RTÉ and the journal have further coverage of DPER's circular from yesterday which aims to find "creative and innovative" ways of delivering public services. Fórsa is mentioned in both articles and quoted as urging members to volunteer for temporary critical assignments while pledging to cooperate with redeployment and other required measures.

A further 74 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed by the National Public Health Emergency Team last night bringing the total number of cases in the Republic to 366. Some statistical breakdowns reveal that 42% cases are travel related, 22% associated with community transmission, 17% are as a result of local transmission and 20% remain under investigation. This news comes as the Dáil reconvenes today to rush through emergency legislation with drastic powers to fight the crisis, as figures show the disease has now struck almost nationwide.

Whilst it was anticipated yesterday that 11,000 health workers may respond to the HSE's recruitment drive, the 'on call for Ireland' campaign has achieved more than double that as 24,000 people responded to the call for help in just 24 hours.

Patricia King of Congress issued a letter to the Taoiseach last night calling for an ‘ambitious’ scheme to subside salaries of laid off workers. An estimated 140,000 people have already lost their jobs as a result of the corona crisis with a further 200,000 expected to go in the coming days. Fórsa's own Paul MacSweeney highlights the large number of people also being made temporarily redundant in this video which covers the DEASP's efforts to maintain social distancing with the increased amount of people signing on.

The Indo reports that Connect Airways, the holding company behind Dublin-based Stobart Air, which operates the Aer Lingus Regional service, has fallen into administration in the UK. The move is linked to the recent collapse of Flybe which was also part of Connect Airways.

Meanwhile, it was finally announced that schools across Northern Ireland are to close from Monday due to the pandemic, as six new cases of the virus were confirmed there yesterday bringing the total number to 68. In the Republic, many stores and retailers have made the decision to close their doors too as Penneys, Arnotts and Brown Thomas all announced yesterday they won't be reopening for the foreseeable. Mandate General Secretary John Douglas stated that staff members will be paid for a fortnight under preliminary conditions laid down by the retail giants until the situation clarifies.

And finally, RTÉ 2fm have set up an online challenge to keep people occupied and entertained from the safety of their homes. Yesterday's #CreateDontContaminate trend saw people get clever with playing 'keepie uppies,' (it appears lots of toilet roll was used) while today, participants are tasked with 'singing it out while they stay in.' Have a scroll through the hashtag for a moment of Zen.