COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
The COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland is part of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus reached the country in late February 2020 and within three weeks, cases had been confirmed in all counties. The pandemic affected many aspects of society. The government shut all schools, colleges, childcare facilities and cultural institutions on 12 March 2020. All large gatherings were cancelled, including St Patrick's Day festivities two years running. On 24 March 2020, almost all businesses, venues and amenities were shut, and on 27 March, the first stay-at-home order banned all non-essential travel and contact with other people. The elderly and those with certain illnesses were told to cocoon. People were made to keep apart in public. The Oireachtas passed an emergency act giving the state power to detain people, restrict travel and keep people in their homes to control the virus's spread. Further emergency law passed the following week. The Garda Síochána were given power to enforce the lockdown, which was repeatedly extended until late May.

The Republic's first lockdown was the longest in Europe, especially for hospitality and retail. It caused a severe recession and an unprecedented rise in unemployment. A Pandemic Unemployment Payment and a Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme were set up. School exams were cancelled. The Health Service Executive (HSE) launched a recruitment campaign, asking all current and former healthcare workers to "be on call for Ireland". By mid-April, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) reported that the pandemic's growth rate had been driven "as low as it needs to be", and the curve had flattened.

Daily cases and deaths dropped to low levels by June and restrictions were gradually lifted, while schools remained closed for summer break. Pubs remained shut, the longest such closure in Europe. In August, a three-week regional lockdown was imposed in three counties following a spike in cases linked to meat processing plants. Schools re-opened in September. This was followed by a surge in cases, and in October another statewide lockdown was imposed, excluding schools. In early December, Ireland's infection rate was the lowest in the European Union, and restrictions were eased. 

There was another surge in late December, and on 24 December (Christmas Eve), another statewide lockdown was imposed. This was soon tightened to include schools, and was one of the strictest in the world. On St Stephen's Day, the first shipment of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine arrived, and vaccinations began on 29 December. In February 2021, the government imposed testing and quarantine rules on all incoming travellers for the first time. Serious cases fell sharply, and schools re-opened in March. The lockdown began to be gradually lifted from May, although unlike most of Europe, indoor hospitality remained shut.
By 1 July 2021, the Department of Health had confirmed 272,784 cases and 5,000 deaths. More than 90% of those who have died were aged over 65, and 93% had underlying conditions or lived in care homes with a median age of death at 82 years old. As of 29 June 2021, 2,443,921 people had received the first dose of a vaccine and 1,593,517 had received their second dose.
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COVID-19 pandemic
Concept
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severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Concept
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LOC
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government
ORG
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Concept
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Concept
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lockdown
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COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
Concept
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February 2020
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12 March 2020
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24 March 2020
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February 2021
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1 July 2021
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29 June 2021
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