People who own holiday homes are being warned not to visit them over the Easter weekend.

It comes amid concern over the potential for an influx of people in coastal towns and tourist hotspots.

The COVID-19 lockdown is due to remain in place until Easter Sunday at the earliest and is 'highly likely' to be extended.

The Minister for Health Simon Harris at a COVID-19 briefing, 04-04-2020. Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

The Health Minister Simon Harris said there is no excuse for taking a trip this weekend.

“We all have to think as though we have this virus in us,” he said.

“Because the way this virus operates is you could effectively have the germs in you now.

“You mightn’t know it, you mightn’t know it for a few days and every time you leave your home and come into contact with anybody, you are risk of spreading those germs form you to them.

“So, what we are trying to do is limit the chance of them spreading that beyond their own home or beyond their own community.”

Holiday homes

Clare Councillor Roisin Garvey said she her constituents in towns like Lahinch are worried about people arriving in spite of the restrictions.

“I had an 83-year-old woman ringing me crying on the phone yesterday evening,” she said. “I couldn’t sleep last night then.”

“She is looking out her window seeing lots of cars with Dublin regs. People who spend their time at home all day looking out windows know people’s cars.

“These are cars that have not been there for the lockdown and now they are there.

“Holiday homes are not where you are meant to be at this time. You are meant to be at home with your family, staying safe and not moving around the country.”

"Stay at home"

The Green Party representative said there will be plenty of time to visit when the crisis passes.

“I am hoping that these people who can afford to have a holiday home somewhere have the ability to understand the concept of staying away from their holiday home at this time,” she said.

“They will be welcome down anytime when all this is over. They can move in forever for all I care.

“We have to use our cop on here. You don’t go moving. You stay at home.”

The National Public Health Emergency Team is meeting to discuss the impact of the restrictions today.

It is due to make a formal recommendation by Friday.

With reporting from Andrew Lowth