Measures tightened due to a significant increase in infections

COVID-19: Domestic measures tightened due to a sharp rise in infections – photo

Masks will be mandatory when it is not possible to maintain the 1-metre social distancing rule, crowd limits will be 500 people, and restaurants with a licence to serve alcohol will be required to close two hours earlier than at present. With the use of rapid tests, it will be permitted to hold events for up to 1,500 people. The Health Minister has decided on these measures following recommendations from the Chief Medical Officer, who is concerned about a significant increase in infections, rising illness rates and growing pressure on the healthcare system. Rules on the use of face masks will come into effect tomorrow, while other changes will take effect on Wednesday, 10 November, and will remain in force for four weeks until Tuesday, 8 December.

See the announcement on the website of the Cabinet Office. 

Since the current wave of the pandemic began to rise in mid-July, nearly 7,300 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19, around 160 have been hospitalised (2.2%), 33 in intensive care, 17 have required a ventilator and four have died. The Chief Medical Officer believes that stricter domestic restrictions are necessary to prevent a crisis in the healthcare system with unpredictable consequences. The daily number of infections must be brought down to 40-50 and that level maintained with restrictions until better immunity is achieved in the community through booster jabs and natural infection.

The measures in a nutshell:

From midnight, the mask mandate comes into effect.; It will be mandatory to wear a face covering when it is not possible to maintain a 1-metre distance, e.g. in crowded shops, on public transport and in similar situations. It will also be mandatory to wear a face covering at seated events (effective from 6 November).

• Children aged 15 and under are exempt from the requirement to wear a face covering.
• Staff who provide personal services requiring close contact, e.g. hairdressing, massage and the like, are not required to wear a face covering, as customers are required to do so.
• Secondary school pupils may remove their masks once lessons have started, even if the 1-metre distancing rule cannot be maintained.

General mass gathering restrictions will be 500 people: At seated events, it is permitted to deviate from the one-metre distancing rule while seated, provided that everyone wears a face covering.

Rapid tests and organised events: It will be permitted to organise events for up to 1,500 people. Guests at such events are required, despite rapid testing, to wear a face covering if the 1-metre social distancing rule cannot be observed (effective from 10 November). A special exemption will continue to apply for school events in primary and secondary schools with the use of rapid tests.

Restaurants where the service of wine is permitted: Opening hours will be reduced by 2 hours, closing at 23:00 with venues to be cleared before midnight. A requirement for guests to be registered will be reintroduced, and food and drink must be served to seated customers (effective from 10 November).

• Memorandum from the Director of Public Health on domestic measures, 4 November 2021