Ireland's crucial Six Nations clash with Italy looks set to be cancelled due to fears over the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
The deadly COVID-19 virus has spread rapidly across the southern European country, with 283 confirmed cases and seven deaths.
Health Minister Simon Harris this evening recommended that the March 7 clash at the Aviva Stadium doesn't go ahead in a bid to prevent the killer bug spreading to Ireland.
Speaking after a meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team, Minister Harris said the decision to cancel the match was made in the interest of public safety.
He said: “Today’s recommendations reflect the continuous assessment and adaptation capability of Ireland’s response to COVID-19, which will be ongoing as the situation unfolds.
“I welcome the recommendation to cancel the Ireland v Italy rugby match, which was made in the interest of public safety."
Speaking on RTE News, Minister Harris confirmed there had been 90 suspected cases of coronavirus but so far there have been no confirmed cases.
The minister also confirmed he had taken the decision to expand the list of affected regions, which had previously only consisted of mainland China, from a health perspective.
Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Iran, four regions in northern Italy - Lombardy, Veneto Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont - have been added to the list.
Anyone who has travelled to those regions in the last 14 days and is displaying flu-like symptoms is advised to contact their GP by phone.
Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health, Dr Tony Holohan said: "GPs are equipped to assess each case making contact with the service and may progress the case to testing, if they deem it necessary, following risk assessment.
“Anyone who has been to the affected regions in northern Italy - Lombardy, Veneto Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont - in the last 14 days and has a cough, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties or fever should self-isolate and phone their GP immediately.
“Anyone who has travelled from the affected regions in northern Italy and has no symptoms should visit www.HSE.ie for advice.
"The most important action we can take to protect ourselves from Covid-19 is regular hand-washing and good respiratory hygiene.”
A number of schools across the country have taken precautions after returning from mid-term trips to Italy.
Students from a secondary school in Waterford have been identified as 'high risk' for the virus after coming back from an impacted area.
Three schools in Northern Ireland also sent pupils home today as a precaution following separate trips to Italy.
In Dublin, a southside school has advised any students with a "compromised immune system" to stay home after their fellow pupils returned from a skiing trip to the country.
Mount Anville Secondary School in Goatstown advised parents to be cautious and have placed hand sanitisers all over the school.
