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HEALTH AUTHORITIES IN Ireland are working to establish how the first confirmed case of community transmission of the Covid-19 virus occurred.
The patient is being treated at Cork University Hospital (CUH).
Seven new cases in total were confirmed by health officials tonight, bringing the total in the Republic to 13.
One of the cases, the male patient in CUH, is the first confirmed instance of community transmission – he has not recently returned from a country where there is a spread of the virus and is believed to have caught it in Ireland.
The patient had recently been admitted to CUH and was discharged. He was then readmitted and tested for the coronavirus.
Speaking to reporters this evening, Dr John Cuddihy, HSE director of public health, said health authorities “can’t explain” the case of community transmission at the moment. The patient has not been linked to an already confirmed case of the virus.
All other cases have either returned from an affected area (northern Italy), or have been in close contact with a confirmed case. Health officials said a risk assessment is now underway in relation to this patient.
In a statement from Cork University Hospital earlier this evening, CUH said that strict visitor restrictions have been introduced with immediate effect due to “infection control concerns”.
It also said that all outpatient appointments have been cancelled tomorrow (6 March) and they will be rescheduled as soon as possible.
“This is in the interest of patient care and in order to prevent the spread of infections within the hospital,” the hospital said.
CUH said treatments like chemotherapy and dialysis will still go ahead tomorrow:
When asked what reassurance could be offered to vulnerable patients who are attending the hospital for these treatments tomorrow, Dr Colm Henry, chief clinical officer said health authorities at CUH “will ensure the continuation of treatment for such essential treatment”.
He said there will be “no break given the nature of the conditions and the essential treatment they need”.
‘Rapidly evolving’
Tonight, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said Ireland remains in containment phase with just one case of community transmission.
“This is, however, a rapidly evolving situation. Public health doctors are working hard to ensure our containment measures are operating effectively,” he added.
“Most people who become infected with Covid-19 experience a mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for some.
“However, this will need a national effort. Every individual needs to be aware of how to protect their own health and the health of others.”
- With reporting by Cónal Thomas.
I can, we let people into the country from infected areas without any proper checks and then this person picked it up somewhere along the way
@Benny: quick, send in your CV
@Mel Fitzpatrick: ha ha, the worrying thing is it probably isn’t much worse than our health minister’s.
@Benny: it’s ok tho because the head of the HSE has said we are in a containment phase…. my assess
@Benny: he’s not my minister
@Benny: Hahaha.. Good point
@Benny: We let these people back in because there citizens. It maybe a problem. But we’ll deal with it.
@Benny: or possibly doctor or nurse or care assistant or cleaner has recently returned from a affected country but couldn’t afford to take time off so took his/her chances and went to work in CUH or it might have been a family member who the person caught it off.
@Malachy: iv no issue with letting them back in, just cant see why they weren’t told to self-isolate for a few weeks and given face masks to wear if they were going to get public transport after their flight
@Euro McPúnty: yes his is
@Tom Harpur Photography: O’R someone on the street; or on the bus, or taxi, or pub, or restaurant, or shop, or public bathroom, or nightclub, or cinema,or church, or wedding, or funeral, or or or or ………
It’s simple really, allowing people back into the general population from infected areas was madness but that’s what happens when the lunatics are running the asylum!…
@Kate Flaherty: and what’s the alternative, turn away Irish citizens at the border? What happens to people on holiday who might have children at home? Or parents who have children abroad? We just ignore them and hope they go away? It’s a flu, it’s not a flesh eating virus. If you have been abroad, stay away from vulnerable people. That’s all we can do.
@Dave Martin: You don’t have to turn them away, just have a better system of monitoring their health when they come back until sufficient time had passed.
@Dave Martin: nobody said anything about turning people away. It’s a virus that is killing some people.
@Dave Martin: Alternative is quarantine for 2 weeks to ensure they’re not carrying the virus. That’s what happened with people returning to from Wuhan
@Dave Martin: “turning away people at the border”!, twist people’s words much??, people returning from infected areas should be quarantined in an isolation unit in order to contain the spread and minimise the impact on the more vulnerable and the health services, these might appear to be harsh measures in the short term but in the long term these measures would have prevented the avalanche that’s about to ensue, that is of course without mentioning the fans Italians about to arrive!…
@Kate Flaherty: the avalanche of a flu is going to happen. No matter what precautions you put in place. It is going to be transmitted either way. It takes 14 days from the first noticeable symptom, it would be an absolute nightmare to try and stop it and it is impossible. In the real world there is no way to appropriately stop the spread. People can be infected and not even show any signs of infection, even after 14 days. The hysteria around this is madness.
