LEO VARADKAR has warned the Irish public that it could face a further two to three weeks of lockdown if people disobey the restrictions currently in place.
The government and National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is due to meet to discuss whether some of the lockdown measures can be eased after the deadline on the current restrictions passes on May 5.
However, the Taoiseach has warned that those plans could depend on people sticking to the rules until then, amid increasingly concerns some members of the public are beginning to flout the restrictions.
"Anyone who's thinking of breaking those restrictions, even just for a few hours, or an afternoon or an evening, bear in mind the consequences could be having to extend the current lock-down by two or three weeks and that’s not worth it,” he said.
Under the current rules, the public must regularly wash their hands properly, maintain a two-metre distance from one another while outside, avoid all non-essential travel and say within 2km of their residence when exercising.
Mr Varadkar also reminded the public that gardaí have “very strong enforcement powers” though he added: “I’d prefer to use the power of persuasion.”
It comes amid concern from the government abdnd Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan that people are beginning to breach restrictions in anticipation of them being eased.
“People are are already starting to be more lax in what they’re doing is a real worry and it’s going to make it harder to end this,” Mr Varadkar said.
The warning was echoed by Dr Holohan, who believes people are starting to get complacent with the rules.
Dublin Bus, meanwhile, reported a notable increase in the number of daily passengers.
59,000 people used the service this past Wednesay, April 22, in an increase of 6,000 on the number reported on the say day over each of the previous three weeks.
It came as part of a growing trend, with 54,000 using the bus service on Monday and 56,000 on Tuesday.
Dublin Bus reported daily passenger numbers of around 59,000 on Wednesday.
That's up 6,000 on the average of 53,000 passengers for the same day on the three previous weeks.
Data also revealed a rise in the amount of traffic reported on roads across Ireland.
See More: Leo Varadkar, Lockdown
