An independent TD is calling for COVID-19 restrictions to be relaxed in areas with lower numbers of cases.

Roscommon/Galway TD Denis Naughten said there are many areas with low rates of infection where people could safely return to work and socially distance.

As of midnight on Monday, there were over 9,500 cases in Dublin - while Leitrim had only reported 67.

Deputy Naughten said rural areas offer an opportunity to safely see the impact of reducing restrictions.

“These areas you could maybe reduce restrictions a bit more,” he said.

“See the impact it has on the communities, on getting people back to work and any risk associated with the spread of the disease before you would actually implement that in some of the cities where you have particular problems with COVID-19.”

Carlow, Leitrim, Longford, Roscommon, Sligo, Waterford and Wexford all account for less than 1% of the country’s cases.

Meanwhile, Clare, Kilkenny, Laois all Offaly all account for just over 1%.

It comes as a new survey warns that 85% of Irish businesses have closed their doors to some degree due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

The Chambers Ireland research notes that most businesses will need at least two weeks’ notice to reopen – with a quarter requiring at least a month.

The business group is calling for the publication of a clear roadmap for reopening the economy to allow businesses to prepare.

Grafton Street in Dublin City Centre, 29-04-2020. Image: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews

Deputy Naughten said the emergency legislation allows for the restrictions to be relaxed at different paces in different areas.

“The restrictions have been brought in solely for the purpose of reducing infections across the country,” he said.

“The law that was brought in allowed for particular areas to have different variations of restrictions and I think it is an opportunity for the Government to try out a relaxation of the restrictions in these areas where there is little risk of people being infected.”

On Newstalk Breakfast yesterday, outgoing Minister of State John Halligan noted that there is little data available on the adverse health effects of the lockdown.

He called for Ireland to follow the example of other countries in Europe and begin relaxing restrictions on a regional basis.

Last night the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan gave his strongest indication yet that he won’t be recommending a lifting of restrictions next week.

The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government would only ease restrictions when they are told it is “safe to do so” by health officials.