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Statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team
The National Public Health Emergency Team met this afternoon, Tuesday, 4 February in the Department of Health, to review the available international data and guidance regarding the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, China, and to review Ireland’s ongoing preparedness in line with the advice from the WHO and the European Centre for Disease Control.
Ireland is well positioned to detect and respond to a case of the novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that might arise here. As yet there are no confirmed cases in Ireland.
The establishment of an Expert Advisory Group, to function as an expert sub-group, that will provide advice to the National Public Health Emergency Team, the HSE and others, was noted. The first meeting of the Expert Advisory Group, to be chaired by Dr. Cillian De Gascun, Laboratory Director at the National Virus Reference Laboratory will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, 5 February.
Ireland will continue to monitor the situation and to participate in the international assessment of response to this novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) through the European Centre for Disease Control and the WHO.
The National Public Health Emergency Team will meet again on Tuesday, 11 February.