'Stay home': Varadkar announces sweeping two-week lockdown

Irish taoiseach says new measures aimed at 'saving as many people's lives as possible'

The Irish government has announced sweeping restrictions that will put Ireland in a de facto lockdown to try to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, said on Friday evening that from midnight people should stay at home for two weeks, until 12 April, in a significant tightening of curbs on social and commercial life.