Gardaí have established a national Covid-19 unit based at Garda Headquarters in Dublin to co-ordinate the force's response to the coronavirus outbreak here.
A fleet of more than 200 vehicles has been hired for community gardaí to maintain contact with people who are vulnerable, isolated or alone.
Among the community gardaí currently increasing their calls to people in the community is Brigid Hartnett. Brigid has been a garda for more than 20 years and a community garda in Bantry, Cork for the past six years.
Her role, visiting people in some of the most isolated parts of west Cork, has never been more critical. On a visit to Mary and Dominic Conlon at their home outside Bantry, Brigid explains how an upsurge in community spirit has been the