Secondary school to close for 14 days after all pupils and staff confirmed as 'close contacts' of coronavirus case © Independent.ie Secondary school to close for 14 days after all pupils and staff confirmed as 'close contacts' of coronavirus case

A SCHOOL in the east of the country will close for 14 days after being confirmed as 'close contacts' of the first case of coronavirus in the Republic of Ireland.

The principal, staff and parents of pupils of the school have been notified.

Following risk assessment, all pupils and teachers are being treated as "close contacts" of the confirmed case, the National Public Health Emergency Team said.

The school will close for the duration of the incubation period, which is 14 days.

All pupils and teachers are being asked to restrict their movements until the end of the incubation period and will receive guidance on the meaning of ‘restricted movements’.

Gallery: How the coronavirus is being handled globally (Photo Services)

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A medical worker sprays disinfectant at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center in Daegu, South Korea, on March 4.
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Visitors wearing protective masks line up in front of the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, on March 4. 
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Slovakia's Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini attends a news conference during the summit of the Visegrad Group (V4) countries to discuss response to the spread of the coronavirus, in Prague, Czech Republic, on March 4.
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A woman wearing a protective mask serves tea at Tahrir Square in Baghdad, Iraq, on March 4. 
 
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A Jammu and Kashmir police officer briefs passengers about guarding against the coronavirus in Lakhanpur, India, on March 4.
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U.S. Vice President Mike Pence gives a news briefing about the coronavirus with members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on March 3.
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People wearing face masks cross a road in Shanghai, China, on March 2.

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The U.S. White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah L. Birx attends a press briefing, as Vice President Mike Pence looks on, in the White House on March 2. As of March 3, six people had died in the state and at least 100 confirmed cases were reported across the country.
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Government officials make phone calls to members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus to check if they have symptoms of COVID-19, at the Goyang City Hall in South Korea on March 3. The country confirmed its 29th death and more than 4,800 cases of the virus infection on March 3.
 
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A Brazilian scientists, who is among those that concluded coronavirus DNA sequencing, inserts a tube into a portable device connected to a computer that decodes virus DNA, at the Tropical Medicine Institute of the São Paulo University Medical School in Brazil on March 2.
11/95 SLIDES © Fayaz Aziz/Reuters
Rescue workers wearing masks and protective clothing check a man's temperature during a mock drill on handling suspected carriers of the coronavirus, in Peshawar, Pakistan, on March 2.
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A paramedic wearing a protective suit sanitizes the hands of people in Ashkelon, Israel, on March 2.

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Personnel from the health ministry check tourists' temperatures and for any symptoms at the Rumichaca border bridge in Tulcán, Ecuador, on March 1.

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A South Korean soldier wearing protective gear sanitizes a street in front of the city hall in Daegu on March 2.

 
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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.

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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.

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Pedestrians wearing face masks cross a square in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 29.

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A police officer wears a protective face mask on the street in Mexico City, Mexico, on Feb. 29.

19/95 SLIDES © Khalid al-Mousily/Reuters

A member of the Iraqi security forces wears a protective face mask in Baghdad on Feb. 29.

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A cleaner sanitizes a wagon on a regional train at the Garibaldi train station in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 28. Authorities are taking new measures against the COVID-19 outbreak as death toll in the country reached 21 on Feb. 29.
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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. 

22/95 SLIDES © Asif Hassan/AFP via Getty Images
Commuters wear face masks on a street in Karachi, Pakistan, on Feb. 28, as the country detected its first two cases of novel coronavirus on Feb. 26.
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U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks next to Health and Human Services Secretary, Alex Azar, during a coronavirus task force meeting at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Feb. 27.
24/95 SLIDES © Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images
A man wearing a face mask walks past an installation of the Olympic rings in Tokyo, Japan, on Feb. 28. The International Olympic Committee is "committed" to holding the 2020 games in Tokyo as planned despite the widening coronavirus outbreak, the body's president has pledged. 
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Umrah pilgrims are seen after the cancellation of the departure to Mecca following the Saudi government's temporary ban announced on Feb. 27, to keep the country safe from the virus outbreak, at Soekarno Hatta International Airport, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Feb. 27.
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A health worker takes part in a drill to handle suspected carriers of coronavirus, at a hotel in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on Feb. 26.

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A resident of Jongno-Gu district wearing a face mask sprays disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus at the Jogyesa Buddhist temple in Seoul, on Feb. 27.
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School staff leave after the government announced a 14-day closure as they found a eight-year old student was infected with the virus, at Phraharuthai Donmuang School in Bangkok, Thailand, on Feb. 26.
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Personnel wearing protective gear spray anti-septic solution at a traditional market in Seoul on Feb. 26.

