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TO DATE, THERE have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus Covid-19 in Ireland, but there are growing fears that the virus could arrive here following an outbreak in Italy.
Three people have died in Italy, where there have been over 150 cases to date – the highest number of cases in a country outside Asia.
As a result, Italy has become the first European country to take drastic isolation measures as it grapples to get the outbreak under control.
Since Sunday, more than 50,000 residents in 11 towns in northern Italy have been put under quarantine.
Virtually all traffic is banned from entering the “red zone”, with exemptions for those such as police, medical personnel and lorries carrying essential supplies. Similar rules have been implemented for those leaving the area.
So, with the virus now progressing through Europe, just how prepared is Ireland for a potential outbreak?
Firstly, what general advice has the HSE and the government issued?
The HSE has said there is no need to follow any advice in relation to coronavirus if you have:
People will only need to be tested for coronavirus if they have symptoms and have in the last 14 days been:
Advice for people who have recently travelled to China can be found here.
If a doctor thinks a person needs a test for coronavirus, they will tell them where the test will be carried out. They will also tell them when to expect the results.
People are also being advised to avoid all non-essential travel to China.
People are being asked not to use a face mask if they feel well and do not have symptoms. The HSE said there is no evidence that using masks is of any benefit if a person is not sick.
In updated advice yesterday, the Department of Foreign Affairs told citizens not to travel to affected areas in Italy.
“To find out if the area to which you are travelling is an affected area, please consult with your transport and accommodation providers, the Regional Government website of the region in question or if you are already in Italy, call 1500,” it said.
How likely is it to arrive in Ireland?
Given the virus has infected so many across Europe – including over 200 in Italy and at least a dozen in the UK – authorities here admit that there is now a greater risk of a case being confirmed in Ireland.
DFATravelWise / Twitter
DFATravelWise / Twitter / Twitter
Speaking yesterday, Minister for Health Simon Harris confirmed this stance.
“The chances of a coronavirus case in Ireland or indeed anywhere in the European Union outside of Italy has significantly increased but it’s really important that we act in accordance with best health advice,” he said.
It follows a statement late Sunday night from the State’s National Public Health Emergency Team.
“We remain in a containment phase and, to date, there have been no confirmed cases of Covid-19 here,” it said.
“However, clearly the international situation is evolving. We will work with counterparts at the ECDC and WHO over the coming days to fully assess and incorporate the implications of these developments into our approach in Ireland.”
Are we doing enough at airports and ports?
Precautions to test and isolate people who potentially have the virus have already been highlighted.
The Irish Times reported last month that guidance had been issued to Irish airports about the threat of the coronavirus.
Last week, TheJournal.ie reported that emergency services were on hand to meet a Ryanair plane that had just returned to Dublin from Poland where two passengers had fallen ill during the flight.
A spokesperson for the airline confirmed this was done as a precaution and that the pair tested negative for “any virus”.
Future mitigating measures could be implemented, given the proximity of Italy to Ireland and other nations in the EU.
Minister Simon Harris said advice relating to “mass gatherings” including the Ireland v Italy Six Nations game in less than two weeks will reviewed today due to coronavirus concerns.
Harris said there are “no plans as of now” to cancel the match or any other mass gatherings in the future, including the large St Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin city centre next month.
How is Ireland dealing with people who have displayed symptoms? And what happens if they’re diagnosed?
Currently, information is being provided on HSE, Department of Health and Department of Foreign Affairs websites in relation to dealing with the coronavirus.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland yesterday, Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan said information is being made available for the public and frontline health professionals, such as GPs, that “gives clarity to individuals as to what they should do having travelled back from any areas where they have concerns, what symptoms they need to look out for and what they should do”.
According to the Department of Health, any person concerned that they may have symptoms of coronavirus should “immediately isolate themselves from others and phone their doctor”.
If a patient was diagnosed, they would remain in isolation.
“In line with our Containment Protocol, a full investigation into other people who may have been in contact with this patient will be under way,” the department says. This is known as contact tracing.
Appropriate measures aimed at preventing further spread (containment measures) will be taken.
Minister Simon Harris, meanwhile, yesterday advised any members of the public who feel unwell and who may have been in contact with anyone who has the Covid-19 virus or who has come from a region where there has been an outbreak, to contact their GP by phone or contact HSE Live online or by phone.
Is there was an outbreak in Ireland, would enforced quarantine protocols be rolled out?
In short, no.
Holohan told Morning Ireland that “as things stand, enforced quarantine is not part of the plans we would have here”, if an outbreak was to occur.
People are being asked to isolate themselves from other people if in the last 14 days they have been close to a confirmed coronavirus case, recently been to China and developed symptoms, or recently been to a healthcare centre or hospital where patients with coronavirus were being treated and have developed symptoms.
If there is a case of coronavirus in Ireland, health professionals will try to contact anyone who has been in contact with the infected person – the containment protocol mentioned above.
