The Government is monitoring countries that have eased COVID-19 restrictions before it decides on the best way to follow suit.

The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said a step-by-step plan for easing restrictions will be published before the May 5th deadline.

As part of the that process, officials are watching what happens in countries that have experienced a second wave of the virus.

Japan and Singapore have reported an increase in cases after easing restrictions.

Restrictions

At a briefing this afternoon, senior Government Official Elizabeth Canavan said any easing will have to go hand-in-hand with continued social distancing.

“We understand there is considerable interest and concern about the topic of easing of restrictions and what the exit strategy might be and when those restrictions might end,” she said.

“The current public health advice extended all restrictions to the 5th of May.

“It is important to note that all of those restrictions will remain in place until the National Public Health Emergency Team gives the Government further advice.”

She said officials are learning more about how the virus behave every day and warned that any easing of restrictions will be gradual.

She also warned that the “road to return for sports needs to be gradual and will at all times be guided by public health experts.”

UK "peak"

It comes as the UK’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Britain was now experiencing the “peak” of the outbreak.

He said the restrictions in the UK would not be eased until five tests set down by the UK Government have been reached.

The five tests are:

• Ensuring there is enough intensive care capacity across UK hospitals
• A sustained and consistent fall in daily death rates
• Reliable data showing the infection rate is falling to manageable levels
• The availability of enough personal protective equipment (PPE) to meet future demand
• Confidence that easing restrictions would not lead to a second peak

As of 5pm yesterday, 17,844 COVID-19 patients had died in hospitals across England Scotland and Wales.

The death toll on the island of Ireland stands at 946 – with 216 in Northern Irish hospitals and 730 in the Republic.

Figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency include deaths in care homes and in the community and suggest the death toll is at least one-third higher than the reported 216 figure.