Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has issued a public plea asking people not to travel to their seaside holiday homes over the Easter Holidays.
The call comes amid fears of large numbers of seasonal visitors travelling to rural areas for the weekend and potentially spreading Covid-19.
People who own a holiday home or take holidays in campervans are being warned that they could put communities at risk.
Taking to Twitter today, the Taoiseach pleaded with people not to harm the positive impact that social distancing has had so far.
He said: “Please do not visit a holiday home or caravan park this Easter weekend.
“The spread of the virus is slowing but people travelling could give it a boost – spreading it and seeding it in areas unaffected so far.
“Stay at home and flatten the curve.”
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has also urged people with second homes not to travel to them.
Speaking earlier today, Donegal Deputy Charlie McConalogue said that visitors will be welcomed back to Donegal when public health is not at stake.
Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue said: “Every Easter, we see an influx of people to towns and villages right across the county, who provide a boost to the local economy. This year that is simply not an option, and I am urging our seasonal visitors to please stay at home this bank holiday weekend.
“The time will come again when they will be welcomed back, but we are simply not there yet and we have to put public health first. I would be very worried about people coming into our county to their second homes when they should be staying in their own communities to contain the spread of the virus as much as possible.”
