The Taoiseach has warned that the lockdown could be extended once again if people ease up on following the restrictions in the coming days.

Leo Varadkar was speaking after the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) warned that people were starting to move around more even though the public health advice had not changed.

Speaking at Government Buildings this afternoon, Mr Varadkar said any hopes of easing restrictions on Mat 5th are “in our hands as a society.”

“If we do the right thing for the next 11 days; if we continue to wash our hands, engage in respiratory etiquette, keep our distance from other people and follow the guidelines set down by the CMO – that really increases our prospects of being able to ease restrictions from the 5th of May,” he said.

“Anyone who is thinking of breaking those restrictions – even if it just for a few hours or an afternoon or an evening – should bear in mind the consequences.

“It could be having to extend the current lockdown for two or three more weeks and that is not worth it just for a few hours of breach and I would really ask other people to accept that message.”

The National Public Health Emergency Team deliver the latest COVID-19 update, 23-04-2020. Image: Rory Walsh/Newstalk

CMO Dr Tony Holohan last night announced 28 further COVID-19 related deaths and 936 new confirmed cases.

He showed two graphs, one displaying seismic activity and one displaying mobility data from Apple Maps, which both showed an increase in activity.

Mr Varadkar said he was not trying to “wave the big stick” and insisted officials would continue to “use the power of persuasion” to try and get people to follow the guidelines.

He said the public has enough common sense to see that officials will be looking at all the available COVID-19 data in the coming days before making any decision on restrictions

“One of the big fears the CMO has is what we call anticipatory behaviour,” he said.

“You will recall that when the restrictions were being put in place, in many ways people knew what was going to happen and they anticipated it in advance.

“People cocooned before we asked them to. Shops closed, gyms closed and restaurants closed before we asked them to.

“In many ways that was a good thing but the reverse can happen in the recovery phase. People anticipating and easing and engaging in social contact again that can allow the virus to spread.

“The fact we are seeing that anticipatory behaviour, that people are already starting to be more lax in what they are doing is a real worry and it is going to make it harder to come out of this.”

He was speaking at the launch of the #InThisTogether campaign, encouraging people to ‘Stay Connected, Stay Active & Stay Mentally Well’ during the Covid-19 crisis.

The campaign involves a range of wellbeing initiatives community, local and national agencies and organisations.