Health Service Executive CEO Paul Reid has said people could not go and visit elderly parents on Mother's Day on Sunday as "they could not relax the rules for one day".

Mr Reid said that Ireland is fighting a war against a very silent and dangerous enemy.

He added that he was very conscious this was an anxious time as the country entered into an uncertain, unprecedented and unpredictable phase.

Speaking at a ministerial briefing this morning, Mr Reid urged communities to come together to look after the vulnerable and to support healthcare workers.

He said the HSE could mind the sick but they needed neighbours and friends to step up also.

Minister of State Community Development Seán Canney said his 94-year-old mother is "very happy, because she's doing something for Ireland again..."

"I think of my own mother, she's 94, I can't see her, I can't visit her, but she's very happy, because she's doing something for Ireland again... This virus won't give up for half an hour or an hour, or a day. So we should not either." #mothersday #covid19 https://t.co/yro2bXPnFk pic.twitter.com/45jwl5x24g — RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 20, 2020

Meanwhile, Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring called on people to volunteer in their local community to help those in need.

He also advised the elderly that a phone-line was open day and night for them to call.

He said a lot of people were worried and frightened and he called on everyone to stop putting up frightening messages on social media.

Anyone worried should have their senior alert personal alarm ready, Mr Ring added.

The CEO of Volunteers Ireland, Nina Arwitz, called on people to sign up to volunteer online.

She said they were currently mobilising an army and there would be an increased need for people to help Meals on Wheels and other services.

CEO of ALONE Seán Moynihan said people could contact its helpline for support. The phone-line 0818-222-014 will be open from 8am to 8pm each day.