TENERIFE- 20 IRISH PEOPLE IN HOTEL QUARANTINE BEING TESTED FOR CORONAVIRUS

LATEST UPDATES:  The Government’s efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus to Ireland were in disarray last night as the IRFU demanded to know why it had sought the cancellation of Ireland’s Six Nations match against Italy. Rugby chiefs have sought an urgent meeting with Health Minister Simon Harris after he backed an expert advisory group that recommended next week’s match should be cancelled in the interest of public health and safety. Mr Harris last night said the decision to call for the match to be cancelled “was not taken lightly but we must act on the basis of public health advice”.

Latest Update Links:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/we-need-to-ramp-up-readiness--who-warn-there-could-be-multiple-waves-of-coronavirus-984358.html
https://www.independent.ie/world-news/coronavirus/
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/coronavirus-and-europe-hand-shaking-hand-washing-and-hand-wringing-in-brussels-1.4186018
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/cancellations-and-confusion-as-coronavirus-threat-edges-closer-1.4185886
https://www.rte.ie/news/ 
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2020/0227/1117879-coronavirus-ireland/
https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2020/0227/1117852-coronavirus/

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/two-more-people-test-positive-for-coronavirus-in-england-after-infection-passed-on-in-italy-and-tenerife/ar-BB10szKb?ocid=spartandhp

https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2020/0226/1117635-coronavirus-world/

However, a spokesperson for the minister told Independent.ie it was “still up to the IRFU as to whether the match should go ahead or not – we just offer advice on whether it’s appropriate”. Mr Harris said he would meet the IRFU this morning.

There are fears that travelling Italian fans could heighten the risk of coronavirus coming to these shores. Four regions in northern Italy were yesterday added to the list of at-risk countries following a surge in cases and deaths there from the virus. 

The match row came as the Government sought to tighten rules around the return of people to Ireland from coronavirus-hit regions.

People with symptoms will have to self-isolate and undergo testing for coronavirus, although for now, temperature checks won’t be carried out on travellers at airports and ports.

It follows the decision to expand the number of at-risk countries beyond mainland China to Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Iran, and four regions in northern Italy - Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont.

There were growing fears last night the St Patrick's Day celebrations could also fall victim to public health measures.

The threat to mass gatherings such as the Cheltenham Festival, starting on March 10, now looms larger as the coronavirus continues to sweep through Europe, with cases detected in Switzerland, Austria, Croatia and mainland Spain yesterday, while it showed no sign of abating in Italy. Up to 20 Irish holidaymakers in quarantine at a hotel in Tenerife are being tested for the coronavirus.

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The lockdown was ordered after two of the guests, an Italian doctor and his wife who were staying at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace resort, tested positive for the virus.

The advice is that anyone who has been in the newly named high-risk regions, along with mainland China, in the past 14 days and has symptoms should self-isolate and call their GP.

If they have been in close contact with a confirmed case of the new coronavirus in the past 14 days and are unwell, they also need to self-isolate and phone for medical help.

The upsurge in cases in parts of northern Italy where the number of infections soared from six to 322 - including 11 deaths - has sparked concerns in a number of Irish school communities in recent days following the return of pupils and teachers from skiing trips to the region during last week's mid-term break.

Presentation College, Bray, Co Wicklow, is one of a number that has been in contact with the HSE seeking advice about what protocols to follow, after a group of its second-year students returned from Italy.

Meanwhile, students from a Donegal school who have just returned from a trip to Italy have been advised to stay away from school following the coronavirus outbreak.

The students from Loreto in Milford have just returned from a skiing trip to Italy.

Those on the trip were not in a restricted area for the COVIF 19 virus. However, the school has decided that as a precaution and to allay fears, the students will remain at home for the coming days.

The Department of Health said that anyone who is returning from affected regions in northern Italy in the past two weeks and has a cough, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties or fever should self-isolate and phone their GP immediately.

Irish Independent

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