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Workers are not automatically entitled to sick pay while they take time to ‘self-isolate’ for possible coronavirus, the government has said.
Even if a doctor tells them to as they are ‘a probable source’ of COVID-19, they will have to apply to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection for income support if their workplace refuses to pay them.
Gallery: How the coronavirus is being handled globally (Photo Services)
People wearing face masks cross a road in Shanghai, China, on March 2.
A paramedic wearing a protective suit sanitizes the hands of people in Ashkelon, Israel, on March 2.
Personnel from the health ministry check tourists' temperatures and for any symptoms at the Rumichaca border bridge in Tulcán, Ecuador, on March 1.
A South Korean soldier wearing protective gear sanitizes a street in front of the city hall in Daegu on March 2.
Students of Hanoi National University of Education attend the first day of classes after returning to the university, which was closed for over a month due to the coronavirus outbreak, in Hanoi, Vietnam, on March 2.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference on the coronavirus outbreak as (L-R) U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Robert Redfield and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams look on, at the White House on Feb. 29.
Pedestrians wearing face masks cross a square in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 29.
A police officer wears a protective face mask on the street in Mexico City, Mexico, on Feb. 29.
A member of the Iraqi security forces wears a protective face mask in Baghdad on Feb. 29.
A researcher works in a lab that is developing testing for the COVID-19 at the Hackensack Meridian Health Center for Discovery and Innovation in Nutley, New Jersey, U.S., on Feb 28. The facility develops novel therapies for some of the worlds most difficult diseases.
A health worker takes part in a drill to handle suspected carriers of coronavirus, at a hotel in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on Feb. 26.
Personnel wearing protective gear spray anti-septic solution at a traditional market in Seoul on Feb. 26.
Spanish police officers patrol outside the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife, Canary Island, Spain, on Feb. 25.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in talks during a special government meeting to discuss measures to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, at the Daegu City Hall in Daegu on Feb. 25.
Fans wear masks at Stadio San Paolo in Naples, Italy, on Feb. 25, prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between SSC Napoli and FC Barcelona.
A newly wed couple wear protective masks as they take photos with family in Hong Kong on Feb. 24.
Two men ride a bike as they wear protective masks in Najaf, Iraq, on Feb. 24.
Bruce Aylward of the World Health Organization (WHO) attends a news conference on the WHO-China Joint Mission on coronavirus in Beijing, on Feb. 24.
U.N. Secretary General António Guterres speaks during an update on the situation at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, on Feb. 24.
A street vendor sells face masks outside a railway station in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 24.
Figures depicting coronavirus and "carnevals-virus" are seen at the Shrove Monday celebrations in Düsseldorf, Germany, on Feb. 24.
A reveler wears protective face mask at the Venice Carnival, the last days of which were called off after third death was reported in the country, in Italy on Feb. 23.
Media personnel chase after a passenger (C) who disembarked from the Diamond Princess cruise ship at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, on Feb. 19.
Indians who were airlifted from Wuhan wait to collect their release certificates before leaving the ITBP quarantine facility in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 17.
Military medics stand in a formation after deplaning from a transport aircraft of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) at the Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 17.
A teacher gives a lecture with the help of her smart phone during an online class at a middle school in Donghai, China, on Feb. 17.
Pictures of Pakistani students studying in Wuhan, China, are displayed by their family members during a demonstration in Lahore, Pakistan, on Feb. 16. The family members are demanding the evacuation of their relatives.
A U.S. passenger gives a thumbs up to reporters while arriving at the Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan, on Feb. 17, after disembarking in Yokohama from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
Nepalese nationals who were in Wuhan walk out from a Nepal Airlines plane at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, on Feb. 16. The chartered plane brought back 175 nationals from Hubei province.
A classroom is cleaned in preparation for students' return to school in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Feb. 15.
A woman is seen wearing a protective mask as she holds a rose on Valentine's Day, while waiting for the subway at a station during rush hour in Beijing, on Feb. 14.
An employee receives payment from a customer through a container on a stick, in Beijing on Feb. 12. A ramp has also been set up to deliver food from the counter.
A laboratory technician helps a colleague remove the protective suit after leaving a laboratory in Shenyang, China, on Feb. 12.
Members of the media stand near the cruise ship Diamond Princess, where dozens of passengers were tested positive for coronavirus, at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama on Feb. 11.
A Malaysian Royal Guard wears a protective mask as he stands guard outside National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Feb. 10.
