It’s a temporary but difficult move.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced a total lockdown in the Republic of Ireland, after 302 new cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed across the country, bringing the total here to 2,121.

A further three patients who tested positive for the disease have died, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, bringing the death toll to 22.

In a televised public address this evening, the Taoiseach announced that for the coming two weeks, everyone in Ireland is being asked to stay inside their homes, except for collecting groceries, taking care of vulnerable people, carrying out farming duties, picking up medicine or taking brief exercise.

Social family visits are prohibited in all circumstances.

‘We need you to do more’

All public transport will be restricted to workers only and the public is now restricted from travelling more than 2km from their own homes, something the Taoiseach admits will be difficult to police.

The country is now on near-total lockdown until Easter Sunday, April 12th and all public and private gatherings are banned.

Minister for Health Simon Harris shared the full revised list of restrictions recommended by Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan, telling the public: “You’ve worked so hard but we all need you to do more for the next two weeks.” he said.

“This will help us save lives.”

Here are the recommendations, effective from midnight tonight:

Mr Varadkar said the added restrictions will “save lives and help our health service to cope”.

He added: “These are radical actions aimed at saving as many people’s lives as possible in the days and weeks ahead.”