The latest poster, given changing circumstances in Ireland regarding Covid-19.
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus. At time of writing, there has been a small number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ireland. Infection prevention measures are in place.
The risk of catching coronavirus in Ireland is still low. This may change. However, most people may continue to go to work, school and other public places, as usual.
Follow the advice on how to protect yourself from coronavirus:
Do
- Wash your hands properly and regularly
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough and sneeze.
- Put used tissues into a bin and wash your hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Follow the travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs
Don’t
- Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
Wash your hands
- after coughing or sneezing
- after toilet use
- before eating
- before and after preparing food
- if you are in contact with a sick person, especially those with respiratory symptoms
- if your hands are dirty
- if you have handled animals or animal waste
Anyone who knows they have been in close contact with a confirmed case in the last 14 days and has symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties, high fever) should:
- isolate themselves from other people – this means going into a different, well-ventilated room, with a phone and call your GP or emergency department, on 112 or 999.
Close contact means either:
- face-to-face contact
- spending more than 15 minutes within 2 metres of an infected person
- living in the same house as an infected person
How coronavirus is spread
Coronavirus is spread in sneeze or cough droplets. You could get the virus if you:
- come into close contact with someone who has the virus and is coughing or sneezing
- touch surfaces that someone who has the virus has coughed or sneezed on
Because it’s a new illness, we do not know how easily the virus spreads from person to person. We do not know if someone can spread the virus before they show symptoms.
The virus may only survive a few hours if someone who has it coughs or sneezes on a surface. Simple household disinfectants can kill the virus on surfaces. Clean the surface first and then use a disinfectant.
At-risk groups and coronavirus
We do not know for sure which groups are most at risk of complications if they catch coronavirus. But it is likely you are more at risk if you catch coronavirus and:
- are 65 years of age and over
- have a long-term medical condition – for example, heart disease, lung disease, diabetes or liver disease
You should follow the advice above on how to protect yourself from coronavirus and other infections like flu.