Workers produce protective clothing at a factory in Wuxi, China, on Feb. 8. The factory, which previously produced suits and sportswear, switched to production of protective clothing as demand increased due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
A Hindu devotee wears a mask as she carries a milk pot on her head at a shrine in Batu Caves during the Thaipusam festival in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 8.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks to the media during a press conference on the coronavirus situation in Hong Kong on Feb. 8. Lam said that the government has bought 48 million masks and received 17 million more from China to counter the shortage of masks in Hong Kong.
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun has his temperature checked during a visit to a clinic in Gyeonggi, South Korea, on Feb. 8.
Flight attendants wearing protective clothing and masks serve snacks to Canadians, who had been evacuated from China due to the outbreak of novel Coronavirus on an American charter plane, on another aircraft taking them to Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton from the Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, Canada, on Feb. 7.
Workers in protective gear are seen on Japan Coast Guard boats in Yokohama, on Feb. 5, bringing patients from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship.
Beds are set up at an exhibition center, which was converted into a hospital, in Wuhan on Feb. 4.
This handout photo released by Malaysia's Ministry of Health shows citizens being directed onto a bus by health officials as they arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia in Feb. 4.
Members of the Association for Sri Lanka and China Social and Cultural Cooperation (ASLCSCC) hold candles during a vigil to pray for people who are suffering from coronavirus across the world, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Feb. 1.
(L-R) Sabine Hagenauer of the infection department at the 4th medical department of Kaiser Franz Josef Hospital, Michael Binder, medical director of the Vienna Hospital Association, and Judith Aberle of the department of virology, Medical University Vienna, address a press conference at Kaiser-Franz-Josef hospital in Vienna, Austria, on Jan. 26. A Chinese flight attendant was quarantined in the hospital with symptoms of flu, in what authorities suspected as the first coronavirus case in the country.
Dozens of diggers work to build a new hospital in Wuhan, on Jan. 25. Due to the large number of infected people, the government decided to establish a temporary 1,000-bed hospital.
A department spokesman said: ‘An employee who is advised or directed by a registered medical practitioner to self-isolate on the basis that they are a probable source of COVID-19 infection can, if their employer ceases to pay their wages, apply for income support from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
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The government has said there will be no guaranteed pay for workers self-isolating during the coronavirus outbreak. Pic: Vincent Isore/IP3/Getty Images
‘This income support will be paid in the form of Illness Benefit based on social insurance contributions or Supplementary Welfare Allowance based on a means test.
A person who self-isolates in accordance with the up-to-date guidelines from the HSE but does not have a medical certificate from a medical practitioner, may apply for an income support in the form of Supplementary Welfare Allowance.’
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'I'm sorry we didn't win': BloombergA tearful Mike Bloomberg, after ditching his presidential campaign and endorsing Democrat Joe Biden, told his supporters in New York City "tomorrow is going to be even better."
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'It's going to be pretty close': SandersDemocratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on Wednesday described his opponent Joe Biden as a 'decent human being' but said he's ready to take him on in a 'neck and neck' race to clinch the Democratic nomination.
Reuters
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Israel's political instability may not end soonIsrael appeared headed into another political stalemate on Wednesday after nearly-complete results indicated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had failed to secure a clear majority for a right-wing bloc in parliament, despite his claim of victory. Soraya Ali reports.
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Europe stocks follow Wall St higher on virus action hopes
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'I'm sorry we didn't win': Bloomberg
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'It's going to be pretty close': Sanders
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Israel's political instability may not end soon
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Italy closes all schools, may ban public events
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New EU climate law is 'surrender', says Greta
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Bloomberg ends presidential bid, endorses Biden
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U.S. airstrike hits Taliban, days after deal
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Migrant surge haunts memories for Kurdi's father
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Post-Brexit: restaurants struggle to find staff
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Coronavirus: WHO warns lack of medical supplies
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Biden sweeps the South, Sanders wins California
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Sand dredging sucking up Myanmar's Salween river
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Number of coronavirus cases in Japan hits 1000
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Coronavirus deaths, cases tick up in the U.S.
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Deadly tornadoes tear through Tennessee
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However, officials made clear that anyone diagnosed with the virus will be treated as any other employee on sick leave.
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There is one confirmed case of the virus in the Republic of Ireland. Pic: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin
The department spokesman added: ‘Where an employee is diagnosed as being ill with COVID-19, normal workplace arrangements in respect of sick absence should apply.
‘The employee should, subject to the latest advice from the HSE, be treated from a workplace perspective in the same manner as any member of staff who takes sick leave for any other reason.’
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