Theatres, clubs, gyms, hairdressers and other non-essential services are to shut from midnight tonight.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced new public restrictions in an attempt to slow the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in Ireland.
He said that all restrictions that were announced in Washington DC on March 12th are to be extended until Sunday 19 April- this includes the continued closure of all educational facilities.
Today our Public Health Emergency Team has made important recommendations in our efforts to slow the spread of #coronavirus. Thank you for all you are doing. Together, we must now do more. Together, we will save lives #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/zaer7Hw99O
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) March 24, 2020
The government has also announced a number of new restrictions - but Mr. Varadkar stopped short of using the term 'lock-down'.
From midnight tonight, all gatherings of over four people will be banned in public - unless all are from the same household.
To help implement this, Gardaí will increase interventions on non-essential gatherings and instances where social distancing is being broken.
All sporting events, even those behind closed doors have been cancelled.
He added that people should only leave home to go to work - if you can't work from home - or to get essential supplies.
Mr Varadkar said that no unnecessary travel should take place in the country or overseas.
He said that from midnight theatres, clubs, gyms, hairdressers and other non-essential services are to shut.
A list of services described as 'essential' will be provided.
And that all cafes and restaurants should limit supply to takeaways only.
While all hotels are to limit occupancy to "essential non-social and non-tourist reasons".
Private hospitals have agreed to work as public hospitals which should add 2,000 beds.
Unemployment and business payments.
Leo Varadkar said that the Covid-19 unemployment payment will be raised to €350 per week and the Covid-19 self isolation payment will also be increased to €350.
Companies can benefit from 70% employee wage backing from the government if they keep people employed and pay the other 30% - if they can prove their business revenue has been impacted by at least 25%.
This will be capped at 38,000 salary a year or €410 a week from the government
While cabinet has approved Emergency Measures Bill to freeze rents and prevent evictions.
