Coronavirus case confirmed in Ireland

A case of the coronavirus has been confirmed in the east of Ireland, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.

The patient, a man in the eastern part of the country, is receiving appropriate medical care, according to the HPSC.

It said the patient was identified and tested in line with established protocols for the investigation of suspect cases of Covid-19.

The case is associated with travel from an affected area in northern Italy, rather than contact with another confirmed case.

The Director of the HPSC said efforts are under way to identify and locate people who came into close contact with the man.

Dr John Cuddihy said the "contact tracing process has commenced" but he said it is "too early to know the detail" of how many people came into close contact with the man.