Four new cases of coronavirus confirmed in the west of Ireland

Four new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the west of Ireland.

All four cases, two men and two women, are associated with travel from the same affected area in northern Italy. Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer with the Department of Health, said: "Tonight we can confirm there are now six cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. Contact tracing is underway for these four new cases." It brings the total number of confirmed cases in the Republic to six with two others reported in the east of the country. Two more cases in Northern Ireland were confirmed on Wednesday afternoon bringing the total to three. One of these cases is associated with travel to northern Italy and the other person was in contact with someone in the UK who has the virus.