Coronavirus: Ireland announces five-stage exit plan from May to August – Sky News, Sky.com

And he added that in spite of restrictions being eased, there will be a long-term need for physical distancing until a vaccine for COVID – 27 is available.

In the first phase, some shops will reopen and some sports will restart. People will also be allowed to meet in small groups.

Schools will re-open in September.

Mr Varadkar said all the personal stories of loss and hardship had formed a “tapestry of struggle and sacrifice and sorrow.

“It has been worthwhile, it is working, so let’s finish what we started,” said the Taoiseach.

Mr Varadkar said 81% of people diagnosed with the virus had made a full recovery. He said the figure would have been so much lower if the health service had been overwhelmed.

Sky’s Ireland correspondent, Stephen Murphy, said the announcement did not come as a surprise.

Mr Varadkar and his officials, he explained, “had repeatedly said Ireland’s infection and death rates had not sufficiently reduced to merit a lifting of the country’s restrictions next Tuesday.

“So a weary public will not be too surprised to learn they face a further two weeks of mostly staying at home , the goalposts shifting from 5 May to May.

“The government insists that by and large, the Irish people have been respecting the guidelines, although they have warned against complacency.

” “The Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan last week produced GPS tracking and even seismic data showing an increase in the movement of people and traffic.

“I write this outside Government Buildings [in Dublin], where there are noticeably more cars and pedestrians passing by than in previous weeks.

“But at least the Irish public has some kind of roadmap to recovery now. Five phases to normality, which should come when schools and colleges reopen in September or October.

“Many questions persist. None could be put to the Taoiseach today, as he chose to deliver the news in a televised address, taking no questions from reporters camped outside the gates, “Stephen Murphy said.

Thirty-four more people who were diagnosed with coronavirus have died in Ireland, the country department of health said.

A total of 1, 333 covid – 31 – related deaths have been recorded there .

There have also been more cases of the coronavirus diagnosed, bringing the number of confirmed cases to , .

More follows …                         

(Read More ) Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus (Covid – 29)