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Spanish police officers patrol outside the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife, Canary Island, Spain, on Feb. 25.

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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.

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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.

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A newly wed couple wear protective masks as they take photos with family in Hong Kong on Feb. 24. 

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Two men ride a bike as they wear protective masks in Najaf, Iraq, on Feb. 24.

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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. 

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Members of the Guardia di Finanza wearing face masks stop a car, amid a coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy, in Casalpusterlengo, Italy, on Feb. 24.
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U.N. Secretary General António Guterres speaks during an update on the situation at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, on Feb. 24. 

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A street vendor sells face masks outside a railway station in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 24. 

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Figures depicting coronavirus and "carnevals-virus" are seen at the Shrove Monday celebrations in Düsseldorf, Germany, on Feb. 24.

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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.

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A couple wears masks during the Aalst Carnival parade in Belgium on Feb. 23.
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People wear masks in downtown Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 23. Iran's health ministry confirmed the death toll to eight in the country as of Feb. 23.
43/95 SLIDES © Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images
People in traditional Korean hanbok dresses wear face masks as they visit Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul on Feb. 23. 
44/95 SLIDES © Lim Huey Teng/Reuters
Buddhist monks wearing protective face masks pray during a blessing ceremony for the people affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, at a temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Feb. 22.
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Members of Red Cross board a Colombian Air Force plane that will evacuate the citizens from coronavirus-hit China, at the CATAM military base in Bogota, Colombia, on Feb. 22.
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French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire speaks next to the Junior Minister for Economy and Finance Agnès Pannier-Runacher during a press conference after a meeting on the coronavirus' economic consequences, at the Economy Ministry in Paris, France, on Feb. 21.
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A medical worker checks the temperature of a man wearing a protective mask at a quarantine checkpoint in the Son Loi commune in Vinh Phuc Province, Vietnam, on Feb. 20.
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A Chinese tourist, who was tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus and isolated for treatment, gestures while accompanied by medical staff after she was discharged from the hospital following her recovery, near Colombo in Sri Lanka, on Feb. 19.
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A woman wearing a mask in precaution of the virus outbreak prays at the Kwan Im Hood Cho Temple in Singapore on Feb. 19.
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Passengers wearing protective facemasks amid concerns of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak wait to board their plane at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia on Feb. 19.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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A classroom is cleaned in preparation for students' return to school in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Feb. 15.

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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.

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Passengers and children stand on the deck of the cruise ship Diamond Princess, as the vessel's passengers continue to be tested for coronavirus (COVID-19), at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, Japan, on Feb. 13. Aboard this quarantined ship, 219 people have tested positive with the virus.
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Family members of Pakistani students studying in Wuhan, rally outside the Chinese Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan, on Feb. 13., for the evacuation of their children from the Chinese city.
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Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (C) speaks to passengers on board the Westerdam cruise ship in Sihanoukville on Feb. 14, where the liner on Feb. 13 was docked after being refused entry at other Asian ports due to fears of the virus.
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Jay Butler, deputy director for Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), speaks to the media inside the Emergency Operations Center in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., on Feb. 13.
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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.

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A laboratory technician helps a colleague remove the protective suit after leaving a laboratory in Shenyang, China, on Feb. 12.

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People wave at family on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked at Daikoku Pier, Yokohama, Japan, on Feb. 11. 
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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.

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A Malaysian Royal Guard wears a protective mask as he stands guard outside National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Feb. 10.

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Brazilian citizens from Wuhan arrive at the Air Force base of Anapolis, in Brazil on Feb. 9.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun has his temperature checked during a visit to a clinic in Gyeonggi, South Korea, on Feb. 8.

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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.

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People spray chemical to sterilize vehicles against the virus in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam, on Feb. 7.
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Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen speaks about the coronavirus situation during a news conference at the Centers for Disease Control in Taipei, Taiwan, on Feb. 7. 
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Members of an emergency team participate in a drill to prepare for the potential arrival of passengers infected with the coronavirus at the Viru Viru International Airport, in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, on Feb. 6. 
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Airport security staff checks passengers using a thermal sensor screen at the Hong Kong International Airport on Feb. 6. 
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A tourist receives a free protective face mask from Buddhist volunteers in Hanoi on Feb. 6.
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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.

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Beds are set up at an exhibition center, which was converted into a hospital, in Wuhan on Feb. 4. 

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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. 

