An “unprecedented” two-week-long shutdown of schools, colleges and childcare facilities will begin at 6pm tonight as the Government struggles to contain the fall-out of the coronavirus.
It comes as the country moves to the next phase in battling Covid-19.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar made the announcement in an early morning press conference in Washington DC.
Mr Varadkar said: "We have not witnessed a pandemic of this nature in living memory. This is uncharted territory.
"It is important to remember that the disease effects will be mild for the majority of people especially the young and healthy.
"We know that older people and those with chronic diseases are at real risk. We have a duty as a society to protect ourselves and above all to protect others - our parents and grandparents, our family and friends, co-workers and neighbours.
"We said we would take the right actions at the right time. We have to move now to have the greatest impact."
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- From 6pm today, the following measures are being put in place, and they will stay in place until March 29:
All schools, colleges, and childcare facilities will close from tomorrow. Where possible teaching will be done online and remotely cultural institutions will close as well,
- All indoor mass gatherings of more than 100 people, and outdoor mass gatherings, more than 500 people should be cancelled.
- People should continue to go to work if possible, but should look to work from home.
- In order to reduce unnecessary face to face interaction in the workplace, break times and working time should be staggered and meetings done remotely, or by phone,
- Public transport will continue to operate the shops will remain open.
- All cultural institutions like museums, galleries, theatres and concert venues will also be shut.
Anyone entering Ireland will be informed of the measures and asked to self-isolate if they are displaying symptoms, the Taoiseach said, adding: "Our advice is that all indoor mass gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor mass gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled."
Speaking to the public, Mr Varadkar said people can play your part by hand washing coughing and sneezing and your elbow or tissue and seeking medical advice if you develop symptoms.
“This is now more important than ever,” he said.
Mr Varadkar also said the Cabinet will meet later today. Opposition party leaders and counterparts in Northern Ireland or Britain will be briefed.
The government will deploy all of the resources we can muster, human and financial, to tackle this threat head on.
Mr Varadkar said: “People should seek to reduce social interactions as much as possible.”
He said while the resources available to combat the impact of this virus are extensive, they are not unlimited.
“Our healthcare workers have been at the forefront of this crisis since it started, and they will be at the frontline of the crisis and the time ahead. We must do all we can to help them, so they can help those who need the help the most,” he said.
“I know that some of this is coming as a real shock. And it's going to involve big changes in the way we live our lives.
