The Catholic Church across the Diocese of Ferns has introduced measures to prevent any spread of the coronavirus.
The Church is also advising people who feel ill not to attend masses.
Fr. John Carroll is Diocesan Secretary in Ferns and says all handshaking at mass will be suspended while all parishioners are asked to take communion in their hands instead of their tongues while alerts remain in place.
Churches in the diocese have been advised to drain their holy water fonts and make alcohol based handwashing facilities available as a precaution.
Meanwhile a secondary school in Dublin is closed today as a precaution to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Students and teachers have been told to restrict their movements.
A male student at the school was confirmed as the first case of Covid-19 in the Republic over the weekend.
A number of schools in Co. Wexford also remain on alert after their students returned from trips to Italy recently.
