Taoiseach Leo Varadkar delivered a special St Patrick's Day message this evening where he stressed the importance of social distancing and asked the nation to come together to help combat the surge of Covid-19.
The Taoiseach said, "This is a St Patrick's Day like no other.. which saw everyone staying at hone to protect each other.
"We're in the middle of a national emergency... there will be 15,000 more cases by the end of month and they will rise further after that."
Social distancing is still the main message Varadkar is pushing, urging business and industry to make social distancing workable by staggering breaks, bringing in adjusted working hours, asking people to shopping online and get things delivered.
Varadkar added "we're asking people to come together as a nation by staying apart."
The Taoiseach also said that the elderly will be asked to 'cocoon' themselves for a number of weeks and said they will be supported to do that.
He also urged young people to keep practicing social distancing and to be of help to their parents.
