A famous Dublin pub has decided to take the initiative and shut its doors during the coronavirus lockdown until March 29 in a bid to combat the killer bug.
Dublin GAA-mad watering hole, Peadar Browns is normally booming on weekends and is set to lose out on a large amount of profit due to the temporary closure.
But, the owners and staff of the Clanbrassil Street Lower spot have said that the decision to close for two weeks, although not an easy one, was "the right one at this time".
They said: "Ok folks, we've decided to close the pub from today for the time being because of the coronavirus.
"Sorry to all our customers that support us all year round, this was not an easy decision to make but we believe it is the right one at this time.
"I took a stroll through town last night to clear my head and seen some pubs packed to the rafters, totally ignoring the indoor guidelines brought out the other day by the government.
"The greed of these publicans is an absolute disgrace and believe me, you won't see these guys behind the bar serving customers and scrubbing the toilets at the end of the night."
They added: "I know some smaller pubs can't afford to close just yet and are left in an awful position with no clear guidance from our government on how to handle this situation.
"Stay safe folks and look after each other. We'll have one hell of a party when we beat this poxy thing. Aidan, Li, Eddie, Brian, Liam and Erica."
Following the Leo Varadkar's announcement on Thursday morning, The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) who represent Dublin Publicans released a statement asking three questions regarding the opening of pubs during this unprecedented time.
They said: "What is the official guidance for pubs with a capacity exceeding 100 people?''
''How should social distancing be implemented in a pub?''
''How does the government plan on addressing the financial impact on the hospitality sector?''
So what's the current situation for pubs and cafes?
Outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people are banned.
Indoor gatherings of more than 100 are discouraged.
Cafes and pubs can stay open but are advised to do so with caution.
People are being asked to restrict their social interactions as much as possible.
This will have a huge effect on Dublin's nightlife, as many venues with small and large capacities will be hit hard.
The government has acknowledged that people will be hit economically by the new measures.
Pubs and restaurants can remain open, although we'll see with time as some owners may opt to close.
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