:Latest: The Health Minister says a decision on St Patrick's Day parades will be made in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Twenty-one people in the Republic now have the coronavirus.
Two new cases were confirmed last night, which include a female in the east of the country and a male in the south of the country.
Simon Harris says a decision on this year's St Patrick's celebrations will be made shortly.
Any decision in relation to the cancellation of public events such as parades will be taken following advice from public health experts.
“We will follow advice to the letter, we will be monitoring the situation constantly.”
It comes after a number of parades in Co Cork have been called off.
In the capital, former Lord Mayor of Dublin Christy Burke said if the government doesn't call a halt, he will ask council management to pull support.
Former Lord Mayor of Dublin wants the capital's St Patrick's Day Parade postponed
A former Lord Mayor of Dublin wants the capital's St Patrick's Day Parade postponed, to avoid the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
Christy Burke said if the government doesn't call a halt, he will ask council management to pull support.
Yesterday parade organisers in Whitegate and Blarney in Co Cork said their events couldn't go ahead - with Midleton, Cobh and Youghal already called off.
Cllr Christy Burke says he has been "inundated with phone calls" from concerned constituents.
"They are nearly afraid to go out," he said. "One woman last night said she hopes nobody turns up for the parade.
"We're not spoiljoys," he said, adding he was "genuinely concerned" with the amount of calls he has received and the anxiety in the community.
At the end of the day, it is health before profit.
This story was updated at 8.55am
