New Measures To Stop the Spread Of Covid-19 Come In To Force

Schools, colleges and childcare facilities are closed from today, as government measures to stop the spread of coronavirus take effect.

70 people are now confirmed to have the illness, after 27 new cases were announced last night. One person has died.
Meanwhile the government's trying to find a way to provide childcare for health service workers during the two week closures.
The Department of Health is warning people over the age of 65 are at a higher risk of getting Covid-19.
Assistant Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn, says workers shouldn't be looking to parents for help with childminding while schools and creches are closed.

Focus Ireland wants the Government to introduce a moratorium on evictions as part of its reaction to the threat of Covid-19.
The charity says its written to the Taoiseach, to help prevent more people from becoming homeless.

Student gardai training at Templemore are to be sworn in early as part of a new coronavirus policing plan.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is expected to announce the unprecedented measures this morning.
The students at the Tipperary facility will skip the final months of their training and become fully qualified gardai immediately.
Some of the trainees have been in the college for just over a month and were being given rapid training ahead of their deployment.