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A Dublin garda station has been left without anti-bacterial supplies for members after they were taken from a hallway.

A plea has now been issued to members of the station to return the items anonymously - or CCTV footage will be viewed to reveal the guilty party.

Dublin Live understands that the items were ordered a number of weeks ago for the entire station and that staff have been told they have until today, Friday 13 to return the items.

They were ordered so that members of the district would have the protection needed to carry out their duty during the coronavirus crisis.

It's understood garda management have instructed station chiefs to deploy additional patrols around supermarkets and chemists to "comfort and reassure" the public that order will be maintained during the lockdown.

Provision has been made to pay members overtime to carry out the patrols if necessary.

It comes as its emerged that gardai are to ramp up their presence around supermarkets and chemists in the coming weeks as panic buying sets in.

Leo Varadkar this morning announced that all schools, colleges, creches and public buildings will close until March 29 in an effort to stop the spread of the deadly COVID-19.

The Taoiseach stressed that shops would remain open and plans were in place to ensure supply is not interrupted.

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