The first case of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on the island of Ireland has been confirmed in Northern Ireland.

According to Northern Ireland's Public Health Agency, the infected person had recently been to northern Italy and had travelled back to Northern Ireland via Dublin.

The person is being treated in isolation in a hospital in Belfast, however no personal details are being released.

"The Public Health Agency is continuing working with partners across the UK including Public Health England, as well as the Department of Health and health trusts in Northern Ireland, and the health service in the Republic of Ireland, on the ongoing global novel coronavirus response," the agency said.

Responding to the news, the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, said that it was "not unexpected".

"Given the evolving situation, this first case of COVID-19 disease was not unexpected. The National Public Health Emergency Team has been planning for this scenario since January," he insisted.

In relation to the news that the patient in Northern Ireland had travelled through Dublin, the Department of Health's chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, said that the HSE is "well prepared and is working to inform any contacts the patient had in order to prevent transmission".

"COVID-19 is spread through close contact with an infected person's body fluids (e.g. droplets from coughing or sneezing), or by touching surfaces that an infected person has coughed or sneezed on.

"Close contact involves either face to face contact or spending more than 15 minutes within two metres of an infected person. The risk of transmission through casual contact is low," Dr Holohan explained.

Anyone who has been to an affected region (mainland China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Iran and northern Italy) in the last 14 days AND is experiencing symptoms, should self-isolate and call their GP.

Anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days AND is experiencing symptoms should immediately self-isolate and call their GP.

It can take up to 14 days for symptoms of the virus to show. These may include a cough, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties and fever (high temperature).

COVID-19 can also cause more severe illnesses, including pneumonia and severe breathing difficulties.

People are recommended to wash their hands properly and regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub, and cover their mouths and noses with a tissue when they cough and sneeze. If no tissue is available, cough into your elbow, not your hands.

Over 82,000 people have been infected with the virus, which first emerged in the Wuhan region of China in late 2019, while over 2,800 people have died from the illness. For more information on COVID-19, click here or here.