BELFAST-FIRST CONFIRMED CORONAVIRUS PATIENT TRAVELLED THROUGH DUBLIN AIRPORT

UPDATED LINKS: The Department of Health has said everyone who has been in close contact with a woman diagnosed with coronavirus has been traced and notified. The woman travelled through Dublin Airport on her way home to Northern Ireland from northern Italy. It was confirmed last night that the woman tested positive for the illness on returning home to Belfast. Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said the contact tracing process had been completed and the individuals involved had been contacted and given the appropriate advice. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said the number of people who were in close contact with the woman was small. Dr John Cuddihy- the Director of the HPSC, said that all stages of the woman's journey have been identified.

They reiterated that anyone who had been in close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 in the last 14 days and is experiencing symptoms should immediately self-isolate and call their GP.

Dr Holohan also said while the country continues to be in a containment phase, he says "it is likely that another case or cases could be imported" into Ireland.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said, "it wouldn't be a surprise to us if there are further cases in the days to come" but he says Ireland is "not a high -risk country".

He said, "the emphasis at the moment is, and will continue to be, on identifying cases early and ensuring minimisation of spread".

Dr Glynn said the  European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control "has been quite clear that the risk of scenarios similar to what happened in Italy is moderate to high across Europe, so of course we are planning for a scenario such as that here in Ireland, but in the first instance we are dealing with the case that we have on the island."

The coronavirus can spread via droplets in the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes out, and these can also contaminate surfaces such as door handles and railings.

READ MORE: FULL REPORT LINKS:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-spain/more-guests-leave-canary-islands-hotel-locked-down-over-coronavirus-idUSKCN20M143 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health/coronavirus-spreads-in-three-continents-5-trillion-wiped-off-markets-idUSKCN20M069

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-51671834#

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-51669434 

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/weve-been-told-were-here-until-march-8-irish-guests-among-those-in-official-quarantine-at-tenerife-hotel-38997271.html

https://www.independent.ie/world-news/coronavirus/coronavirus-ireland-passengers-who-travelled-with-northern-irish-patient-traced-in-bid-to-prevent-outbreak-38997601.html

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/latest-simon-harris-refuses-to-share-if-covid-19-patient-travelled-by-bus-or-train-984611.html

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/coronavirus-people-in-close-contact-with-belfast-patient-identified-1.4187748

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2020/0228/1118104-coronavirus-ireland/ 

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