@Dave Martin: Agreed it cannot be stopped!, that’s the one thing we can all agree on, is that not more the reason we should have been even more vigilant about containing it in the first instance?!?!…
@Dave Martin: hysteria around this flu as you call it is because there is no ‘flu jab’ you can get for this as a precautionary measure. Since it is a new strain of virus no human has any kind of immunity to it. So if you come in contact with someone who has it you are more than likely to get it, and if you are elderly or have an underlying health issue you’re more than likely going to get very very sick from it. And when I say very sick I mean possibly fatal.
@Kate Flaherty: We would need a time machine to prevent the people returning from Italian outbreak areas as they were already home from Italy for several days before the Italian outbreak was known about.
@Colin O’Mahony: Really, it’s you who needs a time machine Dr Who to go back and have a look at the timing of the events again and then get back to me, good man!…
@Kate Flaherty: oh ffs …give it a rest “expert”!!
@Dave Martin: hmmmmm , like the health worker who had returned from Italy – and reportedly still went in to work in one of our A+E departments in a hospital – and has now tested positive ?
Do You seriously think we shouldn’t perhaps have taken some basic precautions and not allowed health workers who arrived from infected areas back into the hospitals exposing the most vulnerable people to exposure – honestly the mind boggles
@Dave Martin: Anybody retuning from an infected area should have been tested simples….
@Kate Flaherty: you would have put anyone coming from Italy in an isolation unit for 2 weeks? That would be some size isolation unit. Not practical at all. There was nothing that could be done to stop it arriving here.
@Dave Martin: it is not a flu. It is a related but totally different virus. Is this concept too difficult for you? If so, then no one should be taking your comments seriously. Some things they know about, some things they don’t. They haven’t quite figured out the transmission method, so don’t know how infectious it is. Incubation period is up to 2 weeks, though in some cases it appears to be longer. This means that people usually get sick within a period of potentially a few hours and up to 2 weeks after exposure. They are not certain if it is infectious in asymptomatic people. At 3%, the death rate is 30 times higher than the flu. (Cont’d in next comment).
@David Stapleton: … To limit risks, hygiene advice should be followed, travel restrictions should be in place, all large gatherings should be suspended, any person returning from either a known hot spot or who has been to international airports, etc., should self isolate for 2 weeks as a precaution. Spreading panic is counter-productive, but so is the opposite and saying it is a flu, in other words, you are just as guilty as those idiots who are basically going biblical.
@Kate Flaherty: What isolation units? We don’t have beds for our ordinarily unwell citizens. There’s little hope of finding hundreds of isolation beds for infected people.
This is being handled unbelievably badly. We have official statements being made like ‘there has been no community contamination’ at the same time that the media is running the story of a carrier working a shift in an A&E.
We cannot approach this crisis with the same media managed, optics first, approach we’ve had from government the last 9 years.
@The Risen: I predict a major break out in Cork next few weeks, it’s been badly handled in CUH.
@The Risen: Well if SF can get rid of the corona virus as fast as they can build houses without a workforce, get them into government quick.
@DERRY1973: go back to derry
@The Risen: Sure, SF will sort C19 out :/
@DERRY1973:
Cynical oakleafer
@Angry_Man41: pest
@Paul O’Sullivan: A tenner says 100 cases by Tuesday 10/03.
Double or quits we’ll still be talking about having the parades. By then people will be arriving from around the world for a piss up in Dublin. A week after St Patrick’s Day the numbers will jump like a scalded cat.
Just watching a Travel expert on Prine Time says st Patrick’s day festivals should go ahead because it would be a financial loss to hoteliers and small business.
Unbelievable …
We dong even have a functioning Goverment in this country a lack of leadership….
@Paul O’Sullivan: what would you do if you stood to lose 50k or a 100k? Honestly!
@Paul O’Sullivan: we have people who only care about the economy. Simple as that really.
All health workers who treated this patient need to be quarantined. All families related to these health workers need to be quarantined now. There’s a shopping centre across the road. This just gets worse. Where did the health workers have lunch . which schools are their kids going to? …
@saoirse janneau: oh no……total gridlock man!!!
@saoirse janneau: Cracks beginning to appear already in the great “Operation Trace”!….
@saoirse janneau: will they be paid. Hmmmmm
@Kate Flaherty: As the numbers escalate then operation trace will succumb to being ineffective ,the horse has bolted and he is sowing his wild oats.
@Honeybee: Couldn’t agree more!..
