Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said there will be an “exponential increase” in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ireland the coming days.
Mr Varadkar expects there will be a daily 30% rise in positive tests for the coronavirus here for the next few weeks.
This could mean over 10,000 cases diagnosed by the end of this month.
The number of confirmed cases in the Republic stands at 169, but a significant rise in cases is expected this evening.
Speaking at a meeting of the Cabinet Subcommittee on COVID-19 this evening, Mr Varadkar said the increases "cannot be stopped".
He said: "There will be an exponential increase in the number of cases in the coming days and weeks, increases of roughly 30% in the number of cases every day.
"That is inevitable, that cannot be stopped.
The Tánaiste Simon Coveney said all non-essential travel from Ireland should be avoided until at least March 29th.
That advice also now applies to travel to the UK which had been previously exempted.
He says Ryanair and Aer Lingus are continuing flights to get passengers back from Spain with those flights expected to last until the weekend.
Mr Coveney also said new measures are being put in place for people arriving into Ireland.
Main image: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking tot he media this evening following the meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on COVID-19. Photo: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
