Ireland extends coronavirus lockdown until May 18 and schools to reopen in September

IRELAND tonight extended its lockdown until May 18 and revealed schools will open in September.

Leader Leo Varadkar announced the strict coronavirus restrictions will be eased for exercise and over-70s.

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The exercise travel limit will be extended from 2km to 5km from home, while over-70s have now been told they can leave home for isolated exercise from Tuesday.

Mr Varadkar said Ireland had been put to "the ultimate test".

The Taoiseach set out a road map with five steps for how Irish society will be reopened with each stage staggered three weeks apart.

He revealed the easing of the Covid-19 lockdown will take place over 15 weeks from May 18 - but until then most of the current lockdown guidelines will remain in place.

On May 18, hardware shops can reopen, outdoor fitness activities in small groups will be allowed and people can meet in small groups of friends and family outdoors.

Selected retail outlets such as garden centres and repair shops will also open from May 18.

In later phases in the roadmap, restaurants, pre-schools, cafes, bars, cinemas and gyms will reopen.

Schools and colleges will open in September/October depending on the start of the academic year.

Phase 1 - May 18

• Allow outdoor meetings between people from different households
• Open up childcare for healthcare workers
• Phased return of outdoor workers
• Open retailers which are primarily outdoor or those which were open during first level of restriction (e.g. opticians)
• Opening of certain outdoor public amenities

Phase 2

• Allow visits to households
• Develop plans and supports to open up business with consideration for safety of staff and customers
• Open small retail outlets and marts where social distancing can be observed
• Open public libraries

Phase 3

• Allow small social gatherings
• Opening of crèches, childminders and pre-schools for children of essential workers in phased manner
• Return to work for those with low levels of interaction
• Open non-essential retail outlets with street level entrance and exit
• Open playgrounds

Phase 4

• Opening of crèches, childminders and pre-schools for children of all other workers on a gradually increasing basis
• Return to work for those who cannot work from home
• Gradual easing of restrictions for higher risk services (e.g. Hairdressers)
• Opening of museums, galleries, places of worship

Phase 5

• Allow larger social gatherings
• Return to work across all sectors
• On a phased basis, commencing at the beginning of the academic year 2020/2021, opening of primary and secondary schools and 3rd level institutions
• Further easing of restrictions on high risk retail services

Mr Varadkar said: "Many regular health services will resume operating and it will be possible to meet small groups of friends and family outdoors."

He added: "Not long from now, some summer night, we will see our friends again."

Mr Varadkar warned the public that getting people back to work and restarting businesses won't be easy.

He added: "It won't be possible for people just to pick up where they left off.

"Businesses are going to need help to get going again."

The cabinet will meet again tomorrow morning to agree further actions to help Ireland's businesses to restart, reconnect and rehire staff who've been laid off or furloughed amid the global pandemic.

IRELAND COVID-19 DEATHS

The announcement comes as Ireland's Covid-19 death toll jumped by a further 34, bringing the total number of virus victims to 1,265.

A further 221 have tested positive for the killer virus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Ireland 20,833.

Health officials, who release a more detailed breakdown of cases after two days, said 58 per cent were female and 42 per cent were male.

They also said the median age of cases stood at 49 on Wednesday.

Health bosses also confirmed that 2,768 of people who contracted the killer virus were hospitalised with 367 of those admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

They also announced that 5,840  healthcare workers had tested positive for 

SCHOOLS TO REOPEN

Plans to reopen UK schools were plunged into chaos this week as experts clashed over whether children can pass on the virus.

First, Swiss researchers said youngsters posed no threat of infection because they do not have the lung receptors targeted by the virus.

But within 24 hours a review of Chinese cases and a German study suggested they were just as likely to catch it as adults.

The conflicting research comes as the Government is facing growing pressure, with ministers hoping to get classrooms reopened before the summer holidays.

There are fears thousands of vulnerable youngsters will be left behind if schools do not reopen in some form soon.

Matt Hancock has assured parents schools will reopen - but only when it's safe to do so.

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But the Health Secretary didn't rule out fining parents who refuse to send their kids in after the lockdown is lifted.

Speaking No10's coronavirus press conference, Mr Hancock said the Government's goal is to get schools "back to the norm and the position it was before".

He added: "I am confident that, because we will only do it when it's safe, it will then be reasonable and become normal again to send children to school."

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