Mayo retail sector won't fully reopen until May

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has stated that Mayo businesses - including non-essential retail and hairdressers - won't be able to reopen until at least the end of April or early May.

He told Newstalk the easing of restrictions will be 'quite limited' on April 5.

Relaxing the 5km travel limit, allowing small outdoor gatherings and reopening construction, are likely to be the first changes in a 'slow' reopening, he explained.

He also suggested businesses like shops and hairdressers will open before hospitality, and all of those things will reopen before mass gatherings can resume.

Resuming sports training will also come be under consideration as part of easing restrictions next month, although there may need to be rules around how that operates.

“We don’t want to move too fast, and then end up falling backwards,” he added.