Gatherings of more than four people in public are banned with gardaí on patrol to police the Government’s latest clampdown measures.
And almost all non-essential business and shops are now formally shuttered.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced the unprecedentedly stringent new measures to try and stop the relentless spread of the deadly Coronavirus.
And previously announced restrictions have been extended by three weeks.
Mr Varadkar said: “Four years ago we commemorated the heroism of 1916, I never believed we’d be called upon to match their courage, but today we are.”
April 19th has been set as the latest extended shutdown date before any schools, colleges or creches will be allowed to reopen - along with most shops - while all salons, cinemas, theatres, clubs and bookies are among the new outlets that have been added to the shutdown list
The harsh new restrictions include the radical step of banning gatherings of more than four people in public - if they are not from the same household.
All sporting events are now banned, including behind closed doors ones that were still going ahead, like horse racing.
But Mr Varadkar insists that the escalation is not what people are calling “lockdown.”
“I wouldn’t use the term lockdown.
“I think it’s a term that causes more confusion than clarity and it’s a term I therefore don’t intend to use.”
Health Minister SImon Harris was alongside Mr Varadkar for the historic announcement, and he said: “We need everyone to be a hero.”
