A special meeting of the North-South Council is taking place today in efforts to tackle the coronavirus crisis.
The First and Deputy First Ministers and Stormont's Minister for Health will meet with the Taoiseach, Tanaiste and Minister for Health in Stormont.
The Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill said this morning: "Meeting Taoiseach, Taniste and health ministers across this island today. We need one plan and we require decisive action to protect people across this island now."
Both sides are thought to favour the Dublin approach of closing all schools and colleges - a measure that has not yet been taken up north.
The politicians will be joined by the two chief medical officers on the island.
Another 20 new positive cases of coronavirus in the Republic of Ireland were announced on Friday evening.
This brings the total number to 90 in the Republic and 119 on the island of Ireland, after Northern Ireland's nine new cases today brought its number to 29.
Six of the Republic's new cases are associated with travel.
12 are associated with contacts of a confirmed case, four of which are healthcare workers.
Two cases are associated with community transmission.
There has been one confirmed death of COVID-19 in Ireland.
