Covid-19 Information
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.
Coronavirus is spread in sneeze or cough droplets. To infect you, it has to get from an infected person's nose or mouth into your eyes, nose or mouth.
It’s important to wash your hands properly and often.
Follow this advice to protect yourself and others from COVID-19
Symptoms of Coronavirus
It can take up to 14 days for symptoms of coronavirus to appear.
The main symptoms to look out for are:
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a cough - this can be any kind of cough, not just dry
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shortness of breath
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breathing difficulties
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fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above) or chills
If you develop symptoms you will need to self-isolate and phone your GP on 0567721320.
Please call to GP surgery first.
The GP will assess you over the phone.
If they think you need to be tested for Coronavirus, they will arrange a test.
Travel and Coronavirus
You will need to self-quarantine if you’re returning to Ireland from certain countries.
You should also follow the advice from the Department of Foreign affairs if you are thinking about travelling abroad.
Find out more about travel and coronavirus
At-risk groups and coronavirus
There are some groups of people who may be more at risk of serious illness if they catch coronavirus. But we do not think these groups have a higher risk of catching coronavirus. This is similar to other infections such as flu.
Read more about at-risk groups and coronavirus
Self-isolation and self-quarantine
To help stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) you may need to either self-quarantine or self-isolate.
Self-quarantine means avoiding contact with other people and social situations as much as possible. You will need to do this if you are a close contact of a confirmed case of coronavirus and you are still well.
Self-isolation means staying indoors and completely avoiding contact with other people. You will need to do this if you have symptoms of coronavirus.
Read more about self-quarantine and self-isolation
Medicines
There is no need to order more medicines than you need. This will affect the supply of medicines to others. There is no disruption to the supply of medicines.
If you have respiratory symptoms, do not attend your pharmacy in person. Phone your pharmacist if you need to order a prescription. Ask a family member to collect any medicines you need.
If you have coronavirus, continue to take any medication you were already taking, unless you are told not to by a healthcare professional. This includes anti-inflammatories (NSAID) such as ibuprofen, naproxen or diclofenac.
Only take one anti-inflammatory medication at a time. It is OK to take paracetamol and an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen at the same time.
Children and coronavirus
Follow this advice if your child has recently travelled to a place with a spread of coronavirus.
Encourage your child to wash their hands regularly and properly.
Read more advice on how to prevent your child from catching or spreading viral infections.
Pregnancy and coronavirus
When you are pregnant, your body naturally weakens your immune system. This is to help your pregnancy continue successfully. It means that when you are pregnant you may pick up infections more easily.
All pregnant women should get the flu vaccine. This will protect you and your baby from the flu, not from coronavirus.
Read more about pregnancy and coronavirus