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Health services staff members wearing protective gear interact with passengers at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Feb. 2.
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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.

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Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca speaks to the press after a Turkish cargo plane carrying 42 passengers from Wuhan landed at Etimesgut Military Airport in Ankara, Turkey, on Feb. 1.
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Officials make preparations in Turkish Air Forces' A400M cargo plane at Etimesgut Military Airbase in Ankara, which is to depart to China to fly Turkish citizens out of Wuhan, on Jan. 31.
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China's U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun stated in his press briefing that over 130 patients have been cured of pneumonia caused by the coronavirus in New York City on Jan. 31.
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Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha (C) speaks to journalists during a visit to Suvarnabhumi Airport to inspect measures in place to monitor passengers as they arrive in Bangkok on Jan. 29.
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Children are seen wearing facial masks as a precaution after Nepal confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the country, at Matribhumi School in Madhyapur Thimi, Nepal, on Jan. 29.
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(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.

91/95 SLIDES © Andrei Samsonov/TASS via Getty Images
A Rospotrebnadzor (Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being) official uses a thermal imaging device to conduct a temperature check of passengers arriving at Krasnoyarsk International Airport on a plane from Cam Rahn, Vietnam, in Russia on Jan. 23.
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Director-General of World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, takes part in a news conference after a meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee to discuss about the outbreak of Pneumonia in China and other countries due to the 2019-nCoV, in Geneva, on Jan. 22.
93/95 SLIDES © Pavel Mikheyev/Reuters
Kazakh sanitary-epidemiological service worker uses a thermal scanner to detect travelers from China who may have symptoms possibly connected with the coronavirus at Almaty International Airport in Kazakhstan Jan. 21.
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Health officials watch travelers on a thermographic monitor at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia, on Jan. 21.
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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.

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Public health doctors will actively follow-up with all students and teachers on a daily basis over the coming 14 days, a spokesperson said.

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer with the Department of Health, said: “Contact tracing has assessed that close contacts of this patient includes pupils and teachers of a secondary school. Public health doctors are in direct contact with pupils, their parents and the staff involved.

" A South Korean soldier wearing protective gear is seen in front of the city hall after the rapid rise in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease of (COVID-19) in Daegu, southeast of the capital Seoul, South Korea, March 2, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon © Thomson Reuters A South Korean soldier wearing protective gear is seen in front of the city hall after the rapid rise in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease of (COVID-19) in Daegu, southeast of the capital Seoul, South Korea, March 2, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon Patient confidentiality in this case, and in all cases, should be respected. The Department of Health will provide updated information as necessary.”

The Department of Education said: “The Department of Education is available to assist the school in any way necessary. The Departments of Education and Health are in regular contact.

Related: For the global reaction to the coronavirus outbreak, click HERE

"The closing of this school was a decision made on public health grounds after risk assessment deemed it appropriate. All other schools will remain open. The Departments will continue to communicate with all schools on this issue.”

(left to right) HSE National Director, Acute Operations Liam Woods, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health Dr Tony Holohan, and Director, National Virus Reference Laboratory Dr Cillian De Gascun, during a press conference at the Department of Health, Dublin where they gave an update on on Ireland's preparedness for Covid-19. (Photo by Brian Lawless/PA Images via Getty Images) © PA Wire/PA Images (left to right) HSE National Director, Acute Operations Liam Woods, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health Dr Tony Holohan, and Director, National Virus Reference Laboratory Dr Cillian De Gascun, during a press conference at the Department of Health, Dublin where they gave an update on on Ireland's preparedness for Covid-19. (Photo by Brian Lawless/PA Images via Getty Images) Yesterday it emerged that a patient, a male in the eastern part of the country, is currently receiving appropriate medical care after testing positive for Covid-19, the HSE revealed.

The man had been in Northern Italy and did not contract the virus from contact with another confirmed case here, including the case confirmed in the North on Thursday. He came forward himself with symptoms. Tests confirmed he had the virus only hours before the announcement was made and authorities then began the process of tracing those he may have come into contact with.

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Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer with the Department of Health, said the likelihood of more cases in Ireland is now "moderate to high" but added that, for members of the public who had not been out of the country, the likelihood of contract the virus was still extremely low.

Dr Holohan said: "This is not unexpected. We have been preparing for this eventuality for many weeks now. Public health protocols have been in place since January and are operating effectively.

"The health service is well used to managing infectious diseases and has robust response measures in place."

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Dr John Cuddihy, director of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, said: "The HSE is now working rapidly to identify any contacts the patient may have had, to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.

"It is important to note that the risk of transmission through casual contact is low."

