The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the government is currently not recommending the cancellation of major events like St Patrick's Day amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Leo Varadkar made the announcement after chairing a special COVID-19 stakeholder forum at Leinster House this afternoon.
“In terms of events, detailed guidance is being issued today on events and mass gatherings,” he said.
“We are not recommending at this stage that any major events be cancelled but that, of course, will be kept under review.”
He said the Government is working on a number of measures as it prepares for more cases.
“What we may have to do is ask people who are retired health care professionals to come back into service if there are significant pressures on our health service in the weeks ahead,” he said.
“We are going to do some work on that over the next couple of days and also by Monday, we should have a clear solution on what we are going to do in providing income supports to workers who are asked to self-isolate.”
There are currently 16 confirmed cases of the virus on the island of Ireland – 13 of those south of the border.
Among the seven new cases confirmed yesterday was the first apparent case of community transmission in Ireland.
Meeting over. Taoiseach says Government is not recommending "at this stage" that any large gatherings are cancelled. #COVIDー19 https://t.co/h928j66Hq4
— Shane Beatty (@ShaneBeattyNews) March 6, 2020
The man was a patient at Cork University Hospital and had not been to an affected area or in contact with any known cases.
Around 60 staff at the hospital have been asked to self-isolate as a result and outpatient appointments have been cancelled.
Dialysis, chemotherapy, radiation treatments and infusions are proceeding as planned.
Meanwhile, all elective surgeries and outpatient appointments at six hospitals in Limerick have been cancelled for next Monday and Tuesday.
A visiting ban is also in place at all six hospitals.
Picture from L to R are Deirdre Watters, Head of Communications, Department of Health; Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Irish Department of Health; An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD and Elizabeth Canavan, Assistant Secretary-General at a special stakeholders forum on the coronavirus, 06-03-2020. Image: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNewsThe Mater Hospital in Dublin has also put visiting restrictions in place, alongside hundreds of nursing homes around the country.
Meanwhile, the organisers of St Patrick’s Day parades in Youghal in County Cork and Stepaside in Dublin decided to cancel their events this morning.
The HSE is urging anyone who has been to one of seven coronavirus-affected areas in the past two weeks and is experiencing symptoms of the virus to phone their local GP or Emergency Department without delay.
The symptoms are a cough, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties, fever (high temperature).
If you are feeling well, you are advised to carry on with your normal routine.
People are urged to contact the HSE on 1850 24 1850 if they think they have been in contact with a coronavirus patient or if they were at a healthcare facility in another country where coronavirus patients are being treated.
Health officials say there is no need for masks or gloves.
The best way to protect yourself from the virus is to:
- Wash your hands properly and often
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough and sneeze
- Put used tissues into a bin and wash your hands
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
- Avoid close contact with people who are not well.
Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
