There are currently 20 cases of coronavirus in Northern Ireland
UK government moves to the delay phase in its plan to tackle coronavirus
Schools and colleges to close in the Republic of Ireland
GAA, rugby and football fixtures affected
White House cancels annual St Patrick's Day White House reception
GP Alan Stout says "only hingsight will tell whether Ireland has made the right decision, but you can't fail to be impressed with Leo Varadkar and the decision he has made".
"In Northern Ireland, we are seeing a huge volume of concerned patients coming through," he told Talkback.
"We are referring people and we're now struggling to get swabs done."
"The guidance is changing very, very rapidly."
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Speaking on Radio Ulster's Talkback Brian McEvoy, CEO of Ulster GAA, said the restrictions were "going to have major repercussions on sporting events".
"Our position in Ulster GAA is very clear – as an all-island body we will take the lead from the health authorities and whichever are imposing the most stringent restrictions is what we will put in place," he said.
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The measures introduced in the Republic of Ireland will have a significant impact on Northern Ireland’s border region, the managing director of Sportswear firm O’Neill’s has said.
The company employs more than 750 staff at its factory in Strabane and about half of them live across the border in County Donegal.
Image source, O'NeillsManaging director Kieran Kennedy said: “The biggest issues will be around childcare, and that will be very challenging for a lot of our staff. It will have a real impact on our manufacturing.”
Remote working was not an option for the vast majority of his workforce, he added.
“That could have a very serious impact on the manufacturing industry,” he said.
Belfast City Council is to hold a special meeting on Friday evening to discuss "next steps regarding council staffing, civic responsibilities, services and events".
Lord Mayor Danny Baker said: “Following moves from the Irish government to step up measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, members of Belfast City Council have today agreed to seek guidance from the Northern Ireland Executive and the Public Health Agency."
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Comedy stars Steve Martin and Martin Short have postponed a performance due to take place at Belfast's SSE Arena on Thursday night.
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BBC News NI reporter Kevin Sharkey tweets:
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Dr Carmen Regan, consultant in maternal medicine, tells Talkback "we need to act now and quickly".
"We need to impose severe restrictions on people's activities.
"This virus doesn't know any boundaries, so the island of Ireland I think could be considered as one on this," she said.
"I think we have an emerging epidemic."
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Queen's University virologist Lindsay Broadbent says she's "not surprised and actually quite relieved" by the steps taken by the Irish government.
She told Talkback she hopes to hear similar news from the UK government.
"The reason the World Health Organisation have decided to announce this as a pandemic is to make world leaders sit up and take notice."
Image source, PA MediaSimon Coveney said the Irish government would keep updating travel advice on where people should not travel to, but said airports remain open.
"It's our intention to introduce some new measures in our airports for people coming in, so that we leave people in no doubt as to the states response.
"We don't have any plans to close airports or shut down ferries, but we will be looking at how we can communicate more directly and more effectively as people use those facilities."
Image source, PA MediaSimon Harris and Simon Coveney
Irish Health Minister Simon Harris: “Today we are moving to the delay phase of Covid-19.
"The protective measures we are talking today are carefully considered, proportionate and based solely on protecting public health."
Football Association of Ireland tweets:
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