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Statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed of a presumptive case of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in Northern Ireland.
The patient is in isolation in Northern Ireland and is receiving treatment.
Public Health authorities have activated contact tracing protocols.
The Minister for Health, Simon Harris, said:
Giving the evolving situation this first case of COVID-19 disease was not unexpected. The National Public Health Emergency Team has been planning for this scenario since January.
The general public should continue to adhere to the public health protocols issued by the Department of Health.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer in the Dept of Health, said:
The HSE is well-prepared and is working to inform any contacts the patient had in order to prevent transmission.
COVID-19 is spread through close contact with an infected person’s body fluids (e.g. droplets from coughing or sneezing), or by touching surfaces that an infected person has coughed or sneezed on.
Close contact involves either face to face contact or spending more than 15 minutes within 2 metres of an infected person. The risk of transmission through casual contact is low.” Public Health protocols, similar to those used to respond to previous incidents of pandemic influenza, SARS and MERS, have been in place since January and are operating effectively. The general public are advised to follow advice from the HSE and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre to protect their health. Any person concerned that they may have symptoms of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) should immediately isolate themselves from others and phone their GP.