<p>Ireland will be the first EU country to return to coronavirus lockdown, prime minister Micheal Martin said Monday, issuing a nationwide "stay at home" order but insisting schools will stay open.</p>.<p>Measures coming into effect for six weeks from midnight on Wednesday (2300 GMT) will see all non-essential retail businesses close and bars and restaurants limited to takeaway service only.</p>.<p>"Everyone in the country is being asked to stay at home," Martin said in a televised national address.</p>.<p>Only essential workers will be "permitted to travel to work", he said, and citizens will be allowed out to exercise only within five kilometres (three miles) of their residence.</p>.<p>The government warned in a statement that "there will be a penalty" for violating the five kilometre restriction.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-india-world-Covid-19-vaccine-bengaluru-karnataka-mumbai-maharashtra-chennai-tamil-nadu-delhi-kerala-uttar-pradesh-west-bengal-kolkata-cases-deaths-recoveries-health-ministry-Oxford-904435#1" target="_blank"><strong>For latest updates on Coronavirus outbreak, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>Martin said schools and childcare facilities are to remain open "because we cannot and will not allow our children and young people's futures to be another victim of this disease."</p>.<p>A ban on visits between different households and indoor events will also be extended, although elite and professional level sports will be permitted to take place behind closed doors.</p>.<p>Martin said Ireland's latest restrictions were "probably Europe's strictest regime" but that "further action is now required".</p>.<p>"If we pull together over the next six weeks, we will have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in a meaningful way," he said.</p>.<p>There have been 1,852 deaths from the coronavirus in Ireland according to the latest official figures.</p>.<p>Daily deaths peaked at 77 in April and in recent weeks have consistently remained in the single digits.</p>.<p>On Monday no new deaths were registered in the daily toll.</p>.<p>However like many other nations the Republic is witnessing a resurgence in confirmed infections of the virus, with 1,031 new cases registered on Monday.</p>
<p>Ireland will be the first EU country to return to coronavirus lockdown, prime minister Micheal Martin said Monday, issuing a nationwide "stay at home" order but insisting schools will stay open.</p>.<p>Measures coming into effect for six weeks from midnight on Wednesday (2300 GMT) will see all non-essential retail businesses close and bars and restaurants limited to takeaway service only.</p>.<p>"Everyone in the country is being asked to stay at home," Martin said in a televised national address.</p>.<p>Only essential workers will be "permitted to travel to work", he said, and citizens will be allowed out to exercise only within five kilometres (three miles) of their residence.</p>.<p>The government warned in a statement that "there will be a penalty" for violating the five kilometre restriction.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-india-world-Covid-19-vaccine-bengaluru-karnataka-mumbai-maharashtra-chennai-tamil-nadu-delhi-kerala-uttar-pradesh-west-bengal-kolkata-cases-deaths-recoveries-health-ministry-Oxford-904435#1" target="_blank"><strong>For latest updates on Coronavirus outbreak, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>Martin said schools and childcare facilities are to remain open "because we cannot and will not allow our children and young people's futures to be another victim of this disease."</p>.<p>A ban on visits between different households and indoor events will also be extended, although elite and professional level sports will be permitted to take place behind closed doors.</p>.<p>Martin said Ireland's latest restrictions were "probably Europe's strictest regime" but that "further action is now required".</p>.<p>"If we pull together over the next six weeks, we will have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in a meaningful way," he said.</p>.<p>There have been 1,852 deaths from the coronavirus in Ireland according to the latest official figures.</p>.<p>Daily deaths peaked at 77 in April and in recent weeks have consistently remained in the single digits.</p>.<p>On Monday no new deaths were registered in the daily toll.</p>.<p>However like many other nations the Republic is witnessing a resurgence in confirmed infections of the virus, with 1,031 new cases registered on Monday.</p>