To assist the public and business owners the following is an indicative list of what are considered ESSENTIAL RETAIL OUTLETS:
Essential retail outlets
- Retail and wholesale sale of food, beverages and newspapers in non-specialised and specialised stores
- Retail sale of household consumer products necessary to maintain the safety and sanitation of residences and businesses
- Pharmacies/Chemists and retailers providing pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical or dispensing services
- Retail sale of selling medical and orthopaedic goods in specialised stores
- Fuel stations and heating fuel providers
- Retail sale of essential items for the health and welfare of animals, including animal feed and medicines, animal food, pet food and animal supplies including bedding
- Laundries and Drycleaners
- Banks, Post Offices and Credit Unions
- Retail sale of safety supply stores (work clothes, Personal Protective Equipment, for example)
Businesses that can only offer emergency call-out or delivery services
It is recognised that there may be emergency needs arising in a number of areas, the following retailers who can offer an emergency call-out or delivery service can continue to operate on that basis ONLY:
- opticians/optometrists
- retailers involved in the repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycle repair and related facilities (tyre sales and repairs for example)
- hardware stores, builder’s merchants and stores that provide hardware products necessary for home and business maintenance, sanitation and farm equipment, supplies and tools essential for gardening/farming/agriculture
- retail sale of office products and services for individuals working from home and for businesses
- retailers providing electrical, IT and phone sales, repair and maintenance services for the home.
- Physical distancing measures that must be adhered to
Essential Retail Outlets must implement physical distancing measures:-
- ensure adequate distancing between customers and shop assistants in line with public health guidelines
- only let people into the store in small groups and ensure spaces are not crowded.
- manage queue control inside and outside the door to maintain the necessary physical distance.
- all Essential Retail Outlets are encouraged to provide online services where that is possible and appropriate to minimise footfall.
For updated and factual Public Health information and advice on COVID-19 Coronavirus, please visit hse.ie/coronavirus or call 1800 700 700
For the latest information on the Covid-19 Vaccine Programme, please visit hse.ie/covid-19-vaccine
