Three schools in Co. Clare are shut today after four members of the same family contracted Coronavirus.
The four have recently come back from a holiday in Northern Italy.
Therefore we have six total cases in the Republic of Ireland so far.
It's reported that one of the patients in the West is a healthcare professional.
The Director General of the HSE refused to confirm.
"I'll repeatedly say it this week, and I'll say it again"
"It's not a good practice to start identifying anybody during this process."
"From a medical perspective, we have to respect the identity of anybody in this process."
Here's information from the European Centre for Disease Control.
Simon Harris is urging people not to panic.
"People shouldn't be taking unilateral actions, schools and businesses need not shut."
"If you need to shut, you'll be advised to do so by the public health authorities."
How #COVID19 #coronavirus spreads: pic.twitter.com/QlY5iV84Dj
— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) March 5, 2020
Wash Your Hands
So what's the best way to avoid catching COVID-19?
It's simple, wash your hands properly with soap.
Avoid touching your face and eyes when your hands aren't clean.
The HSE have published this list of do's:
Shouldn't We Be Doing That Anyway?
We spoke to people in Dublin about Coronavirus, and hand-washing.
This person says she's being more vigilant lately.
"Yeah I've been using hand sanitiser more and washing my hands more"
However this lady told us people should be washing their hands anyway.
"It's kinda funny how people are suddenly being told to wash your hands."
"I think that's something people should have been doing all along."
"Even in college, they have signs up telling people to wash their hands."
This is why we are so careful to protect the identity of COVID19 patients. They deserve their privacy to be protected. Without trust, they will not come forward. Containment strategy depends on this trust. We have nothing to hide but we have something to protect. #covid19 https://t.co/DLzbUTaHPT
— Dr Tony Holohan (@CMOIreland) March 2, 2020
Outbreak History
Coronaviruses usually affect animals, but they have been known to infect humans occasionally.
So it began in China and is genetically similar to the SARS illness, according to the ECDC.
From what we know so far, the virus can cause mild, flu-like symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Muscle Pain
- Tiredness and fatigue
🤲 Washing your hands can help protect yourself and others from getting sick.#COVID19 #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/eKIcPxcdie
— WHO/Europe (@WHO_Europe) March 5, 2020
There is more information available on the Coronavirus from the HSE here.
