Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Blair House, Washington DC, during a press conference where he announced that all schools, colleges and childcare facilities in Ireland will close until March 29 as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced older people will soon be asked to self-isolate for several weeks.

In a state of the nation address, Mr Varadkar said older people will be asked to “cocoon” as part of the government’s efforts to contain the deadly Coronavirus.

“At a certain point, we will advise the elderly and people who have a long term illness to stay at home for several weeks,” he said.

“We call it cocooning, and it will save many lives, particularly the lives of the most vulnerable, the most precious in our society,” he added.

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He said the government said will ensure people who are asked to cocoon will be checked in on and have food supplies delivered.

"We're in the middle of a global and a national emergency, a pandemic, the likes of which no-one has ever seen before," Mr Varadkar said.

Discussing the cancellations and closures as emergency measures are put in place, he said: "I know these choices won't be easy, but they are necessary.

The Taoiseach said it is likely these measures will extend beyond March 29, "even into the summer" but that public transport and shops will continue to open.

"Many of you want to know when this will be over; the truth is, we just don't know yet."

"This is the calm before the storm, before the surge, and when it comes, and it will come, we will do all we can to support them."

"We are asking people to come together as a nation by staying apart from each other," he added.

He reassured the public that "when we are through the worst, we will get people back to work and businesses open again."

While he said that the damage to the economy will be "enormous" he is confident that Ireland can bounce back.

He thanked frontline staff, public transport operators, the media and broadcasters for updating members of the public.

He urged people to limit their social media use and to not fall for misinformation.

“Fear is a virus in itself,” he said.

“Constantly scrolling on your phone or obsessing with the latest developments isn’t good for anyone,” he added.

“I send a message of friendship and hope from Ireland to everyone around the world."

It comes as European Union leaders agreed on Tuesday to close Europe's borders for 30 days to prevent the spread of coronavirus but establish fast-track lanes at their countries' frontiers to keep goods moving, bloc leaders said after a video-conference summit.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a news conference that it would be up to European countries to implement the closure of their borders to citizens from third countries.

"The enemy is the virus and now we have to do our utmost to protect our people and to protect our economies," she said. "We are ready to do everything that is required. We will not hesitate to take additional measures as the situation evolves."

During the video conference, EU leaders including the Taoiseach discussed the various dimensions of the coronavirus crisis, including managing external borders and ensuring the supply of medicines, equipment and goods.

They also discussed mitigating the economic shock and damage, including for jobs and SMEs, supporting research to find a vaccine and cooperating to bring citizens home from other countries.

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A government spokesperson said that the Taoiseach emphasised the need for the Union to use all tools available to it to maximum effect to protect life and to minimise damage. He highlighted the need also to work together to bring citizens stranded abroad - in Spain and further afield - safely home.

A further 69 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19, the Department of Health has confirmed.

They include 29 male and 40 female, with 48 associated with the east of the country, 13 with the south.

Five are in the north/west, and three are associated with the west

There are now 292 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

The government today approved the Health Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2020 to support the national response to the coronavirus crisis.

The bill has removed the waiting period for payment of Jobseekers Allowance and Jobseekers Benefit for people who are diagnosed with the virus or are self isolating.

“As previously acknowledged by the Government, these changes involve a significant Exchequer cost but are necessary to support the public health objective of ensuring people who need to self-isolate do so,” said a government spokesperson.

It allows for “extra powers” in “extreme situations” in relation to mass gatherings and events which would “be an immediate, exceptional and manifest risk to human life and public health”.

It also allows for further powers for medical officers if they believe an individual is a source of infection and that detention or isolation of that person is necessary to prevent further spread of the virus.

“These are provisions which the Government hopes it won’t have to use.

“But legislation is being introduced to give Government powers in exceptional circumstances in the unlikely event that the need arises,” added the spokesperson.

Further details of the bill are to be published this evening and it will be enacted through the Dáil tomorrow and Seanad on Friday.

Countries across Europe have been implementing new emergency measures to tackle the coronavirus crisis.

French President Emmanuel Macron told his fellow European Union leaders that emergency border controls slapped within Europe to contain the spread of coronavirus cannot damage their internal market, a French presidency source said.

The French presidency source also said EU leaders agreed to join forces in bringing back to Europe their citizens stranded abroad and reaffirmed their aim to take "all measures necessary" to help their economies weather the economic fallout.

Cyprus on Tuesday announced a two-week ban on flights from 28 countries, including Britain and Greece, to curb the outbreak.

The island has already enacted stringent entry requirements, effective from March 16, barring anyone into the island, including Cypriots, without a medical certificate that they are clear of coronavirus. Those who do arrive are placed in compulsory quarantine in a government-supervised facility for two weeks.

While Finland will start restricting traffic over its borders on Thursday in an attempt to contain the coronavirus outbreak, Interior Minister Maria Ohisalo said.

Finland's centre-left government approved legislation on Tuesday to adopt a state of emergency which the parliament is expected to approve on Wednesday.

"Goods and cargo transports will continue across all borders. Indispensable work-related travelling will still be possible and continues within EU borders," Ohisalo told a news conference.

Permanent residents would be allowed to return and foreign travellers permitted to leave Finland, Ohisalo said.

Travelling abroad should be avoided and the restrictions were valid until April 13, the government said, with passenger railway traffic between Finland and neighbouring Russia ending on Wednesday .

With additional reporting from Reuters

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