Inishowen moves to Level 5 at midnight tomorrow as Government tries to save lives and hopes for Christmas celebrations

"Many people have done everything that has been asked of them. But some have not. As Taoiseach I am asking everyone again to take this threat seriously," he said, announcing the tightening of restrictions on Monday evening.

"It is my firm belief that the core responsibility of your Government and your Taoiseach is to protect lives and to protect public health, while also protecting livelihoods and supporting the wider economy and society. That is what we have done and it is what we will continue to do.

"We work to suppress the virus when it is growing, and we work to reopen as much of our society and economy as possible when it is safe to do so.

"Until we have a safe vaccine, we must continue in that pattern," he added.

While schools will remain opening many activities and much industry will be curtailed for the next six weeks.

For example, there will no social or family gatherings in homes or gardens, but visits on compassionate grounds and for caring purposes can continue

Weddings will be maintained at 25 guest only.

Restaurants, cafes and bars will be permitted to provide takeaway services only

Only essential retail may remain open.

People are being asked to stay at home, although exercise will be permitted within a 5km radius of people's homes.

Only essential workers, including construction and most manufacturing workers, whose physical presence in the workplace are permitted to travel to work.

Mr. Martin said: "I understand, and I feel very personally and profoundly the sense of disappointment, the feelings of loneliness, perhaps even the despair that this announcement will bring for many.

"The days are getting shorter and colder. But I ask you to remember this.

"Even as the winter comes in, there is hope. And there is light. If we pull hard together over the next six weeks, we will have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in a meaningful way.

"Every Christmas is important, but this year it is particularly so. Each of us have our own rituals for Christmas, and they will take on extra poignancy this year as we remember those who didn’t survive 2020.

"Not only those who have been taken by the virus, but also all those others who passed away this year and didn’t get the wakes and funerals and goodbyes that we as a people are so good at, and which they deserved.

"It won’t be the same Christmas that we have enjoyed in years past, but if we all pull together and follow the spirit of these new rules, it will be a very special time and will give us all some respite from the hardship of the last seven months.

"If each of us does what is asked of us for a period of just six weeks, we will suppress this virus and we will emerge from these restrictions on December 1."