There will be 2,500 Gardaí manning Covid-19 checkpoints at any one time.

As Ireland begins six weeks of ‘Level 5’ lockdown restrictions, An Garda Síochána has begun rolling out Operation Fanacht, the same system employed over the Easter holidays, which will remain in place until Tuesday, December 1st.

The checkpoints are part of a massive effort to ensure the public adheres to strict Government measures put in place to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Yesterday the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) was notified that a further three people diagnosed with Covid-19 in Ireland have died. 1,167 additional cases have been confirmed in Ireland, 263 in Dublin, 142 in Meath, 137 in Cork and 86 in Cavan.

The remaining 539 cases are spread across all remaining counties.

This evening, as we think about the next six weeks of increased restrictions at Level 5, we just need to remember that we are doing this to protect our families and the most vulnerable in our communities. We will come through it and we will see each other again. #LockdownEve

— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) October 21, 2020

“Everyone needs to stay at home, other than for essential reasons.” said Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan.

“Follow the public health advice and treat everyone that you come into contact with as though they are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 – keep your distance, avoid meeting others.

“We are facing a big challenge, but we have faced this challenge before, and that means we know how to suppress this virus, by following the public health advice in everything we do.”