NEED TO CATCH up? TheJournal.ie brings you a round-up of today’s news.

IRELAND

Jessica Smyth (aged 10) from St Mary's School at the ESB Science Blast at the RDS in Dublin Leah Farrell Leah Farrell

• Google has asked the majority of its 8,000 employees to work from home after a staff member reported flu-like symptoms amid growing concerns about Covid-19.
• Health Minister Simon Harris has said guidelines about mass gatherings amid efforts to stop the spread of Covid-19 are likely to be published tomorrow.
• A young child has died and another child and a woman have sustained serious injuries in an incident at a house in Larne, Co Antrim, sources have said.
• Ryanair is cancelling up to 25% of its Italian short-haul flights for a three-week period later this month in response to the Covid-19 coronavirus. 
• A man of “excellent character” who stabbed his mother’s violent, heroin-using ex-boyfriend to death during a row has been sentenced to two years in prison. 
• Labour Party leadership candidate Alan Kelly has published legal advice he received in 2015 which he claims shows that a rent freeze could be constitutional. 
• Minister Eoghan Murphy decided against increasing general election spending limits for candidates amid concerns taxpayers would be hit with an extra bill of almost €190,000.
• The High Court has approved personal insolvency arrangements allowing Frank McNamara and his wife Theresa Lowe write off almost €3m of their debts.
• A man has appeared in court charged in connection with a crash that killed a mother and son and a young footballer.

INTERNATIONAL

Health Secretary Matt Hancock (centre) and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty (right) arriving in Downing Street in London, for a meeting of the Government's emergency committee Cobra to discuss coronavirus. PA PA

#CORONAVIRUS: The Covid-19 threat to Europe has risen to “moderate to high”. 

#REFUGEES: Thousands of migrants and refugees have massed at Turkey’s western frontier, trying to enter Greece by land and sea.

#BREXIT: The first round of post-Brexit trade talks between the UK and the European Union began today, with the two sides well apart on a final agreement. 

PARTING SHOT 

5,000 people drawn from over 100 different countries will officially become Irish citizens over the next two days. 

Here’s the totals for the top 10 countries:

• United Kingdom – 982
• Poland – 715
• Romania – 496
• India – 370
•  Nigeria – 201
• Brazil – 171
• Latvia – 138
• Philippines 137
• China – 113
•  USA – 113