WATCH: Conor McGregor calls for "true lockdown" during coronavirus pandemic

Conor McGregor continues to be outspoken in urging both the Irish government and the people of Ireland to adhere to social distancing and quarantine measures in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Conor McGregor, the Dublin born and bred champion MMA fighter, has released an impassioned plea urging the Irish government and the people of Ireland to go into a “full lockdown” in order to continue to fight the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

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McGregor shared the video on his official Facebook page on March 24, just hours before the Irish government announced they were extending and issuing new restrictions through April 19.

Here’s what McGregor said:

"Hello everyone, hello Ireland. I would like to address my nation.

"To the people of Ireland, to our President Michael D. Higgins, to Vice Admiral Mark Mellett, to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan, Leo [Vardkar[, the two Simons [Harris and Coveney], Mary [Lou McDonald] and Micheál [Martin], I respect you all greatly and I would like to put forth some of my thinking.

"I want to say that while we are all currently debating a full lockdown, I feel that we must. Any time spent debating this is needless time from the clock. I know a good, tough fight when I see one and we have one on our hands now.

"I want to call upon my people, the great people of Ireland, this fight needs us all. We are all in the red corner together awaiting the bell. So let's gather together and ring the bell ourselves. Including the people of the rest of the world, true lockdown must begin and it must begin now. A lockdown together. A lockdown united.

"We must close our airports, we must close all non-essential business, we must cut all non-essential travel. Commissioner Harris and Vice-Admiral Mellett, we must prepare and deploy our units to all and any non-built up areas across our country.

"Now, President Higgins, you must give these great men and women the power to enforce this task if necessary. However, I know that when the true seriousness of this is understood as it is becoming now, our great nation will oblige and will impeccably do so.

"It is time for a full lockdown and we are ready. Powers that be, I am calling to you all. The fate of our great island depends on it.

"This is my proposal and I pray that we can make this happen. We need to take the same measures as some of the heavier-affected countries, only we must do it in quicker time. We have the advantage here in that we can see this coming. We can see this coming! But if we do not act on our advantage, then we cannot expect different results.

"We are not adhering to social distancing, at least not to the extent required to halt exponential growth. A lockdown will facilitate this. It will reduce transmissions, it will take the pressure off of our frontline staff and it will allow us to identify all of our cases. These methods are stringent but necessary and have worked in China and Hong Kong.

"Ireland, we have got this. Not only do we have the formula but we have it ahead of time!

“Let's go Ireland. Let's go, rest of the world. Lockdown! United! Together we stand.

“God bless us all."

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McGregor’s March 24 video was not the first time he publicly commented on coronavirus in Ireland.

On March 22, he paid homage to Italy, which recently surpassed China in its death toll from coronavirus, in an Instagram post:

View this post on Instagram

I cannot get Italy out of my thoughts. Praying daily for this great nation that brought the world such amazing things. From it’s people and their culture. To it’s architecture and design. Its style! It’s cuisine! It’s art! The list goes on and on and on! Italy and it’s people are class personified, through and through. ‪Lord Jesus please save Italy and it’s people today and everyday here forward ?? ? ❤️‬

A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma) on Mar 22, 2020 at 11:47am PDT

On March 21, he shared a video of himself marching the 2019 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day parade with the caption: “stay vigilant with our quarantine efforts, team Ireland!”

View this post on Instagram

Quick reminder to stay vigilant with our quarantine efforts, team Ireland! We have seen a drop over the last 3 days in numbers of infected. From 191 cases on Thursday, March 19th (Our heaviest day to date) to a slight decrease of 126 the following day, Friday March 20th. To now today, Saturday March 21th, a total number of 102 new cases. These are encouraging drops each day but we are still above 100 a day. With today being Saturday and the peak of our weekend, plus the fact we have received lower numbers each day, we will all feel tempted to get out and back to living our normal lives again. But now is the time we must remain most vigilant! Remain most vigilant and put this fully to bed. Otherwise we run the risk of going around in circles with these numbers until they hit a spike we then can’t contain. Stay tight Ireland! We will do this! Together in unity! God speed to everyone around the world fighting this virus. We fight it side by side! ☘️??❤️ Team work makes the dream work, God bless!

A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma) on Mar 21, 2020 at 12:46pm PDT

In a tweet on March 20, McGregor shared a picture of him kicking an opponent in the cage with the caption “Take that, corona virus”

Take that, corona virus ☘️ pic.twitter.com/iz04BXIYjH

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 20, 2020

On March 13, he said on Instagram: “Ireland you amazing, amazing country. I believe we have this virus contained. And through this containment, we actually may have gone and contained them all.”

View this post on Instagram

Ireland you amazing, amazing country. I believe we have this virus contained. And through this containment, we actually may have gone and contained them all. The good habits we will have now gained from this wild covid-19 attack will see us too strong in future. Hand hygiene. Touching of own face hygiene. Consistent thorough cleaning of handled areas hygiene. What we should really be all doing anyway. I have always been on with my hand hygiene. But not enough. If I think of all the people approaching to shake hands and what not. I often get people say to me please I don’t want a picture, just let me shake your hand. And I’m like yes friend thank you. As it’s more efficient than taking a full picture. But it’s too careless. And too frequent. Touching my own hand to my face as well. Too unaware of the frequency I’d do it. Until now. I’d train my ass off, to the point of low immunity. It’s inevitable with the intensity of the training. The immune system will be tested. I would float around in this manner, and always end up catching little colds and flus. I feel bullet proof right now though! I’m switched on like a motherfucker now. Stay vigilant on our personal hygiene people. And our personal space. God speed to us all ❤️ We are not there yet but we are well on our way. On our way in a big way! To the people of the world. We will do this! We are doing this! It’s done. We did it. Congratulations! Oh And it’s summer time now too. Wow! Oh and Who am I fighting. ... These photos are from a few days ago at a studio in Dublin’s City centre. I was to announce to the world my @properwhiskey donation to @Tunnel2Towers. A great day! A proud day, I brought my family with me to the studio. Sitting in the chair about to beam live to all the U.S morning talk shows, I get a phone call telling me that my lovely little auntie Anne had passed away. I couldn’t go live anymore. My poor little friendly loving auntie. My mother’s sister. This stupid fucking virus. What the fuck is happening. I took my family to bull island. Looked out at the sea. Took a deep breath. Thank fuck! Lord thank you ? Stay tight people! We are all we got ❤️ Rest in Peace Anne Moore I love you

A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma) on Mar 13, 2020 at 4:35pm PDT

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What do you make of Conor McGregor's thoughts on coronavirus in Ireland? Let us know in the comments.