Full-scale Level 5 lockdown being imposed for January to halt rapid spread of virus

A full Level-5 Lockdown is being imposed on Ireland for the month of January.

The action has been agreed by the cabinet due to the rapid spread of cases throughout the country.

The measures include a ban on all household visits from midnight, the closure of non-essential retail from the close of business tomorrow and a 5km limit on travel.

Gyms and swimming pools will also close.

Other restrictions include the closure of sports including golf and tennis.

But elite and professional sport like Gaelic games and horse racing can continued behind closed doors.

The Christmas holiday for schools has been extended to January 11

Primary and secondary schools were to due to reopen on Wednesday, January 6.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin revealed the news to the national, expressing his concern over the need for urgent action to halt the spread of the virus and "protect the lives of those we love."

'We will come to terms with this situation and will we repair our economy.

"We must stay at home and avoid contact with others," he stated.

He added the current wave is different and more challenging than had been experienced in the previous waves.