Coronavirus
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Coronavirus
- Advice for people recently in China
- Advice for healthcare professionals
Last updated: 14 February 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new respiratory illness. It has not previously been seen in humans.
This type of coronavirus is also known as 2019-nCov or novel coronavirus.
Symptoms
It can take up to 14 days for the symptoms of coronavirus to appear.
These symptoms may include:
a cough
shortness of breath
breathing difficulties
fever (high temperature)
Coronavirus can also cause more severe illness including:
pneumonia
severe acute respiratory syndrome
kidney failure
Risk of catching coronavirus
There has been no confirmed case of coronavirus in Ireland.
The risk of getting coronavirus in Ireland is low.
If there is a case here, health professionals will try to contact anyone who has been in contact with the infected person.
If you are not contacted, you are extremely unlikely to catch coronavirus.
You do not need to follow any advice in relation to coronavirus if you have:
not been to mainland China
not been in contact with a person who has coronavirus
not been to a healthcare facility where patients with coronavirus were treated
recently returned from Hong Kong or Macau and have not travelled through mainland China
When you may need a test
You will only need to be tested for coronavirus if you have symptoms and have in the last 14 days been:
in close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus
to mainland China - this does not include Hong Kong or Macau
in a healthcare centre or hospital where patients with coronavirus were being treated
If your doctor thinks that you need a test for coronavirus, they will tell you where the test will be done. They will also tell you when to expect your results.
Read advice on what you need to do if you have been to mainland China in the last 14 days.
When you may need to isolate yourself
You only need to isolate yourself from other people if you have symptoms of coronavirus and have in the last 14 days been:
in close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus
to mainland China - this does not include Hong Kong or Macau
in a healthcare centre or hospital where patients with coronavirus were being treated
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.
Packages from China
You cannot get coronavirus from packages or food that has come from China or elsewhere.
There is no evidence that animals or animal products legally imported into the EU are a health risk due to coronavirus.
Protect yourself
Do
wash your hands properly and regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub
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
follow the travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs if travelling to China
Don't
do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
The flu vaccine does not protect against coronavirus.
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
Face masks
Don't:
do not use a face mask if you feel well and do not have symptoms - there’s no evidence that using masks is of any benefit if you are not sick
Do:
wash your hands properly and regularly
cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze
You should use a face mask if you:
have or may have coronavirus
are in close contact with someone who has or may have coronavirus
are a healthcare worker in close contact with people who may have or have coronavirus
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for coronavirus. But many of the symptoms of the virus can be treated.
If you get the virus, your healthcare professional will advise treatment based on your symptoms.
Antibiotics do not work against coronavirus or any viruses. They only work against bacterial infections.
Vaccine
There is currently no vaccine to treat or protect against coronavirus.
At-risk groups
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
Children and coronavirus
The risk of your child catching coronavirus at school or in childcare is low.
If your child has recently travelled to mainland China,
Encourage your child to wash their hands regularly and properly.
Read more advice on how to prevent your child from catching or spreading viral infections.
Pets
There is no evidence that pets such as cats and dogs cannot catch or spread coronavirus.
Avoid all non-essential travel to China
Don't:
do not travel to China unless it is essential that you go
do not visit animal or bird markets in China
do not go to places in China where live or dead animals are handled
do not visit anyone in China who is ill with cold or flu-like symptoms such as sneezing or coughing
do not touch animals and their poo (droppings) in China
Wash your hands properly and regularly with soap and water.
Follow the up-to-date travel information from the Department of Foreign Affairs
Further information
From HSE.ie
