The video will start in 8 Cancel

Never miss an update on schools, pubs and coronavirus cases with our morning newsletter straight to your inbox Sign up! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A second case of coronavirus, COVID-19, has been confirmed in the Republic of Ireland tonight.

A woman who had recently travelled from northern Italy, which has seen a large number of recent cases, is suffering from the virus in the east of Ireland.

This case is unrelated to the first, which involved a Dublin schoolchild. That pupil, of Scoil Chaitriona in Glasnevin, remains at a Dublin hospital receiving treatment.

Nearly 400 people have been tested for the virus since January - up from 90 last week. These were all negative except for the now two confirmed cases.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Health officials will now try to find out with whom the woman has been in contact.

Authorities are holding a media briefing on the latest news tonight and a full update is expected to be issued shortly.

The Department of Health's Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said tonight: "Today we are confirming that Ireland has diagnosed one new case of COVID-19.

"The case arises in a female in the east of the country and is associated with travel from northern Italy."

The Department of Foreign Affairs has now issued updated travel guidelines, with people advised against all but essential travel to the northern Italian provinces of Lombardy, Veneto, Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Mr Holohan said that some isolated cases from abroad are to be expected here and the virus may not necessarily be transmitted in the community as it might be in Europe. The department has considered testing people who are not showing symptoms but this will be looked at again next week.

He added that he has no reason to think there are cases in Ireland of which the department is unaware and the chances of infection in the community are still extremely low.

Anyone feeling unwell has been advised to contact their GP by phone.

Mr Holohan added that he saw no reason why the St Patrick's Day festival could not go ahead.

Simon Harris, the acting Minister for Health, tweeted: "We have a 2nd confirmed case of #Covid19 in Ireland.

"While not unexpected, please continue to take advice from @roinnslainte & @HSELive on how best to protect your health.

"A number of decisions taken by National Public Health Emergency Team today.

"Thanks to all working so hard."

Earlier today, Europe's Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) confirmed 90,663 cases worldwide, with 3,124 fatalities in total. There were 2,495 cases in Europe in total this morning, with 56 deaths.

A Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) update tonight reads: "There is one confirmed case of COVID-19 in Ireland.

"The patient was diagnosed in the East of Ireland, following recent travel to Italy.

"Identification and follow up of contacts is underway by public health services.

"Since 31 December 2019 and as of 3 March 2020, 90 663 cases of COVID-19 (in accordance with the applied case definitions in the affected countries) have been reported globally, including 3 124 deaths.

"The deaths have been reported from China (2 946), Iran (66), Italy (52), South Korea (34), on an international conveyance in Japan (6), Japan (6), the United States of America (6), France (3), Australia (1), the Philippines (1), San Marino (1), Taiwan (1) and Thailand (1)."