Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says now is the time for further actions to be implemented, to slow the virus down
Leo Varadkar says from tonight, for a two-week period - everybody must stay at home in all circumstances, except in exceptional circumstances such as work and to get essential goods
All public and private gatherings outside of a single household will be prohibited
All non-essential health services will be postponed. 'Cocooning' will be introduced for those over 70 years of age
Leo Varadkar announces that all public transport and passenger travel will be restricted to workers only or people providing essential services, and no travel outside 2km from people's own homes
Leo Varadkar says travel to offshore islands will be prohibited to residents of those islands
Mr Varadkar appeals to everyone to make these sacrifices not out of self-interest, but out of love for one another.
He urges people to show support for healthcare staff by staying at home
Health Minister Simon Harris says tonight they are asking people to stand with health workers.
He says our personal worlds must now shrink again, and that in the face of such a crisis where personal responsibility can make all the difference, people must be able to do more to do so
Mr Harris says it is not going to get any easier in the days ahead, but the further measures are needed in order to give ourselves the best chance of reducing the spread of the virus and save lives

Three more people have died from Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland, the National Public Health Emergency Team has said.

Two were female patients in the east, with the other person in the north-west.

There have now been 22 coronavirus-related deaths in Ireland.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has also been informed of 302 new confirmed cases of Covid-19.

There are now 2,121 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

The HSE is now working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.

The latest data from the HPSC, based on data as of midnight, Wednesday 25 March, shows that 54% of cases are male and 46% are female, with 79 clusters involving 317 cases

The median age of confirmed cases is 46 years of age.

Over 419 cases (26%) have been hospitalised. Of those, 59 cases have been admitted to ICU.

So far, 375 cases (23%) are associated with healthcare workers

Dublin has the highest number of cases at 922 - 56% of all cases - followed by Cork with 171 cases (10%)

Of those for whom transmission status is known; community transmission accounts for 52%, close contact accounts for 22% and travel abroad accounts for 26%.

Around 80% of cases of Covid-19 will be a mild to moderate illness, close to 14% of patients have severe disease and around 6% are critical.

Generally, you need to be 15 minutes or more in the vicinity of an infected person, within 1 to 2 metres, to be considered at risk or a close contact.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is set to give the public a further update on the Government's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The briefing will be live on RTÉ One and RTÉ News Now at 8.30pm.

Mr Varadkar tweeted: "I'll give a further update on the Government’s response to #Covid19 emergency at 8.30pm tonight, on foot of the latest advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team."

The Taoiseach will be joined by Minister Simon Harris TD and Tony Holohan Chief Medical Officer.

Up to a dozen Irish citizens are on board a cruise liner which is being refused entry to Panama after four passengers died from coronavirus and more than 140 others contracted the virus.

the Irish passengers are on board the Seattle-based Holland America cruise ship the Zaandam, which has been blocked from travelling through the Panama Canal due to the outbreak and is now rerouting to San Diego.

The Zaandam embarked from Buenos Aires in Argentina on 7 March with 1,243 passengers and 586 crew on board.

However, after concerns emerged during its voyage, it was stopped from travelling on its original route, forcing it to base itself off the coast of Panama and to request permission to reroute to California.