School is being shut down for two weeks
A Dublin secondary school is being shut down for two weeks to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Students and teachers have been told to restrict their movements after male patient linked with the school was confirmed as the first case of covid-19 in the Republic.
Doctors have spent the last day and a half tracing the movements of the male confirmed as Ireland's first covid-19 case on Saturday - following the trail to a secondary school in Dublin.
All students and teachers are being treated as "close contacts" by public health teams.
The HSE has written to all parents of students at the school asking them to "isolate them from others without delay" if they develop any symptoms.
Dr John Cuddihy, Director of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, says the health service is ready for a major outbreak.
But the Department of Health's chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohann says for most people, a bout of covid-19 would be mild.
For now, the advice is to cover your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze, avoid touching your face, and wash your hands thoroughly - and often.
