A second case of coronavirus (COVID-19) has been confirmed in the Republic of Ireland.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Department of Health notified the public that a woman in the east of Ireland has been diagnosed with the virus.
It was further confirmed that the woman came down with the virus after travelling to an affected region of northern Italy - rather than as a result of contact with the first Irish case.
On public health grounds, travel advice for Italy has been updated to advise against all non-essential travel to the following four regions: Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont.
As of Monday, 397 people in the Republic had been tested for the virus, which has wreaked havoc in China, South Korea and northern Italy. One case has already been confirmed in Dublin, and another in Belfast (though this person also travelled through Dublin on their way back from Northern Italy).
The European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) yesterday confirmed the risk of widespread sustained transmission of COVID-19 in the EU and UK in the coming weeks as moderate to high.
Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: "Ireland has now confirmed a second case of Covid-19. While not unexpected we urge the general public to continue to take advice from HSE and Department of Health on how best to protect your health.
"Ireland remains in containment and unlike some other EU regions, has yet to experience any local transmission. The National Public Health Emergency Team continues to monitor the situation globally.
"The general public are urged to follow hand hygiene, cough/sneeze etiquette and stay informed of the evolving situation through reputable sources such as HSE and Department of Health."
