Four New Confirmed Cases Of Covid-19 In Ireland

There have been four new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has reported.

The patients are all associated with travel from the same affected area in Northern Italy.

There are two male and two female patients, from the western part of the country.

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer with the Department of Health, said: "Tonight we can confirm there are now 6 cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. Contact tracing is underway for these 4 new cases."

Dr. Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: "There is still no evidence of widespread or sustained community transmission in Ireland, as seen in some other EU countries.

"While we now have 6 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland, we continue our containment efforts, central to which is that the public know what to do in the event they have symptoms."

COVID-19 is spread through close contact with an infected person’s body fluids (for example, droplets from coughing or sneezing). It is also spread by touching surfaces that an infected person has coughed or sneezed on, which is one of the reasons why it is so important that people wash their hands regularly, practice respiratory etiquette, and try to avoid touching their face.

The general public is advised to follow advice from the HSE and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre to protect their health.

Any person who has traveled from an affected area in the last 14 days, or has been in close contact with a confirmed case in the last 14 days AND are concerned that they may have symptoms of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) should immediately isolate themselves from others and contact their GP by phone.

(MH/CM)