The HSE said those who are not contacted “are extremely unlikely to catch coronavirus”.
The Department of Health meanwhile has said that the country is currently in the containment phrase.
“This means that, irrespective of case severity, all efforts are focused on identifying cases and their contacts early, in order to prevent further transmission (secondary spread),” it says.
However, Ireland is prepared to initiate a second mitigation phase if necessary.
“This will be activated where containment is no longer effective in controlling the spread of Covid-19 (Coronavirus). In this phase, our focus will be on identifying the cases who are most severely unwell,” the department adds.
Are our hospitals ready to deal with a major outbreak?
Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan said the most likely scenario that will happen in Ireland is “cases occurring in small numbers”.
Taking this into account, he said: “We think our hospital system will be in a position to cope well with that.”
Holohan noted that there have already been suspected cases in Ireland and that “hospitals have coped and done a really good job on that”, rolling out “infection protection and control arrangements”.
There have been 79 negative tests results reported in relation to the coronavirus in Ireland.
Holohan admitted that if there is a more extensive outbreak in Ireland, it will put pressure on Ireland’s health system.
“It will, of course, create pressure on our intensive care facilities and that’s why each of the hospitals around the country has a plan to enable it to identify how to increase capacity should that be necessary, how to prioritise admissions to intensive care should that be necessary,” Holohan said.
However, he said situations like that will be part of a “mitigation” strategy. This currently is not in place.
“Now, the emphasis is on containment. We still are maximising our attempts to try contain and limit the spread of this. That’s the phase we’re in as opposed to mitigation.”
People who have queries in relation to the coronavirus can contact HSE Live on 1850 241 850.
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They are not able to provide sufficient hospital beds never mind a Corona virus strategy
“The HSE said that there is no need to follow any advice in relation to coronavirus if you have: not been in contact with a person who has coronavirus”
What a nonsense. What if the coronavirus carrier doesn’t know they carry the virus, and what if I don’t know that a person is carrier.
Anyone now can be potentially infected/carrier not even knowing it.
Can the health service cope with a Coronavirus outbreak? The answer is no, no, and ….. no. It can’t even cope with providing basic healthcare to the people of Ireland, so there is no way it can cope with any additional stresses on the system.
@Jedd Comiskey: well said
I love watching rugby but I personally think that it’s too big of a risk to have the eire v italy game to go ahead.its only a game and to risk the virus coming to our shores is not worth it.it may eventually get here but we should be doing everything in our power not to help it on its way.
@Tony Hanratty: Totally agree but making money will most likely be given priority over the risk of spreading the virus in this case. Hopefully common sense will prevail if the situation gets worse in Italy in the coming days.
Can the health service cope….. Great bit of comedy writing there.
Can’t even cope with the flu and they know when that’s coming every year ffs
Yes, they are a first world service despite what is said on here. However will that help, no.
Too many people in the country will do their own thing, know more than the experts, resent being told what to do and then spread the virus all over the place.
@Brendan Cooney:
The Healy-Rae carrier?
@Brendan Cooney: it’s no such thing. Look at France, Spain, Germany and even NHS for much better systems of healthcare. HSE is pathetic and has a bad record relative to other countries.
Taking this into account, he said: “We think our hospital system will be in a position to cope well with that.”
Hardly the time for comedy, Journal.ie …
So in summary. If you’re infected, but if you haven’t been to China or knowingly been in contact with someone who’s been to China or aren’t a healthcare worker, you won’t be tested and we’re going to say that you don’t have it, (even though you do). Doesn’t exactly fill you with confidence.
@Paraic: so if you have been to Italy recently and are infected you won’t get tested. I suppose that’s one way to keep the numbers low. Just don’t diagnose people!
@John Murphy: Nor if you’ve been on retreat with a Korean cult…
@Paraic: ah, the Chinese government style of management. Lets keep everyone in the dark, lets not test, lets not inform, lets pretend it isnt there and it will go away…….errrr….where’s the next government to pass the parcel ?
It’s frightening… Let’s all keep our fingers crossed that it doesn’t arrive hear.
@Brian Lawlor: here here
@Mark Fitzmaurice: Where?
@Brian Lawlor: You’ll be grand as long as you have private medical insurance.
@james dimaggio: just listen with your here
@Stuart: I was being sarcastic Stuart. Wake up. Here Here should be Hear Hear!
@Mark Fitzmaurice: Typo. To be fair it was 6.30am. D’oh!!
@Brian Lawlor: 96% of the people who catch this virus, fully recover. The deaths are those with underlying respiratory and other medical conditions. Not really all that frightening after all.
@Ian Breathnach: yeah it’s just a flu, be grand. Clown.
Can’t get a seat on the morning commuter train……
Start coughing whilst rambling about your recent trip to Hong Kong.
Carriage should be empty by next stop!
@Mark Dunne: Just tried out your advice with a few good sneeze impressions thrown in. Worked like a dream. Thanks Mark!!!
