First case of Coronavirus confirmed in Meath 

A YOUNG man from Navan has confirmed that he has tested positive for the Coronavirus. 

It is understood that the man in his twenties recently returned from a ski trip to Northern Italy with a group of people from the town. 

He is believed to be the first person in Meath to test positive for the virus and the first person in Ireland to identify themselves as having Covid-19. 

However, the patient is not being treated in an isolation unit in Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan, as stated in our print edition this evening. 

In a social media post, he revealed that tests carried out following the trip confirmed that he had contracted the virus. 

Commenting generally on measures being adopted in relation to Covid-19 the hospital clinical lead for Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan, Gerry McEntee said the hospital was guided entirely by public health doctors who issued protocols for dealing with the virus. 

“These protocols keep changing and staff and management have to keep adjusting to the new protocols and are working extremely hard with all of the staff to ensure that all these protocols are being adhered to. Last Friday alone, the protocol was changed three times in 24 hours, but staff are keeping up to date.

“It is clear that we are dealing with something that has implications for every single hospital in the country,” he said.

“We have to rely on the public health experts,” he said.

A spokesperson for the HSE commented that: "The HSE and the Department of Health are not providing information about individual activations of preparedness plans or about individual cases of Covid-19 (coronavirus) other than confirmed cases.

"The approach which has been taken to date in Ireland is in line with guidance from the WHO and ECDC."

Meanwhile, The Department of Education and Skills says it is liaising closely with the Department of Health on a continuing basis. 
Any decision to close schools will be made on public health advice. There is no such advice at this point. 
It is essential that any decisions regarding responses to Covid-19 are proportionate, necessary and based on specific public health advice. No other response is appropriate.
Public health professionals will contact schools if there is any action to be taken. Schools should not take unilateral action.  
Schools, pre-schools and higher education settings have been provided with advice and guidance in respect of Covid-19. There is up to date guidance for schools and parents on education.ie/covid19.
The Department is deeply conscious of the significance of decisions concerning school closures, and the potential impact any such decisions would have on parents, families and the wider community.
This is an evolving situation and the health advice is being updated on a daily basis.