THE Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, has confirmed that Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions will be in place until at least March 5.
Mr Martin spoke at a press conference this afternoon after the Cabinet rubber-stamped the extension of Ireland’s lockdown.
Martin said the Government has taken a number of measures to further reduce the levels of travel into Ireland.
“We must stay focused on the measures that will bring this disease under control, and which we as a country are in a position to deliver,” Martin said.
“The road we are on is hard. The length of time that we’ve had to live with restrictions and the proximity of vaccination makes it even harder, but it is the road we must take together.
“We have done it before. And we can do it again.”
He said there should be no non-essential travel and outside the 5km is a clear breach of restrictions.
Additional Gardaí are being deployed to ports and airports and he said those found going outside their 5km will be subject to increased fines.
He said all visa-free short-term travel from South Africa and all of South America is suspended until 5 March.
He said those who arrive here without a negative pre-departure PCR test will have to go into mandatory quarantine and also face a €2,000 fine and or six months imprisonment.
He said in other cases passengers will be required by law to quarantine at home. He said application of these measures to passengers who are not EU citizens can be introduced by regulations under existing legislation.
Mr Martin said: “For all other passengers it will be necessary to amend primary legislation.
Schools will reopen on a phased basis, starting with those in special education, but no announcement on dates was made today.
The measures will be reviewed on March 5.
Martin said: “We’re going to adopt a conservative, cautious approach now.”
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