It is the second case of coronavirus on the island of Ireland, after the first case in Northern Ireland was confirmed earlier this week.

A thermal camera monitor shows the body temperature of people at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, March 2, 2020. South Korea has the world's second-highest cases of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) © ASSOCIATED PRESS A thermal camera monitor shows the body temperature of people at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, March 2, 2020. South Korea has the world's second-highest cases of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) The patient had arrived at Dublin Airport from northern Italy before travelling to Belfast by train.

The Cabinet is expected to meet to discuss measures to contain the virus, such as curtailing public events, while the cancellation of St Patrick's Day events around the country has not been ruled out.

Medics prepare to transfer a patient on a stretcher to an ambulance at the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the long-term care facility linked to the two of three confirmed coronavirus cases in the state, in Kirkland, Washington, U.S. March 1, 2020. REUTERS/David Ryder © Thomson Reuters Medics prepare to transfer a patient on a stretcher to an ambulance at the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the long-term care facility linked to the two of three confirmed coronavirus cases in the state, in Kirkland, Washington, U.S. March 1, 2020. REUTERS/David Ryder

Government departments are being asked to provide facilities for people to self-isolate in the event of a coronavirus outbreak here, the Sunday Independent has learned.

Newly-commissioned nursing homes that are not yet in use or facilities at colleges and universities across the State could be used as spaces for people to self-isolate as a precaution in the event they cannot do so at home.

"It would be if you ended up with a lot of people who are symptomatic but do not have a suitable home setting in which to self-isolate," a Government source said.

This could include patients in nursing homes, people in Direct Provision who have to share a room with others or those caught up in the housing crisis who are also forced to share a room with others.

South Korean soldiers wearing protective gear sanitize a street in front of the city hall after the rapid rise in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease of (COVID-19) in Daegu, southeast of the capital Seoul, South Korea, March 2, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon © Thomson Reuters South Korean soldiers wearing protective gear sanitize a street in front of the city hall after the rapid rise in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease of (COVID-19) in Daegu, southeast of the capital Seoul, South Korea, March 2, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon Departments are being asked to provide details on facilities they would be able to make available to be used as temporary isolation units. Such facilities would not be used as field hospitals for people who are diagnosed with the coronavirus. "It's not for sick people. If you are sick and need to be isolated we are prepared for that," the source said.

Government preparations for dealing with an outbreak of the coronavirus will be stepped up this week with an inter-departmental group of secretaries general to meet to assess various contingency plans.

Nursing homes will have to consider restricting visitor access to protect residents from the coronavirus, according to industry representatives, with older people and people with underlying illnesses most vulnerable to the virus.

The chief executive of Nursing Homes Ireland, Tadhg Daly, said he was also concerned about a shortage of equipment, such as face masks, to protect staff from the coronavirus.

South Korean soldiers wearing protective gear sanitize a street in front of the city hall after the rapid rise in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease of (COVID-19) in Daegu, southeast of the capital Seoul, South Korea, March 2, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon © Thomson Reuters South Korean soldiers wearing protective gear sanitize a street in front of the city hall after the rapid rise in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease of (COVID-19) in Daegu, southeast of the capital Seoul, South Korea, March 2, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon "In the private sector, the majority have single en-suite rooms, so the level of preparedness is good," he said.

The English language school sector is expected to lose millions because of travel restrictions designed to contain the virus. Many student trips due to take place this month and in April have already been cancelled. Marketing English in Ireland estimates that more than 10,000 student trips in the coming weeks will be cancelled, at a cost of more than €8m.

The National Bus and Rail Union is calling for Perspex protective shields for drivers on the country's national bus routes. Unlike Dublin Bus vehicles, Bus Eireann services in regional areas do not have automated cash dispensers or protective shields.

The union was told last week that the Northern Irish passenger who travelled from northern Italy to Dublin Airport and then on to Belfast did not use public bus transport.

Dr John Cuddihy, HSE director of public health (left), and Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan during a press conference at Department of Health in Dublin after the first confirmed case of Covid-19 in the Irish Republic. (Photo by Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images) © PA Wire/PA Images Dr John Cuddihy, HSE director of public health (left), and Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan during a press conference at Department of Health in Dublin after the first confirmed case of Covid-19 in the Irish Republic. (Photo by Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images) The woman is now self-isolating in Northern Ireland and the train on which she travelled to Belfast has been sanitised. It is believed that several people who had contact with the woman on her journey home from northern Italy have also been forced to isolate themselves. These include the passengers who sat two rows in front, two rows behind and across from the woman on the Aer Lingus flight to Dublin.

