Italian rugby fans may still come to Ireland this weekend and increase the risk of coronavirus spreading, a top doctor has warned.
Ireland were scheduled to play Italy at the Aviva Stadium in the Six Nations on Saturday, before health chiefs recommended the game be postponed amid virus fears.
Mater Hospital consultant Dr Jack Lambert said it's possible that large numbers of fans may still come to Dublin for a tourist break despite there being no game.
Northern Italy is one of the world's worst hit regions, with over 3,000 Covid-19 cases which has led to more than 100 deaths.
And Dr Lambert believes the Government must consider bringing in travel bans from places considered to be high risk areas.
He told the Independent: "There could be a potential risk of person-to-person spread if they come and congregate and are infected with the virus.
"I think maybe the cancellation of the rugby game was a good first step given the way the coronavirus has increased in numbers in Italy.
"I think the Government has to think about what the next step is and whether they should think about restricting travel from high-risk coronavirus regions.
"It may be a first step but not a final step."
Despite the warnings, hotels in Dublin are still expecting tourists from Italy this weekend.
But Buswells Hotel manager Paul Gallagher insisted he is not worried about welcoming Italian fans this weekend.
He told the newspaper: "I think everybody in the world now knows the symptoms and to self-isolate, so we're not worried at all about any of our guests from Italy, we welcome them," he told the Irish Independent.
"There's no question of not allowing them to come over. I think it would be wholly unusual for our country to cut ourselves off from visitors.
"In this hotel if we had a case we would ensure the space was safe, so far as removing all soft furnishing including carpets, curtains, beds, towels, everything."
