It's understood a number of Irish Citizens are on board a cruise ship off the US coast, where 21 people have tested positive for the coronavirus.
US helicopters are flying coronavirus test kits onto the cruise ship The Grand Princess where a number of Irish people are among thousands of passengers quarantined on board.
The ship is currently moored off San Francisco and under orders to keep its distance from the shore, after 21 people were diagnosed with the virus.
The Department of Foreign Affairs says the Irish Consulate in San Francisco is in touch with local authorities and monitoring the situation closely.
Donegal man Pat Kelly from Moville is a second officer on the ship.
Among others on board is 60-year-old Kari Kolstoe who has stage four cancer - she's worried about getting home in time for her next round of treatment.
