Health Minister Simon Harris has said that his department will recommend that the Six Nations rugby match between Ireland and Italy be cancelled over coronavirus fears.
The match is due to take place on Saturday, March 7th in Dublin.
The Health Minister told RTÉ news: “The very clear view of the public health emergency team was that this game should not go ahead and that it would constitute a significant risk, because a very large number of people will be travelling from what is now an affected region.
“My department will be contacting the IRFU in relation to this.
"I know when it comes to cause a great disappointment to many, but it is important to make decisions in relation to public health above and beyond all other considerations.”
The National Public Health Emergency Team have also recommended that the game be cancelled.
