Major new restrictions announced from midnight tonight

The Government has announced stringent new restrictions in the fight against COVID-19.

The Taoiseach, speaking at a special briefing tonight, said from midnight people are to stay at home for a two-week period, to April 12.

He said there were specific circumstances where people could leave the home for essential work and other essential services.

More details are expected about the nature of essential work later.

All public and private gatherings are prohibited outside the family home.

People are also allowed to leave their home to buy food or household goods, attend medical appointments and for vital family reasons.

People will be allowed leave their homes once daily for a brief physical exercise but within two kilometres of their home.

The over 70s and others who are vulnerable will be told to cocoon at home. This means that systems will be put in place to ensure people in this category will have food and are checked on.

The list of essential shops and services announced earlier in the week will also be revised downwards - with a new list to be published later.

Asked if this was a lockdown, the Taoiseach said the word meant different things to different people but admitted that this was very restrictive and there wasn’t much more the Government can do.

Chief medical officer Tony Holohan said he had become concerned about the increasing number of people in intensive care and the restrictions were designed to drive the virus out of the community.

 

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