The health service isn’t coping at the best of times, so the proverbial ‘writing is on the wall’. Being an island nation, one would expect Ireland to have an advantage over non insular countries, but the words p*ssup and brewery come to mind when one considers border control. Sparsity of population outside urban centres may mitigate somewhat, but reliance on one’s own immune system would be more realistic than dependence on a broken health system, especially when the first cohort of healthcare workers fall ill and elective surgeries etc. are postponed.
Luckily, it’s not MERS, SARS or Ebola we’re facing or I wouldn’t fancy our chances.
@☘ ᑭᖇO-ᒪᎥᖴᎬ ᕼEᖇITᗩGE ᗯOᖇKEᖇS IᖇᎬᒪᗩᑎᗪ: based on Irish women that get colds seemingly every few weeks, I think their immune systems won’t be enough to deal with an actual virus for once!
In all seriousness Ireland is in a strong position geographically, but more hand washing and temperature scans at airports and ports wouldn’t be unwelcome until things calm down.
@Paul Cunningham: True Paul. Polymorphic viruses can be a nightmare. The amount of people who don’t even attempt to stifle a cough on crowded public transport doesn’t help either.
@☘ ᑭᖇO-ᒪᎥᖴᎬ ᕼEᖇITᗩGE ᗯOᖇKEᖇS IᖇᎬᒪᗩᑎᗪ: Hear of the WHO has stated it is far far worse than Ebola.
@Laura Crowe: Hi Laura. Luckily not the same mortality rate as Ebola, but apparently far more infectious. Ebola is a victim of it’s own ‘success’. It destroys it’s hosts so devastatingly fast that it eliminates it’s own vectors, burning it’s own proverbial bridges, so to speak. This Coronavirus seems to be playing more of a numbers game. The long incubation period is like a timebomb.
I really hope it doesn’t come but I am going to stock up on non perishable food, the supermarkets are empty in Italy
@Jeni Moriarty: don’t forget toilet roll
Daughter just returned from school trip to Italy on Sunday. No masks on any crew members on the ground or in the air. Straight back to school yesterday !
I heard a rumour yesterday that a child in TY in a school here in Wexford returned from
Northern Italy displaying flu like symptoms she was brought to A&E tests were done apparently they are waiting on results and waiting 14 days a friend of mine heard the same as her daughter is in the same school. As to how true this all is I’ve no idea.
@Tom Harpur Photography: incubation periods of 19 days and 27 days have been documented.
@Laura Crowe: that’s really scary
I get the feeling that some people just wait for a HSE related article so they can have a moan, it’s as if this hasn’t been an issue for generations or that overall the HSE treat thousands of people daily.
I can’t believe they are not cancelling the six nations immediately, utter greed. We are currently stranded in the Canaries waiting for a flight home, lots of Italians arriving and many flights landing from Tenerife even though one Italian visitor has tested positive in his hotel in Tenerife and 1000 people in quarantine for 2 weeks there now!!! Meanwhile planes flying back and forth with no deep cleaning!!!!
@Louisa O’Sullivan: actually they’re smart not to cancel it, there’s no need to cause a mass panic before it’s time. Remember that only a tiny percentage of people who get sick are actually dying. Over 12,000 people have recovered, but the media has no interest in talking about those numbers
The immunologist on the Claire Byrne Show last night who repeatedly described the Kildare man who just got back from China as “One to Watch” didn’t inspire confidence, and that’s putting it mildly.
We’re all f**k*d. .
At this stage I think it would be good to be reminded of exactly what the symptoms of this illness are? As it is, most people can’t tell the difference between the common cold and the flu. An ability to self diagnose correctly might at least prevent people arriving en masse at their doctor’s surgery with every cough and sniffle, should it’s presence be confirmed here.
@Liz O’Neill: I’m more concerned about the culture in Ireland of going to work even if you’re dying sick, that alone will help spread it.
If anyone has good credit get a loan right now. You won’t have to pay it back. Biggest collapse of society coming like a train. Choo Choo.
@Babsmully: LOL, that’s a bit alarmist…the Spanish flu killed over 500 million people, and society didn’t collapse, lol, this isn’t nearly as bad!!…death rate eight now is about 2100, but over 12,000 people have fully recovered from it, so I suggest you chill a small bit lol, no need to panic until it mutates
Everywhere else
Lockdown,spray,hazmat suits,
Ireland
Wash your hands while singing happy birthday and say three Hail Marys
@Maurice Dodd: ah to be fair. The only ones wearing face masks are countries which have had large outbreaks. There’s no need for that level of precaution until it’s confirmed that the virus risk is high in any one place. If 120 people in Ireland got infected, then people would absolutely start wearing face masks…I hope!!
Cope?? Lol. The CUH in cork can’t even cope with the winter flu, and that’s sad but true! So We’d be absolutely fecked if there’s an outbreak in cork.
7 dead in Italy as of yesterday, not 3.
probably already here. someone at home with flu who will be fine in a week or so
have your say