All GAA and soccer matches in Laois, Offaly and Kildare will be cancelled for the next two weeks as the three Midlands counties enter lockdown due to a spike in coronavirus cases.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) recommended a shutdown in the three counties that will take effect from midnight tonight and Taoiseach Micheal Martin confirmed the news this evening.
Club GAA matches at all grades will be affected, as will soccer leagues and other contact sports in the three counties. Non-contact training can continue in groups of up to 15 people.
Horse racing meetings will continue to be held behind-closed-doors in Kildare.
98 new coronavirus cases and a further four deaths were announced this evening.
The three counties accounted for 49 of 69 new cases announced on Thursday when a further five deaths were also revealed - four of which occurred back in May and June – bringing the toll to 1,768.
Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn yesterday issued an appeal to people in the counties to be on alert for the symptoms of the virus and said NPHET has directly contacted GPs in the area.
He said: "NPHET has been informed of a significant number of additional cases across the counties of Kildare and Laois and Offaly on the back of an already significant number of cases and clusters in these counties.
“Over the past 14 days 226 cases have arisen in Kildare, Laois and Offaly, almost half of all cases in Ireland over that time period.
“We will continue to review the situation very closely. However, we are now advising everyone in Kildare, Laois and Offaly to pay particular attention to any new symptoms they may have."
