Taoiseach urges Ireland to stay at home to combat COVID-19

The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Health have issued strict guidelines for people to stay at home from midnight tonight (Friday).

The rules are to STAY AT HOME.

The only times you can leave are:

• to travel to or from work if you are providing an essential service
• to shop for food
• to collect medical prescriptions and medical supplies and attend medical appointments
• to carry out vital services like caring (including family carers)
• for brief individual exercise - within 2 kilometres of your house. (You can bring children but must keep 2 metres away from others for social distancing)
• for farming purposes

You should not hold any private or public functions and this includes family functions for family who don't live in the same house.

All community centres will close. All public transport will be restricted to those carrying out essential travel for the reasons outlined above.

All non-essential businesses will close.

Shielding or coccooning of older and vulnerable people will come into place where they should not leave the house and arrange for others check on them and to bring shopping and medicines.

Except for the reasons above; you should not travel more than 2 kilometres from your home.