Ireland Partially Shuts Down as Virus Outbreak Worsens

(Bloomberg) --

Irish authorities will close schools, colleges and childcare centers, and limit indoor and outdoor gatherings in a bid to slow down the spread of the coronavirus.

The closures will run until March 29, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said in Washington Thursday. Indoor mass gatherings of more than 100 people or outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people should be canceled, he said.

The coronavirus “will continue to spread, but it can be slowed,” Varadkar said.

Cultural institutions and tourist attractions will also close, while people should work from home if they can do so, he said. Public transport will operate , and stores and cafes will also stay open. This week, the government canceled the nation’s annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, as concern around the coronavirus outbreak escalated.

“We are asking people to stay apart,” Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said, adding “thousands” of lives can be saved by the right measures.

There are 43 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ireland so far, with one death. Clusters have emerged, and some patients are in intensive care, authorities said.

Irish shares fell in line with the rest of Europe, with the ISEQ Overall Index dropping 6.7% to at 12:10 p.m. in Dublin.

To contact the reporter on this story: Peter Flanagan in Dublin at pflanagan23@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ambereen Choudhury at achoudhury@bloomberg.net, Dara Doyle

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.