Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that the Republic of Ireland will face some of its darkest days in the weeks ahead.
In a video message posted on Twitter, Mr Varadkar said that the country is preparing to reach its Covid-19 peak later this month.
“The number of hospitalisations and sadly the number of deaths continues to rise,” he said.
“So we cannot lost focus. We cannot lessen our efforts. In fact, we need to redouble them for the next few weeks.
“It’s more important than ever that we persevere. It’s possible that we haven’t seen the peak yet.
“When it comes, perhaps later this month, we will experience some of our darkest days. So we need to maintain our discipline and resolve in the knowledge that better days are to come.”
Your actions are making a difference. The spread of the virus is slowing. It’s more important than ever that we persevere. Taking what we have learned we will build a better society at the end of this — a great society for a great people. Happy Easter. pic.twitter.com/elLd4XKc9O
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) April 12, 2020
Mr Varadkar added: “So today – whether we have faith or not – let us remember the Easter message, a message of suffering and sacrifice followed by rebirth and renewal and, above all, a message of hope as winter turns to spring.
“When this emergency ends we will mourn the dead, comfort the bereaved and be together again.
“We will re-awaken the sleeping giant that is our economy, our people will go back to work and our businesses will reopen, and taking what we’ve learned, we will build a better society at the end of this – a great society for a great people.”
