Ireland will be the first European nation to reimpose a pandemic shutdown to stamp out the spread of COVID-19 in what Prime Minister Micheal Martin described as "Europe's strictest regime."
Martin issued the countrywide stay-home directive after days of behind-the-scenes meetings with his public health authorities. He clarified schools will not be included in the new lockdown.
The six-week lockdown will close nonessential retail businesses, food establishments, and night clubs and prohibit nearly 5 million people in the country from traveling more than 3 miles from their residences.
In a statement, authorities warned that those who will violate the five-kilometer restriction will be penalized. Public transport will operate at a quarter of the country's normal capacity to serve essential workers, the government said.
The Irish government rejected its health experts' call two weeks ago for immediate nationwide Level 5 restrictions - the government's highest lockdown level. It was the first time the government had ignored their top scientists' recommendations since the pandemic broke out.
Martin said the lockdown would take effect starting Wednesday night until Dec. 1, adding that only front-line workers will be allowed to travel to work, and citizens will be permitted to do physical exercise only within 5 kilometers of their homes.
According to the prime minister, he feels "very personally and profoundly the sense of disappointment, the feelings of loneliness and despair" that the lockdown announcement will bring for many, The Politico quoted him as saying.
The lockdown is estimated to render over 200,000 people jobless barely weeks after many got back to work. Martin said they would be given emergency financial assistance of up to 350 euros per week.
Health officials said they have recorded 1,031 new cases of the virus Monday, bringing the total infections since the outbreak to 50,993. The country's mortality figure remained flat at 1,852. The highest rates of infection are in municipalities bordering Northern Ireland, which has tallied some of Europe's highest rates. There are currently 40.7 million coronavirus cases in the world, with over a million deaths.
