Two new cases of covid-19 have been confirmed in the Republic, and both patients contracted the coronavirus here.

A man is being treated in isolation at Cork's Bon Secours Hospital, while a woman in the east of the country has also tested positive.

21 people have now been infected in the Republic of Ireland.

“Ireland remains in containment phase with 21 cases to date, three of which are associated with community transmission, said Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer with the Department of Health.

“Most people who become infected with Covid-19 experience a mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for some," he added.

The National Public Health Emergency team is reminding people the best way to slow down the spread of the virus is to wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, cover your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze, and keep at least a metre away from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald is urging the Taoiseach to convene a meeting of party leaders to fully assess our handling of the outbreak.

"I think now given that we have a caretaker government I think it is essential that all party leaders are fully informed and that we can assess, along with the acting government, the plans," she said. "It's absolutely essential we get this right.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is advising Irish citizens not to travel to the Italian region of Lombardy or 14 other provinces placed in lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Around 16 million Italians have now been quarantined

The country now has 5,883 confirmed covid-19cases while 233 have died there since the outbreak began.