A new initiative is trending on social media platforms in Ireland, to help those who may have to self-isolate due to coronavirus symptoms.

The hashtag #SelfIsolationHelp is seeing people offer to do every day tasks for those who have to stay at home.

Whether it's going to the shops or even walking a dog.

People are being advised to put in their locality with any such requests.

The initiative was started on Twitter by Samantha Kelly, a social media strategist, but has since spread to Instagram.

So many people are self isolating at the moment. Many have underlying illnesses. So if that is you and you would like help with anything or you are feeling lonely please tweet to me and I will spread the word so you can connect with others in the same situation. #Selfisolation

— Samantha Kelly (@Tweetinggoddess) March 10, 2020

Helen O'Rahilly spoke to Lunchtime Live about how the initiative can help others.

"A lot of these people who are maybe elderly or not on social media... I'm asking the people around the country to text me their areas.

"And also just to put a sign up in a church, or a shop, or a post office just with this hashtag and with their number.

"That will feed into me and I will be retweeting and hopefully a few people with good numbers of followers will help me do that".

"That's what we need to do to get people - even two people in the town - to make a big difference.

"And also not only people who are isolated, but also to people who are working at the frontline who are doing double shifts - the nurses, the doctors, the paramedics - who might need a dog walked.

"It's just a community feel to give us a little sort of calmness and feel like we're actually doing something".

"Hygiene is first, keep your hands clean - you don't have to interact with these people, leave it on their doorstep, leave it at a gate, let them know it's there.

"That's a little gesture, we'll keep ourselves going".