Ireland to quicken easing of lockdown: PM

DUBLIN: Ireland will dramatically accelerate its plan to ease coronavirus lockdown restrictions in the coming days, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Friday.

"Today I can confirm that it is safe to move to phase two of the plan to reopen our country starting on Monday," Varadkar told a press conference.

"I'm also announcing an acceleration of the roadmap."

More workplaces will open and household visits will be permitted from Monday in line with the government plan to reopen the Republic announced in May.

However an escalation of the scheme will see citizens allowed to travel across their county of residence and/or up to 20 kilometres (12 miles) from home.

All shops will also be permitted to reopen whilst the final stage of the "roadmap" to end lockdown -- in place since 28 March -- will be brought forward from August to July.

Playgrounds will reopen while the government now intends to allow hotels, restaurants and bars serving food to resume trade on June 29.

"We are making progress, we are heading in the right direction, and we have earned the right to be hopeful about the future again," Varadkar said.

Ireland has suffered 1,664 deaths from the coronavirus, according to official figures.

Recorded deaths peaked at 77 in a single day in April, but by Thursday that figure had fallen to just five.

The Republic last Monday registered its first day without any COVID-19 deaths in more than two months, one week after entering the first phase of its plan to leave lockdown.

"We've proved we can suppress the virus, but now we do face another test," said health minister Simon Harris. "We must prove we can live alongside it and keep it weak at the same time."

The easing includes provisions for shops to hold staggered opening hours and social distancing measures to remain in place. "We must remain careful, cautious vigilant, and together," Harris added.

Finance minister Paschal Donohoe announced Friday that a government wage subsidy scheme enacted when the nation entered lockdown will be extended until the end of August.

To date, 1.37 billion ($1.55 billion) euros has been paid to half a million employees.

But he warned "this support cannot last forever" and he expected to see a continued decline in reliance on the scheme.