Covid-19 round-up: 27 new cases of coronavirus bring the total number of cases to 70
Every school, college and childcare facility in the country, as well as cultural institutions, are to close until the end of the month after 27 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the country, bringing the total number of cases to 70.
NEWS

27 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Ireland, according to the Department of Health. Three of the new cases are in intensive care units bringing the total number of patients in ICU to six. There are now 70 confirmed cases in the Republic of Ireland.

The decision to shut every school, college and childcare facility in the country, as well as cultural institutions, was done without Cabinet approval, it can be revealed. The Irish Examiner has confirmed that the decision to execute the shut down was not subject to Cabinet approval before it was announced this morning, but that some ministers were contacted to be told of the decision.

The Government today announced that educational institutions will close until Mar 29. Liz Dunphy answers some of your questions about the closures, including how they affect exams and childcare.

All Catholic confirmation ceremonies have been postponed while baptisms, weddings and funerals will be limited to 100 people in all churches across the country. The latest guidelines were issued by the Irish Catholic Bishops’’ Conference in response to the Government’’s decision to move to the Delay phase of Covid-19 engagement.

Ireland will remain outside the American coronavirus travel ban, President Trump has confirmed. Speaking in the Oval Office during a visit with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, President Trump said: “It was made very clear last night who is and who isn’t (included in the travel ban)."

Covid-19 “is the worst public health crisis for a generation”, the British Prime Minister has said as the UK government’s top scientist warned that up to 10,000 people in the UK are already infected.
ANALYSIS

The Covid-19 outbreak is not easy on any of us, but the most important thing is we all pull together, writes Alison O'Connor.

Parades in Boston, Seattle, and LA have been cancelled, meaning one of the biggest revenue generating days for bars will be curtailed, write Matthew Townsend and Angelica LaVito

It’s taken almost 40 years but Conor Cruise O’Brien’s 1982 phrase — GUBU — has at long last been found wanting. The phrase, shorthand for grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre and unprecedented, can hardly adequately describe yesterday’s announcement that from six o’clock yesterday Ireland is in lock-down to try to contain the coroanvirus pandemic.
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