@saoirse janneau: How long was this guy in the ED for?
all these experts!! You are a bigger problem.
Someone with a mild dose who hasn’t been tested sneezed on them. There you go. Explained (one theory at least)
@Keith ☘️: I’ve a bad dose of a cold. Mild temperature. I am carrying on as normal like any flu or cold.
@Stevo The Man On A Mission Returns: get well soon love.
@MiseBean: thanks bbz xoxox
Let me explain it… someone who had it passed it on, its effecting people differently, the man in CUH was being treated for a weak for something else. Who knows how many people this man has transmitted it too. He has an underlying condition
@Paul O’Sullivan: what’s the name of the virus that inhibits the ability to spell?
@Keith ☘️: it’s called dextravirus
@Paul O’Sullivan: Thanks for that Paul. The journal should hire you to explain all their articles. At least give you a “weaks” trial….
@Paul O’Sullivan: Freudian slip. We’ll all be weak in a week if virus is not contained
The head of WHO has been repeatedly tweeting saying many countries actions are not strong enough here. Before HSE apologists say they’re following WHO guidelines. Our response has been depressingly dire here.
@Toon Army: Our only defense is the fake look of concern on Simon Harris face.
Where is the fellow that said nobody should listen to an anonymous Internet tweeter. What do you think now? Should we cancel the parade now. We’re there undiagnosed infected people among us. I sure hope the chief medical officer realises we are no longer containing this virus. We did not ban flights so we welcomed the virus with a million welcomes onto our shores. We’ll done. Are we awake yet? Are we awake yet?
@Imagine !: oh dear!
The advice to healthcare workers coming back from infected areas is to come back to work if asymptomatic. That’s not just here, it’s also the advice of NHS. Happened to an acquaintance who’s a public health nurse in NHS and had been in Venice. According to twitter it’s a similar situation in cuh. Doctor told to continue working after trip to northern Italy. Don’t know if that is true, but it’s complete madness that healthcare workers are not isolated if they’ve been in infected areas.
@Anne Marie Devlin: Oh the irony if it is found that healthcare workers are spreading the virus but as you point out, why not,there are no restrictions and an article in today’s news says an infected healthcare worker in Co Clare worked a full shift in a hospital before he was diagnosed with the virus himself, how many will go on to develop the virus from close contact now?
Ireland have obviously been taking advice from the World Health Organisation like every other country and I’m sure Europe too, but they all failed to realise we had an advantage to contain this virus as a country because we are an Island! If it’s so contagious you have to take draconian measures, it may hurt for a while but it’s the right thing to do, stop all travel to and from Ireland.
I also believe if countries are put in a situation of lock down to save the rest of the world from a similar treat in the future, I think the rest of the world should help them financially recover their economy in the aftermath of a successful recovery from such a health threat.
@Anna Marie O Brien: and how do we get all the goods we recieve on a daily basis, simple things like meds & food, what about Irish people holidaying abroad, do we leave them out there? What you’re suggesting just doesnt make any sense. The reality of it is that thousands of people have come back into this country from infected areas since the outbreak began and so far we have under 20 cases in this country. Maybe if the HSE kept us up to date with the condition of those who have it people might feel a bit more at ease.
@Derek Lyster: nah, maybe if it was somebody with competence and/or anybody but the HSE dealing with it we’d feel more at ease??
Monday-“fake news, please be aware of fake news, people sending out fake letters of self isolation..”
Tuesday – “okay, that was our letter, please follow our advice, the band followed our ‘not fake’ advice and self isolated” “…would be very surprised to see more than two cases here”
Wednesday- “more cases were to be expected”
Thursday – cases double with community contamination – “still in containment phase, following WHO advice” “who-countries are not doing enough”
Friday – containment phaaaaaaaase… we have no idea how the community contamination happened…
Watch this space, numbers will sky rocket over the coming two weeks.
The authorities in Ireland are selfish and controlled by big interests
@trebloc01: explain please?
@TheITGuy: Ignoring the advice from WHO in favour of mitigating the inevitable economic decline caused by the same public health emergency they don’t take seriously. Incompetent.
I noticed that all the officials and government ministers are supporting each other.That tool S. Donnelly was praising the govt’s handling of this. Clearly this has to do with government formation talks with FG and f all to do with whats actually happening. Great. Conscensus. So, all grand.When is somebody going to call them out?
@alan: I do wish they’d stop patting themselves on the back, form a national government and take some concrete action. Develop some contingency plans. All we’re hearing is “we’re following the advice of the WHO/HSE” and teaching people to wash their hands.
