The Taoiseach has said the number of Covid cases in 5 to 11 year olds have gone through the roof.
Government decided earlier children over the age of nine will have to wear masks in school, shops and on public transport.
A number of moves from Government today aimed at containing the spread of Covid.
Children in third class and above will have to wear masks in school, while mask wearing for people aged nine and above will be mandatory in shops and public transport.
However, if a class is mixed second and third class only the third class students will have to wear masks.
While the advice to parents is to reduce social contacts of children.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin says they're targeting children for a reason
Meanwhile anyone traveling into Ireland from overseas will need a negative Covid test from Friday.
That's either a PCR test up to 72 hours before arriving, or a professional antigen test 48 hours before arrival.
Earlier Minister Darragh O'Brien said those traveling on short breaks could take a PCR test before leaving Ireland and have that test cover their return as well.