The cabin crew have also been placed in self-isolation for 14 days as a "precautionary measure".

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, meanwhile, told the Sunday Independent that the virus will impact on Ireland's economic growth - though he added that it was too early to say by how much.

Government officials privately fear the country could fall into recession this year as a result of the fallout from the virus, with significant impact on the spending plans being discussed by political parties in the ongoing government formation talks.

"There is a high possibility of global recession this year," said one government figure. "The manifesto promises are dead on arrival."

A woman wearing face mask, sunglasses and face shield is seen at a subway station as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, in Shanghai, China March 2, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song © Thomson Reuters A woman wearing face mask, sunglasses and face shield is seen at a subway station as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, in Shanghai, China March 2, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song The virus could also impact on government formation talks. Political parties are concerned that party conferences or ard fheiseanna that must be held to allow members to vote on a programme for government would be unable to go ahead due to an outbreak.

Senior sources in Fianna Fail and Fine Gael both acknowledged the risk of such events being postponed and delaying the formation of a new government indefinitely in the event of widespread restrictions being issued.

The emergence of the virus and the speed with which it is taking hold has caused an international public health emergency, with more than 3,000 people now dead and more than 86,000 infected and stock markets tumbling. The World Health Organisation (WHO) last week raised its global risk assessment for coronavirus to "very high" from "high".

The WHO has urged non-infected countries to act early to contain a Covid-19 outbreak, including rapid testing. However, in advance of an outbreak, it urges testing of all patients with atypical pneumonia for the virus.

Workers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus at a department store in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, March 2, 2020. South Korea has the world's second-highest cases. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) © ASSOCIATED PRESS Workers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus at a department store in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, March 2, 2020. South Korea has the world's second-highest cases. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) Mr Donohoe told the Sunday Independent: "The coronavirus is already having an impact on global economic growth. As such, it will have an effect on Irish economic growth. But it's just too early to say what that impact will be."

He added that this will be offset by "a jobs market that continues to perform very strongly" and other economic indicators that show that the Irish economy has had a strong start this year.

(Left to right) Dr John Cuddihy, HSE director of public health, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, and Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn, during a press conference at Department of Health in Dublin after the first confirmed case of Covid-19 in the Irish Republic. (Photo by Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images) © PA Wire/PA Images (Left to right) Dr John Cuddihy, HSE director of public health, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, and Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn, during a press conference at Department of Health in Dublin after the first confirmed case of Covid-19 in the Irish Republic. (Photo by Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images) The Department of Finance will publish updated growth forecasts in April which are likely to give the first indication of the economic impact of the crisis.

Disruption from the virus has the potential to severely hit the economy, with particular risk to tourism. However, supply chains in general are expected to be affected across all economic activity.

"Even the public sector pay deal could face a big challenge," one political source said.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Health Minister Simon Harris have spoken with Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster, Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, Health Minister Robin Swann and the NI Chief Medical Officer.

(left to right) HSE National Director, Acute Operations Liam Woods, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health Dr Tony Holohan, and Director, National Virus Reference Laboratory Dr Cillian De Gascun, during a press conference at the Department of Health, Dublin where they gave an update on on Ireland's preparedness for Covid-19. (Photo by Brian Lawless/PA Images via Getty Images) © PA Wire/PA Images (left to right) HSE National Director, Acute Operations Liam Woods, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health Dr Tony Holohan, and Director, National Virus Reference Laboratory Dr Cillian De Gascun, during a press conference at the Department of Health, Dublin where they gave an update on on Ireland's preparedness for Covid-19. (Photo by Brian Lawless/PA Images via Getty Images) "They discussed the situation regarding the virus on the island of Ireland, and also internationally, and noted the good co-operation in place between authorities North and South" a statement said.

Ireland's final Six Nations clash with France in Paris is also in doubt, after the French government yesterday announced a temporary ban on public gatherings of more than 5,000 people in "a confined space" due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The game - a potential Six Nations decider - is due to take place in Paris on Saturday, March 14. However, a Six Nations spokesperson was unable to say if there was any dialogue with the French health ministry over when a review of the ban might take place.

An IRFU spokesman, too, was unclear as to how long the ban would extend, and expected no update ahead of the scheduled World Rugby meeting in Paris tomorrow, which Six Nations representatives will use to try to get clarity on the rest of the tournament.

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Minister for Health Simon Harris (centre) holds a leaflet which forms part of the public awareness campaign for COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in the baggage hall of Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport. (Photo by Brian Lawless/PA Images via Getty Images) Next Story

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