Where is the fellow that said nobody should listen to the advice of an anonymous Internet poster? What do you think now? Was Mr anonymous giving good advice? Should we have banned flights from infected areas? Should we now ban the parades? Are we awake yet? Have the seanie fitzs of this crisis woken up yet? Are we still taking our advice from know it all arrogant men? WAKE UP ! CONTAIN THIS VIRUS NOW. BE PROACTIVE NOW. ACT SMART.
The amount of blasé attitude in this country is at an all time high. This is not the f***ing flu. Really hope none of you with this attitude has someone who gets this virus. That will be life changing for you. My father is 78 and I’m not ready to say goodbye to him yet. So a little bit more compassion is deserved all round.
@Olivia Smith: It’s NOT the bubonic plague – get a grip.
@Grainnewhale: which is fine to say if you’re not concerned about possibly infecting someone you love who won’t be able to fight this. If you are concerned about that, be concerned about coronavirus. We’ve had a very weak response thus far given how little we know about it.
@Grainnewhale: No I won’t get a grip. It’s fools like you with that attitude who will more than likely go on these trips and bring it back, thus infecting the vulnerable in society.
@Aidan Keogh: Idiots like her with that attitude obviously wouldn’t care if someone vulnerable In their family got it and died.
This government is going to be responsible for a massive outbreak. Useless!
Maybe it’s time for HSE to look at Wuhan and China soaking up economic shutdown to get out of this as soon as possible. Human mistakes made so far, not upsetting anybody. Now it’s time for big picture thinking. Idiots who are saying let this run its course are the ones who should stay quiet. Everyone’s whereabouts should be traced using Google maps with an opt out system if legality is an issue. Easily then we can avoid infected individuals and places with notifications and so on.
@Monty Donotno: Who monitors the whereabouts of everyone?
@páraicS: smartphone app. Could capture whereabouts of most of population. Virus is ahead of us, so might get notification if you were exposed or warning if about to get exposed. Maybe it’s impossible. Just an idea. Hopeless otherwise. 13 cases surely means at the very least a few hundred we don’t know about.
@Monty Donotno: a sort of a Grindr in reverse, is that what you’re suggesting?
A big problem that might explain this mystery is that people can carry this virus symptom free for days and never develop symptoms. So this man may have caught it from a person that picked it up previously from a third party. The number of potential degrees of separation is impossible to calculate.
I’m a lung cancer patient, and the treatment I received at CUH was second to none. I now would be very slow to put my head in the door.
Reminds me of that album by Bertie Ahearn’s favourite band…The The
We already have a hospital crisis, there is already no system in place and people on beds out in the hallways. This virus will spread and could cost a few lifes with the joke of a health system we have.
Look on the bright side, soon no more housing crisis! and more parking spaces!
@Paul O’Shea: you’d wonder if they’re trying to get a start on solving a pension crisis the reaction is so slow? Slower than the second coming of Christ
How are people tested for the virus?
Is it a blood test
@aidan mccormack: no, they swipe your micky
@aidan mccormack: I believe it is nose/throat swabs.
@aidan mccormack: nasopharyngeal swab sent to NVRL in UCD. I think they have an in house test (LDT) developed for CoV 2019
@Stevo The Man On A Mission Returns: do they give it back to u
@old man trucker: yeah but unfortunately you lose a few inches.
People wont report they are sick..the isolation thing is a head wreck
China is lying. For christ sake why are people taking their lead from China. Don’t you know they tell lies??????????
@Imagine !: Your use of multiple question marks needs to stop.
The place is absolutely rudderless. There’s nothing like decisive leadership or pre-emptive mitigation taking place. A lot of waiting around, hoping it’ll go away. This is gonna be economically painful either way, better to be overly cautious and come out of it quicker than dither forever.
Can’t wait for all the social media pandemic experts to start advocating for a containment perimeter to be put in place around Cork, while they organise their hazmat suits, flaming torches and sharpen their pitchforks…
@David Van-Standen: I believe the containment field will be manned by member of the army reserve at select toll booths on the M8
Someone with Coronavirus sneezed in his face
I doubt if it is a false positive. Alot of these laboratories (NVRL) have two molecular methods/assays to confirm a true positive. Possibly a bit of sequencing to make sure the RNA target is Coronavirus specific.
Incompetent health professionals! Overpaid arrogant and not held to account for their decisions ! But us foolish Irish tolerant it !
We are relying on people to be honest if they are being investigated for ‘contact tracing’. Eg Where were you on Wednesday? Well I told the wife I was at x but really I was at y, better stick to my x story – it’s too loose.
have your say