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| Coronavirus: Irish government to relax some restrictions | Coronavirus: Irish government to relax some restrictions |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The Irish government has signalled an easing of lockdown restrictions from Tuesday. | The Irish government has signalled an easing of lockdown restrictions from Tuesday. |
| People who are over 70 and currently cocooning can leave their homes as long as they avoid contact with others. | People who are over 70 and currently cocooning can leave their homes as long as they avoid contact with others. |
| The 2km exercise limit currently in place for the Irish population will be extended to 5km. | The 2km exercise limit currently in place for the Irish population will be extended to 5km. |
| Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar also announced a five-stage road map from 18 May, which would "reopen the country in a slow, phased way". | Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar also announced a five-stage road map from 18 May, which would "reopen the country in a slow, phased way". |
| In a live televised address to the nation on Friday evening, the taoiseach said the virus had "transformed our lives in ways that we could not have imagined". | |
| Two-to-four week cycles | Two-to-four week cycles |
| He said the current restrictions had to be extended until 18 May but with some loosening of the measures. | He said the current restrictions had to be extended until 18 May but with some loosening of the measures. |
| The road map after that will be set out in five phases but will not have specific dates, he said. | The road map after that will be set out in five phases but will not have specific dates, he said. |
| The process will work on two-to-four week cycles monitored throughout, with each stage dependent on the success of the previous one. | The process will work on two-to-four week cycles monitored throughout, with each stage dependent on the success of the previous one. |
| In the first phase, people such as construction workers, gardeners and repair workers will be able to return to work from 18 May. | In the first phase, people such as construction workers, gardeners and repair workers will be able to return to work from 18 May. |
| At later stages, workers in the hospitality sector will be allowed to return to work. | At later stages, workers in the hospitality sector will be allowed to return to work. |
| Schools and colleges will reopen at the start of the academic year, and small groups of friends and families will be permitted again to meet outdoors. | Schools and colleges will reopen at the start of the academic year, and small groups of friends and families will be permitted again to meet outdoors. |
| However, he stressed the need for caution as "the risk of a second phase of the virus is ever present". | However, he stressed the need for caution as "the risk of a second phase of the virus is ever present". |
| "If we relax the restrictions too soon, we could see our ICU overcrowded," he said. | "If we relax the restrictions too soon, we could see our ICU overcrowded," he said. |
| "Everything we achieved would be lost, so we must go on a short time more." | "Everything we achieved would be lost, so we must go on a short time more." |
| 'Grieve together' | 'Grieve together' |
| Mr Varadkar also spoke of the pain of the families unable to properly grieve for those who had lost their lives in recent weeks. | Mr Varadkar also spoke of the pain of the families unable to properly grieve for those who had lost their lives in recent weeks. |
| "When we come through this, we will come together as a nation and grieve together for everyone who has died over the course of this emergency," he said. | "When we come through this, we will come together as a nation and grieve together for everyone who has died over the course of this emergency," he said. |
| He said people had met the crisis with "remarkable courage and sense of solidarity". | He said people had met the crisis with "remarkable courage and sense of solidarity". |
| Mr Varadkar urged the public to "stay the course" and "continue the fight". | Mr Varadkar urged the public to "stay the course" and "continue the fight". |
| On Friday, the Republic of Ireland recorded 34 more coronavirus-related deaths, taking its total to 1,265. | On Friday, the Republic of Ireland recorded 34 more coronavirus-related deaths, taking its total to 1,265. |
| There were also 221 more cases diagnosed in the Republic, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 20,833. | There were also 221 more cases diagnosed in the Republic, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 20,833. |