Passengers can expect an email today.

Ryanair has suspended all flights into and out of Italy, as well as domestic flights within the country, as part of measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

With 10,000 people infected with Covid-19 and 500 deaths so far, all of Italy is on lockdown, with the movement of 60m people severely restricted.

Domestic flights will be halted from midnight tonight, with international flights stopped from Friday, March 13th, 2020 until further notice.

British Airways already moved to cancel flights to the country as it struggles to contain the outbreak and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has urged Irish people to reconsider travel to any part of the country.

While there are no flights from Italy into Cork Airport at this time of the year, Ryanair does operate flights from Cork Airport to Milan and Naples during the summer.

Passengers with bookings at other Irish airports are advised to check with the airline to make any necessary travel arrangements.

Last week, Ryanair cancelled a quarter of all Italian short-haul flights for a three week period from March 17th to April 8th April, in response to the Covid19 virus.

The airline says affected passengers will be able to avail of a full refund or travel credit.