Gardaí are in place stopping any further visitors from coming to Lahinch’s public car park.
As reported by The Clare Echo on Saturday, Cllr Roisin Garvey (GP) and Cllr Shane Talty (FF) appealed to members of the public that were considering travelling to Lahinch on Mother’s Day not to do so. “Stay away or be turned away”, Cllr Garvey stated.
Not everyone adhered to their request and on Sunday afternoon, two Garda patrol cars blocked off access to the car park which is owned and operated by Clare County Council from 3pm. Their presence came following a request by Cllr Garvey to Chief Executive of the local authority, Pat Dowling.
Gardaí close off public car park in Lahinch https://t.co/SryEc3MIGe #COVIDー19 pic.twitter.com/lxN3Nby5ZP
— The Clare Echo (@ClareEcho) March 22, 2020
Clare Civil Defence issued Covid-19 information leaflets in Kilkee on Sunday while the County Council confirmed it was working with Gardaí “to increase public awareness about social distancing”.
“Social distancing is important to help slow the spread of coronavirus. It does this by minimising contact between potentially infected individuals and healthy individuals,” the HSE have outlined in published guidelines.
Members of the public are to keep a distance of 2 metres (6.5 feet) between each other, reduce interactions with people outside the workplace and home, reduce the number of people you meet every day, avoid crowded places, avoid communal sleeping areas and work from home where possible. Do not shake hands with other people or make close contact.