“By all of us working together, we can flatten the curve and keep our loved ones safe.”
An Garda Síochána has released details of a major nationwide policing operation in order to ensure that new restrictions announced by the government are adhered to.
On Friday evening, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar revealed the measures, effectively amounting to a two-week lockdown for the general public.
In response, a high visibility of patrolling Garda personnel will be present across Ireland during the weekend. The operation will run until 7pm on Monday 30 March and will involve thousands of Gardaí on foot, bike and mobile patrols.
A statement issued by An Garda Síochána on Friday night acknowledges that the vast majority of the public are acting responsibly while making “great efforts” to implement health and safety measures including social distancing.
However, Gardaí note that the presence of large crowds in any one area significantly reduces this impact and will intervene where venues and outlets are found to be not in compliance or where groups of people are not adhering to guidelines.
Individuals and families are asked to continue to be responsible and not to attend popular locations for overly long periods of time, and where the number of persons starts to increase at any location to leave such areas.
“It is vital that people adhere to the social distancing guidelines. This will reduce the spread of Covid-19 and save lives,” said Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
“The vast majority of people are complying with the guidelines and we want that to continue this weekend. By all of us working together, we can flatten the curve and keep our loved ones safe.”
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