Coronavirus isolation and testing units being established in Gurranabraher

Two unused buildings on St Mary’s Campus in Gurranabraher are being refurbished for use in testing and containing the coronavirus outbreak in Cork.

Sources within the HSE confirmed that two buildings on the campus, not currently in use, are being upgraded for the purposes of testing people for coronavirus and also isolating individuals with the deadly disease.

The confirmation follows the news that Cork has its first official case of the lethal disease at Cork University Hospital.

The news was confirmed on Thursday night by the Department of Health. The Cork man, aged in his 40s, became the first in the country to catch the infection through community transmission, meaning how he got the virus is currently unexplained.

The circumstances of the diagnosis have sparked fears that staff or other patients could be infected.

MORE than 60 staff members at Cork University Hospital have been told to self-isolate after over fears of an outbreak. Other patients at CUH are being assessed.

The patient had been taken to CUH by ambulance, complaining of pains in his head. He spent time in A&E before being discharged. He was readmitted in recent days and tested for the virus. The National Virus Reference Laboratory confirmed a positive test yesterday.

The patient was being cared for in an Intensive Care Unit on Thursday night.