The Department of Justice has said citizenship ceremonies, set to take place on March 2nd and 3rd, will proceed as planned.

The event will be held at the INEC Killarney.

The department says this follows consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health.

However candidates are to be notified by e-mail or telephone on Friday.

People and their guests who have returned from a COVID-19 affected region in the last 14 days, or who have been in close contact with a confirmed or probable COVID-19 case in the last 14 days, and have symptoms are being told to isolate themselves at home and phone their GP.

They are requested not to attend the ceremony.

The current list of coronoavius-affected regions is: Mainland China, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Iran and four regions in northern Italy: Veneto, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont.

Applicants are being told that an alternative ceremony will be held on or before April 17th.

Those attending the alternative ceremony are being asked to notify the citizenship division of the Department of Justice on or before February 29th.

The department adds it will continue to monitor developments.

Advice on the coronavirus be found here

More information on citizenship ceremonies is available here