Marts will have to shut under new restrictions announced by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Farm-to-farm trading will be the only option for farmers to sell their cattle from midnight on Tuesday 24 March 2020.

Despite hopes that marts could continue operating using strict new social distancing protocols, the national lockdown announced by An Taoiseach on Tuesday afternoon included the closing of marts. They will now be closed until at least Sunday 19 April.

All restrictions, including the closure of schools, will be extended to that date also.

Thanks

The Taoiseach said more needed to be done to “flatten the curve”, saying that people should only leave home if their attendance at work was essential.

Along with marts, midnight theatres, clubs, gyms and hairdressers will also close and the Taoiseach said only those businesses identified had to close.

The Taoiseach thanked healthcare workers first and foremost but also thanked farmers and those working in food production for their efforts in tackling the challenged posed by COVID-19.

More to follow…