The latest announcement means that the amount of coronavirus cases on the island of Ireland has risen above 100.
20 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Ireland on Friday night (13 March).
The latest update from the Department of Health means that there is now a total of 119 coronavirus cases on the island of Ireland, and 90 in the Republic of Ireland.
It is believed that six of the cases are associated with travel, 12 come from having contact with confirmed cases (including 4 healthcare workers), and 2 are cases of community transmission.
Statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team
The HPSC has been informed of 20 new confirmed cases of #COVID19 in Ireland
6 associated with travel
12 associated with contacts of confirmed case; 4 are healthcare workers
2 cases associated with community transmission
— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) March 13, 2020
This announcement comes the day after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed that schools, colleges and other public facilities would be closed in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus.
Since then a number of other private establishments such as restaurants, cafes and gyms have made the decision to close.
Speaking on Friday morning, Minister for Health Simon Harris said: “It seems logical if we’re now telling people not to travel to these countries that the people who have travelled to these countries would take additional precautions when they return.”
As of now there has been only one death from coronavirus in Ireland. An elderly woman in the east of the country died on Wednesday 11 March.
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