“Live this difficult moment with the strength of the faith, the certainty of hope and the ardour of charity,” said the pope in a message to all those affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

Pastoral care can be provided over the telephone/skype if resources permit, says HSE calling on priests not to make visits to those at risk of carrying the COVID-19 virus.

“As a community of faith, we need to take proper care of ourselves. We must take care not to spread the flu,” says Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.

The handshake represents a low risk of spreading virus, but if people are uncomfortable about it, they can use a smile or a bow - Dublin Archdiocese.

"Our society will really become human as we discover that the strong need the weak, just as the weak need the strong. We are all together working for the common good.”