after the National Public Health Emergency Team recommended that all nonessential retail outlets should close to the public.
Essential retail, according to the HSE, includes the sale of food, beverages and newspapers, as well as cleaning products and services.
Pharmacies, methadone clinics, opticians, optometrists, specialist medical and orthopaedic shops, garages that fix motor vehicles, petrol stations and businesses selling home heating supplies are also considered essential.
Veterinary clinics and pet food supply shops will stay open as well as those providing animal bedding.
Laundries and dry cleaners are also considered essential, as are banks, post offices and credit unions. Retail sale of work clothes and personal protective equipment is also included, as is hardware stores, builders’ merchants.
Home office suppliers will also be permitted to stay open, as will retailers providing electrical, IT and phone sales, repair and maintenance services for homes.
Lobby group Retail Ireland said it supports the measures and called on stores to close non-essential departments and prioritise their food business.
‘Consumer electronics will continue online but might have a phone number available to provide an emergency order and kerbside delivery service of an essential item, such as a cooker, to an elderly person,’ a spokesperson added.
Retail Ireland director Arnold Dillon, said: ‘Retailers that will continue to trade are putting in place a wide range of new measures to support social distancing guidelines.
‘This includes new distance markings on floors and limiting access during busy periods.
‘The surge in demand in the grocery sector has eased. If people shop responsibility and only buy what they need, there will be plenty for everyone.’