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Results Of Coronavirus Test On Westmeath Student Expected Within 24 Hours

Thursday, 27 February 2020 12:34

The Department of Health say no spokesperson is available on the issue.

Results of a test for coronavirus on a Westmeath student are expected in the next 24 hours. 

35 students and four staff members teachers from Castlepollard Community College travelled to Italy during the mid-term break, with one student displaying symptoms after returning. 

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre is advising that those who have been in affected regions and are adisplaying symptoms of coughing, fever and shortness of breath to stay at home, not go to public places or to school. 

So far, there have been no confirmed cases of the disease in Ireland.

Midlands 103 requested a spokesperson from the Department Of Health, to which they gave the following response:

We have a Department and HSE policy of not commenting on individual cases, groups of cases, or indeed individual acts of preparedness, unless we have a confirmed case. We currently have no confirmed cases of Covid-19. 

Each week, the National Public Health Emergency Team meet on a Tuesday and thereafter the Department of Health release that week's figure of those who have been tested. This week we informed the media that we have tested 90 cases, all of which have been negative.

Testing is a routine matter of protocol based on specific requirements and the judgement of highly trained healthcare professionals, which can be read about in more depth - including what would happen if we had a confirmed case in Ireland.

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