The first case of coronavirus has been confirmed in the Republic of Ireland.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre issued a statement on Saturday night, where they said they had been informed of a confirmed case of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) in Ireland today. The patient, a male in the eastern part of the country, is currently receiving appropriate medical care. He was identified and tested in line with established protocols for the investigation of suspect cases of Covid-19. The case is associated with travel from an affected area in Northern Italy, rather than contact with another confirmed case. “This is not unexpected. We have been preparing for this eventuality for many weeks now. Public health protocols have been in place since January and are operating effectively," Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer with the Department of Health, said. “The health service is well used to managing infectious diseases and has robust response measures in place.” "The HSE is now working rapidly to identify any contacts the patient may have had, to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread," Dr. John Cuddihy, Director of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, said. “It is important to note that the risk of transmission through casual contact is low." Minister for Health Simon Harris issued a statement, where he said he has been informed of a confirmed case of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) in Ireland. Minister Harris has notified the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD. "This is not unexpected. We have been preparing for this since January," Minister Harris said. "I would strongly encourage people to follow the guidance and advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team, led by the Chief Medical Officer." Covid-19 is spread through close contact with an infected person’s body fluids - like droplets from coughing or sneezing - or by touching surfaces that an infected person has coughed or sneezed on. The HSE advise anyone who knows they've been in close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 in the last two weeks and who has symptoms - which include cough, shortness of breath, fever - to:

• isolate themselves from the others, going into a separate, well-ventilated room with a phone.
• phone their GP or emergency department. If this is not possible, people are advised to phone 112 or 999.
• in a medical emergency, if you have severe symptoms, phone 112 or 999.

You can find the full list of HSE guidelines right here.