Clare retailers say they’re confident people will get behind local businesses across the county as begin trading again.
Non-essential retail outlets, cinemas, gyms and hairdressers have all opened their doors this morning having been closed for the last six weeks.
On Friday, restaurants and pubs serving food can welcome customers back.
It’s expected 1.2 billion euro will be spent in the retail sector this month, slightly down on last year.
Deputy Chair of Retail Excellence Ireland and owner of Willow boutique in Ennis, Jean McCabe, believes the town may do very well this Christmas.
Places of worship can also reopen with church services restricted to 50 people at a time as part of the move back to Level 3.
One person a week will be allowed to visit a Nursing Home resident.
People are still being advised to work from home and not to mix with other households.
From today, there’s also a recommendation to wear a face mask outdoors on busy streets.
Gardaí will be maintaining checkpoints nationwide as part of the country’s move to Level 3.
Over 100 checkpoints will be in place daily on Ireland’s main routes, with the support of additional mobile checkpoints.
The gardai’s main focus will be to enforce inter-county travel restrictions, which will only be allowed from the 18th of December.
It comes as 222 people with Covid-19 are in Irish hospitals this morning – it’s lowest point since October 12th.
7 of those are being treated at University Hospital Limerick, with three people in Intentensive Care.
The estimated national 14-day incidence rate of the virus is now 89 cases per 100,000.
306 new cases of the disease were announced by the Department of Health last night, as well as one additional death associated with Covid-19.
There were five cases in Clare, the highest number in over a week, but still well back on levels which had been seen in recent months.
