Laois, Offaly and Kildare have restrictions in place for two weeks.
Health officials are warning new Covid-19 restrictions in Kildare, Laois and Offaly could be extended to other areas.
People in the three counties must now stay within their own counties for two weeks, except for essential reasons like for work or medical appointments.
Regulations will be signed to put the regional lockdown on a legal footing while Garda checkpoints will enforce compliance.
It follows a recent outbreak of Covid-19 in the three counties - many in meat processing plants and direct provision centres.
Independent TD for the Kildare South, Cathal Berry, says a number of things now need to happen:
There are concerns that the locals in Kildare, Laois and Offaly may not buy into the travel restrictions for a second time.
Gearoid Keegan from the Tullamore Tribune says the success of this partial lockdown will boil down to voluntary compliance and enforcement:
Laois Offaly representative Brian Stanley says new financial support measures are needed for Laois, Offaly and Westmeath.
The Sinn Fein TD says the HSE, government and industry have questions to answer about failures to prevent clusters of cases at meat factories.
However, after public health and the safety of those in ICU are secured, Deputy Stanley says jobs and supports are now the priority in the region:
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