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 here

Dining Out in Cafés and Restaurants

• Sanitise your hands on entry and exit
• Wear your face mask indoors and when moving around the building
• Provide details for contract tracing
• Fáilte Ireland have more information here.

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 the contact 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
• Use single-use options when you can

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