Ireland: Authorities tighten COVID-19 restrictions until September 13 /update 13

Event

Irish authorities announced on Tuesday, August 18, that some restrictions previously implemented due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have been tightened following a recent rise in the number of confirmed cases in the country. Under the tightening of restrictions, the number of visitors permitted in a home has been reduced to six, while outdoor gatherings of more than 15 people have been prohibited, down from 200.

Irish authorities reintroduced some restrictions in Kildare, Laois, and Offaly counties on Friday, August 7, due to a rise in confirmed COVID-19 infections. With the new restrictions, restaurants, pubs, and cafes in these counties will only provide outdoor services for a period of at least two weeks. Residents of Kildare, Laois, and Offaly will only be permitted to leave their counties for limited purposes.

On August 4, the Republic of Ireland announced that it would be postponing the scheduled Phase 4 easing of COVID-19 measures. As a result, pubs and hotel bars will remain closed, and a limit on the size of gatherings remains in place. The decision to delay the reopening will be reviewed in three weeks.

As of August 18, health authorities have confirmed a total of 27,499 COVID-19 cases with 1775 associated deaths in the country. Further spread of the virus is expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.