An announcement on the State exams is expected after today’s meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team.

Health officials will make a range of recommendations after the meeting – with restrictions on work and travel expected to be extended this evening.

The recommendations will also focus on schools and universities and Education Minister Joe McHugh is expected to make an announcement about the Junior and Leaving Certificates.

It is unlikely the exams will take place as planned on June 3rd, with speculation they will be pushed back to July, August or even September.

Speaking last night, Health Minister Simon Harris said he expects more clarity today.

“People are asking me about the Leaving Cert and Junior Cert,” he said.

“My understanding is that Joe McHugh, the Minister for Education is hoping to make an announcement about that very shortly, maybe even tomorrow so hopefully we will have clarity on that.”

Minister McHugh has consistently said he is aiming to see the exams go ahead as planned.

He pledged to inform students at the “earliest point possible” if there was to be any change to the timetable.

Hannah from Dublin is a Leaving Cert student - and she told Lunchtime Live she wants a decision one way or the other.

She said: "I think all of the sixth year and Junior Cert students even can agree it's very stressful.

"I think what makes it so much worse is the uncertainty: we really don't know if it is going ahead... is it going to be in August... we really have no idea."