Derry City and Strabane District Council has announced the closure of two public buildings as a contingency measure to help "mitigate against the impact of Covid-19".

The main civic council offices in Derry Road, Strabane and the Brandywell Sports Centre building will both close from 18:00 GMT on Thursday for "operational reasons".

Mayor Michaela Boyle said the closure of the buildings would allow council to carry out "essential services" such as waste management, the registration of births, deaths and marriages, cemetery provision and financial services.

Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin has outlined new restrictions for clergy and parishioners, including the postponement of confirmations and the cancellation of all non-essential pastoral gatherings and meetings.

Attendance at funeral masses and services must not exceed 100 people and no more than that number may attend weddings or baptisms.

The St Patrick's Day parade in Armagh has been cancelled.

Organisers said the decision was made "with great disappointment".

"Although the advice from the Public Health Agency regarding public gatherings has not changed, the decision today by the Irish government as regards public gathering is one that needs to be taken onboard."

Twenty seven new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Ireland, according to its Department of Health.

The first and deputy first ministers say decisions will continue to be made on medical and scientific evidence.

Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer (CMO), said "the four UK CMOs agreed that we should raise the risk to the UK, all four nations, to high".

"The virus seems to have its maximum transmission around the time of the first symptoms and for two or three days afterwards and then rapidly declines, so that by seven days the great majority of people are not infectious and it is fine for them to go back into society."

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill says the situation in Northern Ireland will be kept under review.

"There are a number of initiatives which perhaps need to be judged on a day-by-day basis. That includes school closures, that includes public gatherings.

"We have to look at all of these things on a continual basis and be able to adapt."

"This isn't a case of us trying to eradicate Covid-19, this is a case of us trying to mitigate Covid-19, as best as we can," she added.

First Minister Arlene Foster says the executive had "no prior knowledge" of the measures announced by the Republic of Ireland, which involve closing schools.

"We will work with our medical advisors and take their medical advice very seriously as you would expect us to do," she said.

"They are in a different situation in terms of they have community transfer in the Republic of Ireland. We do not have that as yet."

"The timeliness of interventions is very, very important and that's where the science and comes in and the evidence comes in."

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First Minister Arlene Foster says containment phase has been "relatively successful in Northern Ireland".

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the Northern Ireland executive is not at a stage where they need to take the decision to close schools.

The Irish Rugby Football Union, together with Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster Rugby have announced the suspension of all domestic rugby activity from 18:00 GMT on 12 March until 29 March in response to the latest government advice on the coronavirus pandemic.

It has said all rugby activities across clubs and schools, from minis to adult rugby, must now cease.

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"While rugby clubs may wish to continue to operate facilities such as bars and function-rooms they must observe government restrictions in relation to the number of people that may attend indoor (no more than 100 people) and outdoor (no more than 500 people) events," it said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the coronavirus outbreak was the "worst public health crisis for a generation".

"Many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time," he said.

"As we’ve said over the last few weeks, we have a clear plan that we are now working through. This is not now an attempt to contain the disease, but to delay its spread.

"The chief medical officer will set out our lines of defence, but we have to deploy these at the right time to maximise their effect. The most important task it to protect our elderly and most vulnerable people."

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Anyone with a persistent cough or high temperature is now being advised to self-isolate for seven days, as the UK government moves to the "delay" phase of its plan to tackle coronavirus.

Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said school trips abroad will be banned, and advised older people and those with pre-existing health conditions not to go on cruises.

Read more here.

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The Guinness PRO14 season has been suspended in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement, the league said: "It is in the best interests of everyone that games are not played at this time. The suspension has been directed by the board of Celtic Rugby DAC and will be remain under constant review.

David Jordan, tournament director of PRO14 Rugby, said: “We have made this decision with everyone’s welfare foremost in our minds.

"With an evolving situation in the five countries that take part in Guinness PRO14 it is important to make a clear decision that is in keeping with the advice of the various governments involved.”

"This is an unprecedented action for the tournament and as such no end date to the suspension can be provided at this time."

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council will meet on Thursday evening to discuss the potential implications of coronavirus.

The mayor, councillor Sean Bateson, called the meeting to brief elected members on emergency planning and contingency measures.

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‘It’s important that everyone within the local community adheres to ongoing public health advice which can help to prevent the spread of the virus," he said.

The Fermanagh Feis which has been taking place at St Fancheas College and the Enniskillen Drama Festival at the Ardhowen have been cancelled.

The Amateur Drama Council of Ireland are announcing the cancellation of the 2020 Amateur Drama Festival Circuit from 6pm today following advice and guidelines.