“We are all the more together for having had to turn and walk away”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar quotes the late poet Seamus Heaney today in trying to encapsulate the overall sacrifice made by the people of Ireland in lessening the spread of coronavirus.
An extension of Coronavirus restrictions up to Tuesday, May 5th has been announced by the Taoiseach this afternoon.
Leo Varadkar addressed a press conference at Government Buildings. The initial restrictions were due to expire on Sunday.
The National Public Health Emergency Team has been meeting to consider the medical advice and how long restrictions should remain in place.
The Taoiseach said ”To the Irish people I say thank your for your forbearance the sacrifices you’ve made so far. I know many people are feeling frustrated and captive… we all want to be outside, we want to see the mountains and the sea, we want to be free.
Every sacrifice we make is helping to save lives, it’s making sure our health service is not overwhelmed…
We’ve been able to interrupt the spread of the virus… we’ve slowed the spread of the virus considerably but we have not stopped its spread. Too many people have died and sadly more will die.
Today’s message is we cannot be complacent or lose focus. We have to keep going. WE need to persevere and we need to maintain our discipline and resolve.”
