Aviva Stadium lit up in the HSE's corporate colours of green and red last night [March 27] in support of frontline healthcare workers.

The decision was made to show solidarity with the HSE workers, and to thank the frontline healthcare workers for everything that they're doing during the coronavirus outbreak. Following on from the national show of gratitude at 8 p.m. on Thursday evening, which saw people across the country clap for carers,  Aviva wanted to join them with a visible showing of gratitude as well. The stadium was lit up from 8.30pm until 10.30pm on Friday. “We are all intensely aware of the enormous demands that are being placed on all healthcare workers during this crisis and the risks that they are taking to help save lives,"  Brian Mahon, Aviva Insurance Ireland said. "We hope that by lighting Aviva Stadium last night in the HSEs colours, half red and half green will be a further showing of the gratitude and esteem in which we all hold them.” It comes as on Friday night, Leo Varadkar announced a number of new measures for Ireland. He said that Ireland was in the "next stage" of response to the crisis, as he asked everyone in Ireland to stay in their homes in all circumstances - with the exception of the following purposes:

• Travel to and from work for the purposes of work only when the work is an essential service that cannot be done from home
• To shop for groceries or collect food/medicine
• Vital family reasons
• Visiting those who require care
• Brief individual physical exercise within two kilometres of the home while adhering to strict two-metre social distancing measures - parents can bring children but must adhere to social distancing
• Farming services

All public and private gatherings outside of a household are prohibited. Public transport will be limited to those offering essential services while an emergency response will be stepped up in tandem. Shielding or "cocooning" will be introduced for those aged over 70 and specified categories of people. Official and detailed HSE guidance on cocooning is available at this link. All visits to hospitals, residential healthcare settings and prisons are postponed except for instances of compassionate grounds. Travel to offshore islands is limited only to residents of those offshore islands.