France V Ireland postponed in Paris amid Coronavirus fears

Q Radio news

Ireland's Six Nations rugby match with France has become the latest major event to be called off because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The French sport's minister's announced it'll be postponed amid growing global fears over the spread.

Five new cases of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland are among those being added to the latest UK total - which stands at almost 300.

The prime minister, Boris Johnston, has been chairing a Cobra emergency meeting.

Last night the Foreign Office advised against all but essential travel to parts of northern Italy.

First Minister of Northern Ireland Arlene Foster spoke after the meeting in London. 

She's confirmed that the UK remains in the containment phase and said that people should continue to take a "common sense" approach to the coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking on the steps of the Cabinet Office she said that decisions to postpone major public and sporting events would be "led by the scientific advisers".

"We're still in the containment phase," she said.

"This is a big issue for the nation, there's no getting away from it. What we must do is try to mitigate and delay this disease becoming a real issue for the whole of the UK.

"We are led by the scientific advisers... but it is all about timing and taking the appropriate intervention at the appropriate time.

"Take a common sense approach to this, I think that's very important."

IMAGE: Irish Rugby twitter