Safe Christmas

Safe Christmas checklist
Safe shopping
Safe visiting
Dining out in cafés and restaurants
Safe Christmas Day

Ireland is at Level 5 with a number of exceptions in place for the Christmas period.

Safe Christmas checklist

Celebrate safely this festive season - stay safe and protect each other:

minimise in person contacts
wear a face covering and wash hands regularly
shop safely, avoid crowds indoors and outside
if you feel unwell, don't risk it – stay home and contact your GP
keep fresh air circulating in your home

Safe shopping

when planning your Christmas shopping, please support your local retailers and businesses. If you feel unwell you should stay at home
at this busy time of year, you can still shop online or over the phone and collect your goods or have them delivered
if you do go out shopping, wrap up warm in case you have to queue
try to shop at off-peak times and keep a 2 metre distance from other shoppers
you must wear your mask in store for your safety and for that of other shoppers and staff
try to keep your shopping time to a minimum and remember to use hand sanitiser on entering and leaving the shop
more guidance for businesses is available

Safe visiting

Christmas visiting

An important part of Christmas for all of us is being able to spend time with family, friends and neighbours. However, as we all know, this year things will be a bit different. So take a little time to plan ahead, here are some tips to remember on how we can all continue to do that, but making sure we keep each other safe too.

Remember the essentials

wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub if your hands are not visibly dirty
when coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue
avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
read guidance on how to protect yourself

Outdoors when possible

when spending time with friends and family this festive season, try to do so outdoors where possible
wrapping up well and enjoying the company of others in outdoor settings is safer than indoors

Visiting vulnerable family, friends and neighbours

wear a mask when mixing with vulnerable people and those with underlying conditions
if indoors, make sure where possible that the space is well ventilated
limit the amount of time you spend together
make sure these people are comfortable with you visiting before you land at their doorstep

Dining out in cafés and restaurants

What you can do to protect yourself and others:

sanitise your hands on entry and exit
always wear your face mask indoors and when moving around the building, including going to the bathroom
one person from your group provides details for contact tracing.
Fáilte Ireland Guidelines available here

What businesses are doing to protect customers and staff:

teams are fully trained in COVID-19 prevention measures
environments are safe and hygienic with hand sanitiser provided
staff will wear a face mask at all times while working indoors

Safe Christmas Day

Plan ahead

plan how you will spend your Christmas Day and who you will be in contact with
keep your guestlist short and try to ensure that you limit your close contacts in the days and weeks beforehand
remember – every contact counts!

On arrival

try encourage guests to use hand sanitiser or to wash their hands when they arrive at your home or do so when you arrive at someone else’s home

Limit contact

try to avoid hugs, kisses and handshakes as people arrive
don’t share items like crockery and glassware
avoid sharing food and buffet style set ups

Give a little extra space

try to allow extra space at the dinner table
extra distance between settings will make sure everyone is comfortable and keeps safe
people from the same households should sit together

In the kitchen

remember to wear a mask when cooking and serving food
limit the amount of people in the kitchen

Fresh air

keep your home and spaces where people are gathering ventilated
keep windows and doors open where possible
try and get out for a walk or spend some time in the fresh air