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Sinn Fein senator Maire Devine said she is re-registering as a nurse to help healthcare workers in the fight against covid-19.

Maire was registered as a psychiatric nurse before her Seaned election in 2016. She told the Sunday Times:

"There are going to be 10,000 extra [patient] beds needed and people [in charge] of them will need infection-control and basic nursing-care skills, such as taking temperatures and giving bed baths.

“Returning nurses could also work as team leaders, either in the community or assisting in testing.

"There will be a bigger need for that because of the widened criteria for testing.”

The Nursing and Midwifery Board have dropped their €350 registry fee in order to encourage more retired nurses to lend a helping hand.

It takes up to five days for pre-registered nurses to register again. Maire wrote on Twitter that she was "digging out the medical scrubs" and awaiting confirmation of her re-registration "in the next few days".

Two people have died from the coronavirus in Ireland out of our 163 confirmed cases.

Earlier this week, the government closed all schools, universities and creches, asked those who can, to work from home, and requested that people to practise social distancing where possible.

Indoor gatherings of 100 or more and outdoor gatherings of 500 or more have been banned.

Protect yourself from getting coronavirus

Things you can do to protect yourself from getting coronavirus include:

wash your hands properly and regularly



cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze



follow the travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs if travelling to China



You do not need to use a face mask.

Wash your hands

Wash your hands properly and regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub:



after coughing or sneezing



after toilet use



before eating



before and after preparing food



if you are in contact with a sick person, especially those with respiratory symptoms



if your hands are dirty



if you have handled animals or animal waste

Cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze. If you have to sneeze or cough: