The US is to temporarily ban foreign national nations who have recently travelled to China from entering the country, in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus.
US citizens returning from Hubei province - where the outbreak began - will also be quarantined for up to two weeks, officials said.
The measures come as the US - one of an increasing number of countries to have detected coronavirus cases - declared a public health emergency.
It comes after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared it a public health emergency of international concern.
Speaking in the White House, US Health Secretary Alex Azar said authorities will be working "proactively and aggressively to protect Americans".
He explained: "Any US citizen returning to the United States who have been in Hubei province in the previous 14 days will be subject to up to 14 days of mandatory quarantine to ensure they are provided proper medical care and health screening.
"Foreign nationals - other than immediate family members of US citizens and permanent residents - who have travelled in China within the last 14 days will be denied entry into the United States for this time.
"These prudent, targeted and temporary actions will decrease the pressure on public health officials screening incoming travels... and ensure resources are focused on the health and safety of the American people."
Here, the Department of Health's National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is to continue monitoring the coronavirus outbreak.
No cases have been confirmed in Ireland to date.
Earlier, it was announced that two cases of the virus have been confirmed in the UK.
Around 10,000 cases have now been confirmed worldwide, with more than 200 deaths.
No deaths have been reported outside of China, but the virus has been detected in more than a dozen countries.
The vast majority of cases have been in Hubei province - and the Chinese city of Wuhan is the epicentre of the outbreak.
