Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has tested positive for Covid.
The shock news on the verge of Christmas means the entire Cabinet has now officially gone into Covid lockdown.
They have been ordered to restrict their movements for 14 days while test results are carried out to see if the virus has spread to any of the other Government ministers.
There was a full Cabinet meeting yesterday morning so there is a very realistic chance that other ministers could be infected too as it lasted several hours.
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, had to restrict his movements earlier this year with a suspected case of Covid, but he ultimately tested negative.
This is the first time a known minister has contracted the potentially deadly bug.
It has not been disclosed yet whether it is a case of the new mutant variant Covid strain that is running rampant across southeast England.
A spokesman for the Government said: “A member of Cabinet has tested positive for COVID-19.
“In line with public health advice, all Ministers are restricting their movements while awaiting a COVID test and result.”
We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.
Please check back regularly for updates on this developing story here at Irishmirror.ie.
For the latest news and breaking news visit irishmirror.ie/news.
Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.
Follow us on Twitter - the official Irish Mirror Twitter account - real news in real time.
We're also on Facebook - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Irish Daily Mirror, Irish Sunday Mirror and irishmirror.ie.
You can also get in touch with us via our Instagram account.
