The Government is warning that Ireland is at a ‘tipping point’ as new coronavirus restrictions come into force.

Under the new guidelines, people are being asked to work from home wherever possible and avoid public transport.

All sporting events must now be played behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, officials are in talks with the Attorney General about handing Gardaí greater powers to enforce the rules.

The vulnerable and people over the age of 70 are being asked to limit their social interactions to a small group of people and only to shop during designated hours in supermarkets.

Visits to homes are now limited to six people from three households while outdoor gatherings of no more than 15 are allowed.

Tipping point

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says the country is at a crucial moment in its fight against the virus.

“We need to be honest with each other,” he said.

“Looking at the facts and listening to the medical experts, we are at a tipping point.

“Ireland’s rate of growth in new cases in the last two weeks is the fourth-highest in Europe. In the last two months we have gone from a low of 61 cases in one particular week to 533 last week.”

High-risk settings

The announcement came as 190 new confirmed cases were announced yesterday, along with one further death.

It takes the total number of cases to 27,499, and the death toll to 1,775.

Around 1,250 cases have been confirmed in the last two weeks alone; however, the acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn confirmed that up to 500 of these were either “directly or very closely related” to clusters in meat factories and Direct Provision centres.

He said other clusters around the country “may well have been feeders from those”; however, officials are not able to link the conclusively.

Socialising

Announcing the new rules, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin claimed that “a lot of people appear willing to take more risks” and made reference to an isolated incident in a Dublin bar last weekend.

"Many people seem to believe that if they or those they are socialising with have no symptoms, there is no problem,” he said.

"The fact is that a person can spread the virus without ever showing any symptoms.

The new rules are set to remain in force until September 13th.