The Irish Ambassador to the United States is telling Irish students in the country to return home as soon as they can.
The US now has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the world, according research by John Hopkins University.
Ambassador Daniel Mulhall has this message for some students in the States;
"I know how reluctant you will be to alter your plans and go back to Ireland but in the current circumstances our best advice to you is that you should go back to Ireland."
He went on to say there are still flights from a number of US cities.
Advice to Irish J1 visa holders in the USA. I spent a summer in Kansas City & know how enjoyable and beneficial an experience it is. In current circumstances, the best advice I can give you is to return home as soon as you can. Contact your airline about flight options. pic.twitter.com/5nO6je8tdF
— Daniel Mulhall (@DanMulhall) March 30, 2020
It comes as hospital tents have been erected in the New York's Central Park as part of a field hospital, which is due to open today.
It's offering intensive care beds for those struck down by the illness.
1,200 people have died in the city after testing positive for Covid-19.
Main image: US President Donald Trump welcoming a navy hospital ship to New York.
