Gardai given new emergency powers amid COVID-19 pandemic

The measures, which were signed off by cabinet on Tuesday and signed into law on Tuesday night include a maximum of six months in prison or a E2500 fine for anyone convicted.

People have been asked to stay at home and only exercise within 2km, except to gather goods such as groceries or medicines, if they are an essential worker or have to care for a member of familys.

Gardai have been operating checkpoints, but up until now, were only able to advise people to return home if they found them flouting the regulations. They can now force them to return home.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said the powers would be used ‘sparingly and only if needed.’

The new Garda powers are expected to remain in place until Easter Sunday, the same day as restrictions are due to end. However, it is widely expected the restrictions will be extended.

People across the north and south have been urged to stay at home this Easter bank holiday weekend.

Tasoiseach Leo Varadkar took to Twitter to ask that people do not visit a holiday home or caravan park this Easter weekend.

He said: ‘The spread of the virus is slowing but people travelling could give it a boost - spreading and seeding it in areas unaffected so far. Stay at home and flatten the curve.’

On Tuesday, it was confirmed that six of 36 new deaths from COVID-19 confirmed by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre in the south were of people in the north-west. The 36 patients included 17 females and 19 males.

Twenty-four (66.6%) patients were reported as having underlying health conditions and the median age of today’s reported deaths is 81.

There have now been 210 COVID-19 related deaths in the south. The median age of deaths in Iis 81. The mean age of deaths is 79.

There were 345 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the 26 counties, as at 1pm, Tuesday 7 April.

There are now 5,709 confirmed cases of COVID-19 the south.