Ireland is extending its lockdown but easing some of the restrictions to allow people to travel further for exercise and let over-70s leave their homes for a walk or drive.The easing of restrictions will happen in five phases, three weeks apart, beginning on 18 May.

The fifth stage will commence on 10 August if everything goes to plan.The country's prime minister, Leo Varadkar, said the nation can only move from one phase into the next if coronavirus remains under control - if not, they will have to move back a phase.And he added that in spite of restrictions being eased, there will be a long-term need for physical distancing until a vaccine for COVID-19 is available.In the first phase, some shops will reopen and some sports will restart.

People will also be allowed to meet in small groups.Schools will reopen in September.Mr Varadkar said all the personal stories of loss and hardship had formed a "tapestry of struggle and sacrifice and sorrow"."It has been worthwhile, it is working, so let's finish what we started," said the PM.Mr Varadkar said 70% of people diagnosed with the virus had made a full recovery.

He said the figure would have been so much lower if the health service had been overwhelmed.Analysis: There were no huge surprises from the prime ministerBy Stephen Murphy, Sky News Ireland correspondentMr Varadkar and his officials had repeatedly said Ireland's infection and death rates had not sufficiently reduced to merit a lifting of the country's restrictions next Tuesday.So a weary public will not be too surprised to learn they face a further two weeks of mostly staying at home, the goalposts shifting from 5 May to 18 May.The government insists that by and large, the Irish people have been respecting the guidelines, although they have warned against complacency.The chief medical officer Tony Holohan last week produced GPS tracking and even seismic data showing an increase in the movement of people and traffic.I write this outside Government Buildings [in Dublin], where there are noticeably more cars and pedestrians passing by than in previous weeks.But at least the Irish public has some kind of roadmap to recovery now.

Five phases to normality, which should come when schools and colleges reopen in September or October.Many questions persist.

None could be put to Mr Varadkar today, as he chose to deliver the news in a televised address, taking no questions from reporters camped outside the gates.Thirty-four more people who were diagnosed with coronavirus have died in Ireland, the country's department of health said.A total of 1,265 COVID-19-related deaths have been recorded.There have also been 221 more infections, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 20,833.