The Department of Health has updated its travel advice to Irish tourists over coronavirus fears.
Travellers are now urged not to visit four separate regions in northern Italy unless it is absolutely essential.
A spokesman said: "Updated travel advice for Northern Italy reflecting local developments in regard to local developments in COVID-19.
"We advise against non-essential travel to the Lombardy, Veneto, Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna regions."
It came after a second case of the killer bug was confirmed in Ireland last night.
A woman from the east of the country, who has travelled recently from northern Italy, has tested positive for the killer bug.
The “imported” case is unrelated to the Dublin schoolboy who had also been to the virus hotspot.
Last night Dr Tony Holohan – who earlier in the day said he could see no reason to cancel the St Patrick’s Festival – revealed: “We are confirming Ireland has diagnosed one new case of COVID-19. The case arises in a female in the east of the country and is associated with travel from northern Italy.”
It is believed the patient is not a student and authorities are working to trace the people who may have been in contact with her. Health Minister Simon Harris tweeted: “We have a 2nd confirmed case of #Covid19 in Ireland.
“While not unexpected, please continue to take advice from @roinnslainte & @HSELive on how best to protect your health.”
Dr Holohan, the Department of Health’s Chief Medical Officer, added some isolated cases from abroad are to be expected here but the virus may not necessarily be transmitted in the community as it might be in Europe.
He said there is no reason to think there are cases in Ireland of which the department is unaware and the chances of infection in the community are still extremely low.
Meanwhile, intensive care consultant Dr Tom Ryan told RTE News: “This could undoubtedly present a major challenge to our hospitals because we’re short of beds and in particular we’re short of intensive care beds.
“The frontline staff in the hospitals will meet this challenge because they’re committed to providing the best possible patient care.“
