Coronavirus: Ireland has extended its Covid restrictions until March 5

Ireland's coronavirus lockdown is to be extended by a number of weeks until March 5.

Irish premier Micheal Martin said lockdown restrictions are having a positive impact, forcing case numbers down.

However, Mr Martin said that the country cannot give the virus or its variants any space.

"Therefore, the Government has decided to to extend all of the current Level 5 restrictions until March 5, with a view to crushing the numbers of those contracting the disease, and in turn the numbers needing hospitalisation and intensive care," he said.

The new measures include mandatory quarantine at a designated facility for people who arrive in Ireland without a negative PCR test taken in the past 72 hours.

Travellers arriving into Ireland without a negative test could also face a fine of 2,500 euro or a six-month prison sentence.

Visa-free short-term travel from South Africa and South America is suspended until at least March 5.

All passengers entering the country will be subject to mandatory quarantine, which signals a change from the policy of voluntary self-isolation.

"In other cases, people will be required to quarantine at home," Mr Martin added.

"These regulations will apply to anyone who travels into Ireland, from an airport or port on the island, including ports and airports in Northern Ireland.

"The message to people, for the next six weeks is very simple. Stay at home. Do not travel. Do not make any journeys outside of your five kilometres, unless you absolutely have to. Hold firm and stick to the basics."

Extra gardai will patrol airports and ports and anyone who is found breaching travel restrictions will face increased fines.

The current fine is 100 euro, however it is set to increase to no more than 500 euro.

The restrictions are to remain in place to enable a phased reopening of schools across February and March, starting with children with special educational needs.

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said that anyone entering the state from overseas will be subject to mandatory quarantine.

"In some cases, that'll be mandatory quarantine and hotel," he added.

"In most cases, mandatory quarantine at home, but it will be mandatory, not advisory, for the first time.

"When it comes to March and April, when we fervently hope cases will be very low again, that's where the issue of international travel becomes all the more important.

"If we do, as a society, succeed in getting cases very low again, we want to make sure that we do everything reasonable to stop cases coming back up again. That's very much the journey that we begin today."

Ireland's current Level 5 restrictions will be in line with Northern Ireland.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said: "You have to make sure that international travel is in collaboration with our colleagues in Northern Ireland, with the UK Government, with the European Union and beyond.

"Among the decisions that we make today is one to make sure that the current travel regulations applicable to persons who travel into Ireland from overseas also applies with respect to passengers who route their journeys via Northern Ireland.

"We're going to amend the passenger location regulations to require all inbound passengers, including those going on to Northern Ireland, to provide place of residence address on the form.

Reporting by PA

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