Andy Farrell says that all Ireland can do now is prepare for the Six Nations clash with France as normal after the postponement of Saturday week's clash with Italy.
Six Nations bosses are monitoring the situation but as the coronavirus spreads across western Europe, there is a chance that the March 14 clash at the Stade de France will also be called off.
"We don't know," said Ireland head coach Farrell. "That's the answer, we don't know.
"All we can do is prepare properly that the game is going ahead.
"We've been in for a few days this week and that was the normal prep that we was going to have anyway.
"We're going to have a rest this weekend, come back in Sunday and train Monday and Tuesday, then Thursday.
"Then we have a long weekend off, so the key for us is to use the time appropriately and to our advantage as well."
It might be October before the Italy game can be played at this stage, given the packed nature of the Test and club rugby schedule.
The Aviva Stadium won't be available after the start of May, due to the fact that three Euro 2020 finals will be played there.
And September looks off the agenda now for rearranged Six Nations fixtures because the Test frontliners will need to have a holiday and a pre-season after the two-test Tour of Australia in June.
Speaking at Energia Park after a session this morning with the Ireland under-20s, whose own clash with Italy next Friday has been postponed, the head coach said: "There's a few dates being bounced about but they're just ideas at this point in time, so we haven't got a clue really.
"There's a lot of ifs, buts and maybes, so as far as we're concerned we'll do what we're told. We obviously want to play the game.
"It's not [very disruptive] for us. Obviously there's a bit of uncertainty of what may happen because of what you read about it, etc. and what's going on in the world but we've got to make sure that we do the right thing as a game.
"We definitely will do that but as far as distraction is concerned, we're training, we're rugby players coming to work, so we try and get better.
"Obviously we're disappointed not to play again after a loss, that's the first thing you want to do.
"You work out the reasons why and then get back out there on the pitch and put those things right.
"Obviously, we're disappointed but it's the right decision, isn't it? There's more important things than a game of rugby, isn't there?"
Giving his reaction to the announcement that was made on Wednesday, Ireland skipper Johnny Sexton said the players were dying to get going again after their Twickenham loss last Sunday.
"As players, when you play bad you want to just go and play straight away," he explained.
"I was tempted to try and go play for Leinster tomorrow night. There's nothing worse than a long wait now, but that's what it is.
"We've just got to prepare. We trained hard today and we've got another big week next week.
"We can get a lot fixed over the couple of weeks, so we've got to look at the positives that we've got time to develop some things together now.
"Yeah, we would just have preferred if it was two weeks. But it's not, it's three weeks and that's the bottom line.
"We just have to get over it. It's a decision that has been taken out of the players' hands.
"We'd play it behind closed doors if we could but that's not an option and we're just going with the plan now. We'll try and get ready for France."
The reason why the Italy game didn't go ahead behind closed doors is because of the potential health risk of bringing a contingent of players and coaches from Italy, one of the main affected regions.
"It's a decision that has been taken out of the players' hands," said Sexton. "We'd play behind closed doors if we could but it's not an option.
"We're just going with the plan now and we'll just try to get ready for France".
