Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the closure of schools, colleges and other public facilities in response to the coronavirus pandemic at a press conference in Washington DC on Thursday morning.
These measures begin at 6pm on Thursday evening and last until March 29th.
Many businesses and organisations have also made cancellations and announced closures since the announcement.
Below is a full list of the new measures announced by Mr Varadkar as well as all events and businesses who have announced closures on foot of that advice:
- Schools, creches, childcare facilities and all higher level education facilities to close.
- Cultural institutions to close.
- Indoor gatherings of more than 100 people should be cancelled.
- Outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled.
- People should continue to go to work, but those who can work from home should do so.
- Shops, cafes and restaurants to stay open.
- An Post to continue delivering the mail as normal though delivery times may vary.
- Talks on government formation between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil due to take place on Thursday have been postponed.
- The GAA, Camogie Association and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association have suspended all activity at club, county and educational levels until March 29th from midnight on Thursday.
- The Guinness Pro14 has been suspended indefinitely
- Scouting Ireland has cancelled all scout group meetings, and planned indoor and large outdoor events until March 29th.
- Centre Parcs, Ireland's largest leisure complex, will shut from Friday, March 13th to Sunday, March 29th. Guests will be entitled to a full refund.
- MCD Productions has postponed all shows due to take place between now and March 29th.
- All Ben Dunne gyms will close at 6pm on Thursday until March 29th and FLYEfit gyms will close until March 30th.
- EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum will be closed until March 29th.
- St Patrick's Festival, Dublin has cancelled its Festival Cultural Programme.
- The Restaurants Association of Ireland has cancelled its two upcoming Regional Awards events in Munster and Connacht.
Dublin
Dublin City Council said services closing to the public from 8am on Friday morning until at least March 29th include:
- All Dublin City Council libraries
- All Dublin City Council-run sports, leisure, and community centres
- The Hugh Lane Gallery
- Motor Tax Office (except by prior appointment)
- 14 Henrietta Street
- Richmond Barracks in Inchicore
- City Hall (except for private events and the cafe)
- The Lab on Foley Street
All other offices and facilities will remain open, including the Civic Offices, all Area Offices, the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive offices on Parkgate Street, Parks, Bring Centres and Recycling Centres.
All Dún Laoghaire Rathdown libraries will be closed to the public until March 30th. The Mountains to Sea Festival for 2020 is cancelled.
Clare County Council has announced the closure of almost all its council-supported facilities.
The Fingal International Festival of Voices has been cancelled.
The annual conference of the Psychiatric Nurses Association has been called off as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
Cork-based disability charity the Cope Foundation has made the decision to cancel the Flowers of Hope Collection Day that was due to go ahead on Friday.
Church services
Irish Catholic Bishops have announced that:
- All confirmations are now postponed until further notice.
- Attendance at funeral services and Masses should be limited to close relatives and must not exceed 100 attendees within the church building.
- Similarly, church weddings and baptisms may be celebrated on condition that the attendance in church does not exceed 100 people.
- In the current emergency situation, all are dispensed from the obligation to physically attend Sunday Mass.
