Irish people are being advised not to travel to any part of Italy to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has upgraded its travel advice recommending against travel there.
The whole nation of Italy is on lockdown - with all 60 million people being told they should only travel for work or emergencies.
It's the most extreme restrictions on movement since the Second World War with a ban on social gatherings, schools will be shut and cafes and bars will close at dusk.
In light of internal developments in Italy my department is upgrading travel advice to Irish citizens, recommending against travel to whole of Italy.
The Taoiseach will today raise the issue of flights & further EU-wide responses at a meeting of the European Council. @COVID19— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) March 10, 2020
Here at home, three more cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Republic, bringing the total to 24.
Two of the cases are in the south, and one in the west.
All are women who were in close contact with a confirmed case - one of those in the south is also a healthcare worker.
Last night the government announced a three billion euro fund to help deal with the virus and St Patrick's Day festivities have been cancelled.
