Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald says any business premises that cannot practice safe social distancing should close in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

She also said the Government needs to step up and do more.

And she criticised "mixed messages" that were being sent out from officials.

She told On the Record: "I think we have a bit of a dilemma at this point... on the one hand it is absolutely essential that we have a sense of composure and calm - because not alone can we get through this crisis, but we will get through it.

"But we also have to be very realistic in terms of the kinds of measures that need to be taken to keep us safe.

"I am concerned Gavan that tens of thousands of workers and their families are doing everything by the book - observing social distancing, keeping their kids and themselves and their elderly parents or grandparents safe.

"And yet tens of thousands of these workers are returning to workplaces - factory floors, to construction sites, to other places - where it's just not possible to practice social distancing".

She added: "I think we need to make it possible for people to adopt safe behaviours - and that includes businesses people who rightly are looking at an almost disastrous situation.

"So we need to have the right income supports, we need to have the right welfare supports to make it possible for people to do the things that are safe.

"And then we need leadership from the top in a clam, considered but decisive way.

"I don't believe that we should be allowing any worker - and by extension their family - to continue in harms ways.

"People certainly are telling me, in very large numbers, that they are going to work but they know that they are not safe".

"I want every workplace where it is not possible to have safe social distancing and where workers are in danger... yes, I believe that those concerns and businesses need to close."

"I think as things stand we're sending out mixed messages to people.

"On the one hand we're saying take responsibility, act responsibly - which is absolutely spot on.

"But at the same time we're ignoring perhaps the elephant in the room - which is that we know that people when they then go to work are in environments and circumstances where they cannot live up to those standards".