Publication
Special advice for those living in Kildare - Friday 21 August 2020
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
These measures are in place to protect the vulnerable in Kildare, as well as to stop the spread of COVID-19.
These measures are effective immediately until Sunday night 6 September.
The situation will then be reviewed.
If you live in Kildare, you should only travel within your county.
The only exceptions to this are:
Where possible, do not share your car or other private vehicles with people from outside your household.
Do not use public transport unless it is absolutely necessary.
If you live outside Kildare, do not travel there. You can pass through Kildare to get to a county that does not have local measures in place.
You should continue do the things that will protect yourself and others. This is the best way of interrupting the transmission of the virus:
You should work from home unless absolutely necessary.
Limit all indoor gatherings to a maximum of 6 people from no more than 3 households. Maintain physical distancing at all times.
Limit outdoor gatherings to a maximum of 15 people. Maintain physical distancing at all times.
All cafes and restaurants, including bars that serve food, can only offer:
These will be closed:
These will remain open:
No sporting events or matches can take place.
The only exceptions to this are for:
Churches and other places of worship can only remain open for private prayer. Services should be delivered online.
A maximum of 25 people can attend a funeral service, burial or cremation ceremony. A maximum of 6 people can attend indoor events related to the funeral.
Visits to hospitals, nursing homes, long-term residential care facilities and prisons are suspended. The only exceptions to this are for compassionate circumstances. For example, end of life.
The impact of COVID-19 on society in general and especially those living in nursing homes has been considerable. We recognise that the proposed physical distancing measures and restrictions on visiting, while introduced for the overarching public health good and for the protection of people, including those most at risk, have an unprecedented impact on people’s daily lives, and recommending them is on foot of considered reflection of the potential risk at this time.
The serial testing programme in nursing homes has recommenced on a fortnightly basis, with a focus on ensuring that facilities in Kildare are tested early in the programme.
People living in Kildare who are over 70 years of age or medically vulnerable should take extra care to protect themselves.
This means you should:
If these options are not available to you, you can contact your local authority who are working with local organisations to make sure that people have access to food, essential household supplies and medicines.
The government has announced a package of measures for businesses in Kildare which have been adversely impacted by renewed COVID-19 restrictions.
The measures include:
Kildare businesses will receive a further 20% top-up to the Restart Grant Plus, equivalent to a 40% uplift overall, bringing the new minimum grant to €5,600 and the maximum grant to €35,000.
The local enterprise office in Kildare will step up assistance to impacted businesses. One to one specialist expertise and mentoring will be provided to impacted businesses, helping them reassess their financial plans. A virtual ‘Sustaining Business’ open day will be held shortly.
Applications from Kildare will continue to be prioritised for all existing schemes, including the Sustaining Enterprise Fund.
Marketing grants under the Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters (TAME) programme will be reinforced to help businesses to get their message out that they are open for business. Up to €2,500 is available. A publicity campaign will be run locally to ensure businesses are aware of all the funding options available to them.
The government has previously announced measures on 14 August to assist businesses in Kildare, Laois and Offaly.
There is an existing package in place to help businesses nationally reopen and stay open, through the July Stimulus.
There will also be a six-month commercial rates holiday for the vast majority of businesses.