Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan is a busy man in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic but he has received one very special request from an eight-year-old girl.

Cora from Co Tipperary took advantage of An Post's free postcard scheme to thank Dr Holohan for all his efforts during the crisis and to ask if Dublin Zoo could possibly be reopened in time for her birthday.

She also expressed her pleasure that her father was able to spend more time at home, but did reveal that her grandmother is struggling without her regular trips to the hairdresser.

The postcard read: "Dear Doctor Holohan, I would like to thank you for all you are doing. You are doing a great job.

"My granny is upset she cannot get her hair done! I love that my daddy has to work from home. Can you reopen the zoo before my birthday?"

Can you reopen the Zoo before my birthday? One of the most heartwarming postcard messages, in the COVID-19 crisis, from an 8 year old girl from Tipperary, passed to me for Dr Tony Holohan, @CMOIreland pic.twitter.com/NJMlOXaLsG — Fergal Bowers (@FergalBowers) April 7, 2020

The postcard, which was sent to the RTÉ Newsroom, was passed on to Dr Holohan.

He responded to the request during a news conference at the Department of Health this evening, indicating that Dublin Zoo would not be reopening in the near future, saying the measures "won't be in place for any longer than they need to be".