Chief medical officer Tony Holohan said the measures have had to be stepped up due to the fact more than 1,000 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the Republic.
He said: "Forty-five per cent of the cases have been community transmission where we have not been able to identify the original source through contact tracing and one in four of the cases are healthcare workers.
"We need to move rapidly, comprehensively and quickly. That is why we have stepped up the measures."
Health Minister Simon Harris said patients with Covid-19 will be treated for free in a single national hospital service.
Mr Harris said all private hospitals will be public or run by the State for the duration of the pandemic.
He said: "There can be no public vs private here."
Ireland banned all non-essential travel within the country and shut non-essential retail on Tuesday to battle coronavirus as it significantly
increased income support for those already left unemployed andworkers at risk of joining them.
The additional measures are on top of some three billion euros already committed to boost sick pay, fund the health service and offer assistance to businesses, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said.
Ireland has reported 1,125 cases and six deaths so far.
A weekly unemployment emergency payment introduced two weeks ago will increase to 350 euros from 203 euros. The state will also pay 70% of workers' wages - up to a maximum of 410 euros per week - for applicable firms, Varadkar added.
