(Bloomberg) --
Ireland introduced new curbs, extended existing restrictions and laid out plans to spend another 3.7 billion euros ($4 billion) on fighting the impact of the coronavirus, as the government warned that more 400,000 jobs are at risk.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar limited outdoor gatherings to four people, while all sport events will be canceled. Non-essential shops will close and restaurants limited to take away or delivery only. Current restrictions -- including school closures -- were extended until April 19.
The measures come a day after the number of Irish coronavirus cases moved past 1,000, with six deaths.
“We need to do more, we need to flatten the curve” of new cases, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told reporters in Dublin. While the measures appear strong, they didn’t represent a lock down of the country, Varadkar said.
Ireland was among the first EU countries to bring in sweeping measures to counter the virus, including closing schools and pubs while asking people to work from home where possible. Still, most countries in the bloc have since brought in tighter controls. The U.K., which has a land border with the Irish Republic, has partly locked down for at least three weeks from today.
The government also boosted supports for workers whose job is impacted by the coronavirus. An initial estimate of 400,000 jobs at risk in the crisis may prove ``conservative,” Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty said.
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