The Health Minister Simon Harris says Ireland has moved into a 'delay' phase of the coronavirus.

He was speaking after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced that schools, colleges and childcare facilities will shut from 6.00pm on Thursday.

Speaking from Washington DC earlier, Mr Varadkar said schools, colleges, childcare facilities and cultural institutions - such as museums, galleries and tourism sites - are to close.

He said: "In order to reduce unnecessary face-to-face interaction in the workplace, break times and working times should be staggered and meetings done remotely or by phone."

People are being advised that indoor mass gatherings of over 100 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled.

Public transport will continue to operate and shops, restaurants and cafés will be allowed to remain open.

However, businesses are being advised to put in place measures to implement advice on public distancing.

Delay is to slow the spread of the virus, lowering the peak impact and pushing it away from the winter season.

It follows on from the original containment phase of early detection and following up close contact.

Speaking from Government Buildings, Mr Harris said: "If you can work from home, we're recommending that you do so.

"It is necessary to ask all of us to reduce our social contacts as much as possible, and this is a role we can all play".

The measures will be in place until March 29th - but Mr Harris said they will be "kept under constant review by our public health experts".

"We do not underestimate the challenge that today's decisions will involve for people, for our families, for older people, for employers - and we do not take such measures likely.

"But public health must and always will come first".

Tánaiste Simon Coveney said: "At a most basic level, we need to continue to follow handwashing and hygiene advice.

"I know that everything that is being announced today is an awful lot to take in.

"I'm a father, a husband and a son too - I understand the concerns that many households will have across the country.

"But we do need to respond with calm, with unity, with discipline and with resolve, collectively together.

"This is a phase that we have been planning for some time: these are the right measures, at the right time based on public health advice not only in Ireland but in the European Union too.

"We need to support each other".

"Ireland will get through this in time and we will protect lives, many of them, if people act together and take the advice that they need to".