Doctors are urging people to maintain social distancing and stay ay home this bank holiday weekend.

According to the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), which represents doctors nationwide, the importance of every person's actions during the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be underestimated.

IMO president, Dr Padraig McGarry, thanked the public for all that they have done during the crisis and said that healthcare workers have so much appreciation for the sacrifices they are making.

"As tough as it is to be apart from loved ones and friends for such a long period of time, we must remember that we are doing the right thing by keeping our distance from each other and following the guidelines of the Government and public health experts.

"The extraordinary sacrifices that the public have made have had a huge impact and will not be forgotten. However, we must continue to keep our guard up because this virus has not been beaten yet," Dr McGarry said.

He emphasised that every decision people make "can be the difference between life and death and will have significant repercussions down the line".

"Whether those repercussions are positive or negative depends on us all. This is a challenge that we must face together as a society. It is difficult, but we can overcome it through maintaining the solidarity that has been on show ever since COVID-19 emerged in Ireland," he commented.

Dr McGarry acknowledged that life in Ireland has "changed utterly" this year and the consequences of the virus will be felt for a very long time.

"People need to prepare for the fact that a return to some kind of normality won't come overnight, but rather in planned phases," he noted.

Meanwhile Dr McGarry also reminded people that other healthcare needs "have not gone away".

"Our healthcare workers are still here providing assistance and treatment for a range of issues in a safe environment, so make sure you get in touch with your GP or emergency services immediately if you experience any symptoms that concern you. It is also important that children present for routine vaccinations as normal," he added.