Latest from Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar on Level Five lockdown exit and Christmas

We’re in day one of Level Five, and people around the country are racing to adapt to a new reality. 

Businesses everywhere have been instructed to close their doors, while the public have been told to stay within a 5km radius of home. 

Government ministers and public health bosses have been vocal about the need to adhere to the new guidelines in recent days – and offered several updates about what the next few months could bring. 

Here’s the latest from Ireland’s top politicians. 

‘We will come through this’, vows Taoiseach 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin issued a heartfelt appeal to the public last night ahead of the introduction of new restrictions. 

With almost all workers now being asked to stay home and non-essential retail closed, Mr Martin urged the public to “remember that we are doing this to protect our families and the most vulnerable in our communities”.

Micheal Martin (RTE)

“We will come through it and we will see each other again,” the Taoiseach wrote on Twitter.

Stephen Donnelly on exiting Level Five

The Health Minister has warned that Ireland’s exit from Level Five could take place on a “region by region” basis. 

Stephen Donnelly said today that restrictions may not be lifted on the whole country at once in the event that cases do not drop enough by December 1. 

“One of the things we’ve stated is that the exit from this doesn’t have to be for example the whole country at one time,” he said.

“It could be region by region.”

Tánaiste says Christmas won’t be cancelled

Leo Varadkar has said that “Christmas will not be cancelled” and that “Santa will still arrive and leave presents under the tree”.

The Tánaiste admitted to the Dáil that it might not be the Christmas that we’re used to, but that families around the country will still be able to meet. 

And last night, in a video shared on social media, Mr Varadkar said Ireland can make sure the country’s second wave is “only a ripple”.

“That’s all down to us doing the right things – social distancing, wearing a mask, washing our hands, isolating ourselves if we have any symptoms at all,” he said.