Gardai are setting up checkpoints today to make sure people aren’t making non-essential journeys.

The Taoiseach has said that everyone must stay at home in all circumstances, except where work is essential, and to buy food.

In Waterford Gardaí are patrolling streets to ensure people are following the latest regulations.

The exceptions are to buy food, attend medical appointments, exercise within 2 kilometres of your home or for vital family reasons.

Travel for essential work is allowed but all social gatherings are banned.

Waterford Inspector Gavin Hegarty says he hopes the majority of people will follow the rules.

He says they are out and about in Waterford City and County in big numbers trying to put across the message about the rules and regulations that were announced

last night. But he says the officers on duty in Waterford have noticed patterns that are causing concern. One of those is that people are driving to the Greenway car parks in

order to go for excercise on the Greenway. He says if you have to drive anywhere to get exercise you are going outside of the rules.

Inspector Hegarty said they understand people have to exercise and they want to encourage that, but they have to do it within two kilometres of their home.

He says they have had to close the Prom in Tramore to people because there were visitors arriving in the seaside town this morning who were not from the area.