Coronavirus outbreak
33 cases of Coronavirus have now been confirmed across the island of Ireland.
Two new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in the Republic last night.
This brings the total number here to 21.
In the North, the Department of Health also identified five new cases last night - bringing the total number to 12.
Statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has this evening been informed of two new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) March 8, 2020
A new Cabinet committee, chaired by the Taoiseach, will meet for the first time today to discuss issues arising from the outbreak.
Three people have now died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus.
The latest patient - a man in his 60s also suffered from underlying health conditions and had recently returned from Italy.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is advising Irish citizens not to travel to the Italian region of Lombardy or 14 other provinces placed in lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The most important times to wash your hands are
✔before preparing food
✔after preparing food
✔ before eating food
✔after eating food
✔after using the toilet
✔after being in contact with a sick person#Resistinfection #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/mWNpp4mekK— HSE Ireland (@HSELive) March 8, 2020
A former Lord Mayor of Dublin wants the capital's St Patrick's Day Parade postponed, to avoid the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
Christy Burke, and fellow Dublin City Councillor Anthony Flynn say if the government doesn't call a halt, they'll ask council management to pull support.
Yesterday parade organisers in Whitegate and Blarney in Co Cork said their events couldn't go ahead - with Midleton, Cobh and Youghal already called off.
