Personal protective equipment has been in short supply
An Aer Lingus flight from Beijing carrying items like gowns, gloves and masks is due at Dublin Airport later.
They'll be given to healthcare workers, who make up almost a quarter of confirmed cases of Covid-19 so far.
There are now more than 2,400 people with the coronavirus in the Republic and 36 people have died.
Health Minister Simon Harris says the equipment arriving today is badly needed:
