The Department of Health has confirmed 20 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

National public health emergency team says six cases are associated with travel. Twelve cases arose with contacts of confirmed cases, and two through community transmission.

There are now 90 cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

The HSE have confirmed that of the 90 cases less than 5 of them are in the northwest of Ireland but locations or counties have not been disclosed

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan says "the National Public Health Emergency Team will continue to monitor the ongoing threat of this virus and will take actions where necessary.

"For people returning from areas affected by Covid-19, we strongly encourage the individual to restrict their movements."

Dr Holohan says the 4 confirmed cases involving healthcare workers, do not stem from the same case

The Department of Health in Northern Ireland has said nine new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed following the latest tests.

It brings the total number of cases in Northern Ireland to 29.

The Public Health Agency is currently establishing if any of the new cases are connected to community transmission.

The Department said: "A total of 321 tests have been completed in Northern Ireland, in cases where people met the case definition for suspected coronavirus.

"A significant number of further tests have been carried out for surveillance and clinical purposes for example, for patients in intensive care and other hospital settings with respiratory symptoms."

A drive through Covid-19 test facility is understood to have opened in Cork city with medical staff in protective clothing swabbing people through their car windows.

The testing is understood to be by referral only and is not open to the general public.

Contractors worked in recent days to bring two disused buildings at St Mary's Campus in Gurranabraher on the northside of the city up to speed for use by medical personnel.

Responding to speculation there will be a 'Red Alert' announcement from the Taoiseach early next week, Mr Donohoe said Minister there are no plans in place for a red alert announcement from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Monday morning.

He said that the Government has always said it would act on the advice of public health experts and the measures been taken today are considered and proportionate.

He said our emergency team has recommended that we should close all schools, créches and third-level institutions from tomorrow.

He said we must reduce our social contacts to help slow the spread of the virus.

Northern Ireland's first minister and DUP leader, Arlene Foster, said this afternoon she does not support closing schools, colleges and universities at present.

Earlier today, her partner in government, Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill said she believes all education centres should be shut immediately, similar to what is happening south of the border.

Ms Foster said she is following the advice of Northern Ireland's chief medical officer who does not recommend school closures at this time.

She said this strategy is also supported by Northern Ireland's health minister, Ulster Unionist Robin Swann.

She accepted that schools will have to be closed at some stage in the future , when further measures are necessary to try to flatten the peak of the disease.