The restrictions that are currently in place to stop the spread of COVID-19 have been extended until Tuesday, May 5.

These restrictions, which include the cocooning of people over the age of 70 and medically vulnerable groups, were announced in late March and were to run until Sunday, April 12. However, it was widely expected that this date would be extended.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday afternoon, the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, said that it is his "fervent hope" that after May 5, "we will be able to unwind the restrictions".

"But I cannot guarantee that is going to happen. It really does depend on what happens over the course of the next three weeks and how people respond to our call to continue the restrictions and continue those behaviours, such as social distancing, hand washing and coughing etiquette," he explained.

He said that if people continue to do what they are being asked, "we can be more hopeful that in three weeks time, we can begin to ease the restrictions".

"But they won't be eased in one go. They'll have to be done bit by bit, and we'll have to see if the virus starts to circulate and rise again once the restrictions are eased, because then they might have to be re-imposed," the Taoiseach pointed out.

Also speaking at the press conference, the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, said that while the last two weeks have been extremely difficult for many people, "we are doing this for our families, friends and communities".

"These last two weeks have made a real and meaningful difference. For example, just a couple of weeks ago, the rate of infection of this virus was growing at 33% a day. It is now below 10%, but we have to get it lower again," he noted.

He added that the additional powers given to Gardai to enforce travel restrictions, which were to apply for the long Easter weekend, will now be extended to May 5.

It has also been announced that this year's Leaving Cert will be postponed until late July or August, and the Junior Cycle has been cancelled.

According to the Minister for Education, Joe McHugh, plans are now being put in place for the postponed Leaving Cert examinations to begin in the last week of July or early August, "subject to public health advice".

Junior Cycle final examinations due to take place in June will be replaced by school-based exams and assessments held early in the new school year.

A series of other decisions has also been taken:
-As part of the wider public health measures, schools are closed until further notice
-Practical examinations for Leaving Cert students, which were due to have been held in May, are deferred. They will be rescheduled for late July/early August.
-The new Leaving Cert exam timetable will be confirmed in early June.

"All decisions we are taking in relation to rescheduling exams are based on current public health advice and put the best interests of students first. The welfare of students and that of their families is front and centre in all decision making.

"Students and their families have been seeking clarity. This announcement addresses that. It also provides them with several weeks of advance notice to prepare for the examinations. I hope it helps to alleviate some stress being experienced by students and their families at this time," Minister McHugh said.

COVID-19 is spread through close contact with an infected person's body fluids (e.g. droplets from coughing or sneezing), or by touching surfaces that an infected person has coughed or sneezed on. It can take up to 14 days for symptoms of the virus to show. These may include a fever, a persistent cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

COVID-19 can also cause more severe illnesses, including pneumonia and severe breathing difficulties. Some 80% of cases will be mild to moderate, 14% will be more severe, while 6% will be critical.

Restrictions in relation to COVID-19 are now in place until May 5. As part of these restrictions, everybody is being asked to stay at home, except in specific circumstances. These include:
-Travelling to and from work in circumstances where the work is an essential health, social care or other essential service that cannot be done from home
-To shop for essential food and household goods
-To attend medical appointments
-For vital family reasons, such as caring for children or elderly people
-To take brief individual exercise within your locality, which may include children from your household, however this should be within 2km of your home.

All public and private gatherings of any number of people outside a single household or living unit are prohibited.

Those over the age of 70 and medically vulnerable people are also being cocooned. For more information on this, click here.

ALONE, the organisation that supports older people to age at home, is running a national support line for older people facing difficulties due to COVID-19. The support line is open every day from 8am to 8pm, call 0818 222 024.

For more information on COVID-19, click here.