Three major hospitals remain restricted to visitors

Visiting restrictions remain in place at three major hospitals this evening.

Medical chiefs hope the move will stop the flu virus spreading to vulnerable patients.

Mercy University Hospital in Cork says it will make an exception for visitors to its children's ward and critical care areas, while Cork University Hospital is to decide later if its restrictions need to be continued tomorrow.

At St James's Hospital in Dublin, only critical admissions are allowed.

"People have been worried about Ebola for the last few months - but actually, influenza is much, much easier to transmit," said Medical Director at St James's, Patrick Plunkett.

"It's transmitted by droplets, so if you sniff and sneeze you can pass them on from one person to another by, for instance, touching something on the bedside locker which is contaminated, and then shaking hands with somebody as you leave."