Dublin Airport passenger tests negative for coronavirus; Cork doctors briefed on infection prevention and control precautions

A man that was under observation for coronavirus after arriving into Dublin Airport on Saturday on a flight from Moscow has tested negative.

It is understood he travelled there from China.

The man was escorted off the plane by medical staff in hazmat suits and it is believed he was being observed in the Mater Hospital in Dublin.

A HSE spokeswomen, while not confirming any details relating to the incident, said yesterday that they have a "protocol in place" to activate any plan at ports of entry into Ireland.

Leaflets from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC) were given to passengers on the flight which landed just after 9pm on Saturday.

The Department of Health said today that it does not comment on individual cases.

In a statement issued on Sunday, it said: "To date, there are no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Ireland."

It added: "Ireland has advanced plans in place as part of its comprehensive preparedness to deal with public health emergencies such as novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

"These plans have helped us to respond to previous incidents such as pandemic influenza, SARS and MERS."

The National Public Health Emergency Team is due to meet on Tuesday "to continue its review of Ireland’s ongoing preparedness in line with the advice from the WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)."

An Irish teacher based in Wuhan has been evacuated to a facility in Liverpool.

Ben Kavanagh says he and 93 others are staying in isolation in student accommodation.

Cork GPs were briefed on the virus in recent weeks in the wake of the outbreak.

In an email to Cork healthcare workers, Dr Augustine Pereira, Director of Public Health for the HSE South, said the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) is closely monitoring the outbreak.

“The National Ambulance Service (NAS) and the local receiving hospital should be alerted in advance of the transfer of a possible case of 2019-nCoV,” he said.

“The Medical Officer of Health in Public Health should also be alerted to the identification of a possible case of novel coronavirus.

“In addition, it is important that appropriate Infection Prevention and Control precautions be taken,” he added.

Dr Pereira also warned that, if a symptomatic person phones the Primary Care service and indicates that they may have novel coronavirus or are concerned because they have travelled from China and are now unwell, a remote risk assessment is to be performed over the phone.

Meanwhile, University College Cork (UCC) emailed staff and students in recent days to request they refrain from travelling to China.

In a statement to The Echo, a UCC spokesperson said the college was monitoring the recommendations from the HPSC on a daily basis and was acting on these recommendations as they emerge.

Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) said communication on the issue would be circulated in the coming days.