Ireland will officially be placed under a Level Five lockdown until at least March 5, the Taoiseach has announced.
Micheal Martin confirmed this evening that strict measures will stay in force for over a month as we battle to suppress a third wave of Covid-19 infections.
And although most rules will be staying the same, there are some changes to take note of ahead of the new measures that will kick in over the coming days and weeks.
Mandatory quarantine at a designated facility will be required for people who arrive in Ireland without a negative PCR test taken in the past 72 hours.
Those who don't arrive without a negative test face a €2,000 fine and/or six months imprisonment.
The Taoiseach also confirmed that visa-free short term travel from South Africa and South America is suspended until at least March 5.
All people travelling into will now be subject to a mandatory quarantine for a period of 14 days.
However for most this will be allowed to take place at home, rather than at a facility.
Mr Martin added: "In other cases, people will be required to quarantine at home."
He went on: "These regulations will apply to anyone who travels into Ireland, from an airport or port on the island, including ports and airports in Northern Ireland."
However while the quarantine for non-EU arrivals can begin immediately, implementing the rules for EU citizens will require changes to current legislation.
