The Government is this morning expected to publish a full list of the workers it classes as essential.

It comes after the Taoiseach announced a nationwide lockdown until Easter Sunday in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19.

As of midnight last night, members of the public have been ordered not to leave their homes except in limited circumstances.

People can go out side to shop for essential items, pick up medicines and health, attend medical appointments and exercise within 2km of their homes.

People are only permitted to go to work if it is deemed essential and if it can’t be done from the home.

Last night, the Government said the full list of essential workers would be published “as early as possible” today.

In the meantime, an updated list of shops and retailers that can remain open has been published.

• Food retailers and wholesalers.
• Shops selling “household consumer products necessary to maintain the safety and sanitation” of homes and businesses.
• Pharmacies and chemists.
• Specialised shops selling medical and orthopaedic goods.
• Petrol station and heating fuel providers.
• Pet shops.
• Laundries and drycleaners.
• Banks, Post Offices and Credit Unions.
• Shops selling safety supplies like work clothes and Personal Protective Equipment.

Any outlet that does remain open must put in place strict social distancing measures.

Gardaí have launched a major operation to ensure the public complies with all the new coronavirus restrictions and members will be visiting venues and outlets to ensure they are enforcing the measures.

Meanwhile some other outlets are permitted to operate call-out or delivery services.

• opticians/optometrists.
• Mechanics and bicycle repair shops.
• Hardware stores, builder’s suppliers and gardening outlets.
• Office supply stores.
• Electrical stores.
• IT and phone sales, repair and maintenance services for the home.

Announcing the measures last night, the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “These are radical actions aimed at saving as many lives as possible in the days and weeks ahead.”

“Freedom was hard won in our country and it jars with us to restrict and limit individual liberties, even temporarily.

“But freedom is not an abstract concept. We give it meaning every single day – in the way we live our lives and in the decisions we take willingly to protect our loved ones.

“So, I am asking people to give meaning to our freedom and liberty by agreeing to these restrictions.  Restricting how we live our lives so that so that others may live.”

The full list of services deemed essential enough to continue will be published later this morning.

The Government is advising any service that considers itself essential to remain open until the list is published.