![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/2.50881315.jpg\")
Seven new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Ireland, including one patient who had not traveled to an infected area.<\/p>\nSeven new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Ireland, including one patient who had not traveled to an infected area.<\/p>\n
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said the country remains in the containment phase, but warned it is a \u201crapidly evolving situation\u201d.<\/p>\n
Four of the latest cases are travel related from northern Italy, involving four males from the east of the country.<\/p>\n
Two are associated with close contact with a confirmed case and involve two females in the west of the country.<\/p>\n
The seventh case is a male, who the Department of Health have described as being \u201cassociated with Cork University Hospital\u201d and is the first case of community transmission.<\/p>\n
A risk assessment is under way at the hospital.<\/p>\n
Dr Holohan urged a \u201cnational effort\u201d to stymie potential spread.<\/p>\n
\u201cPublic health doctors are working hard to ensure our containment measures are operating effectively,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost people who become infected with Covid-19 experience a mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for some.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, this will need a national effort. Every individual needs to be aware of how to protect their own health and the health of others.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most important way they can do this is by following public health advice. Central to this are the protective measures we can all take against Covid-19.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier, Health Service Executive chief executive officer Paul Reid told a press briefing the health service was preparing for further phases as there has been sustained transmission of the disease in other European countries.<\/p>\n
Mr Reid said: \u201cWe must ensure that there is not a level of panic among the public but we also must warn against complacency.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need the public to act and to treat this seriously and to act on all of the advice that we are giving.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are still in a containment phase but our experience has shown that this does move quickly to a further phase and we need the public to heed our advice we are giving.\u201d<\/p>\n
Health Minister Simon Harris has said schools or businesses should not close unless they are told to do so by health officials.<\/p>\n
Mr Harris said new cases will impact on schools in a variety of ways, and he added that contact tracing on the new cases is ongoing.<\/p>\n
He said schools need to follow the advice of health authorities and it was important that schools did not act unilaterally.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will not be a one size fits all solution for all schools as this situation unfolds,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose schools need to follow the advice of the public health authorities. There may be different scenarios for different schools and this may happen to a number of schools in the coming days and weeks. It may mean that an event in the school would have to be cancelled.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is really important that schools do not act unilaterally and that schools take the opportunity to hear from the public health authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said people who are generally healthy do not need to be unduly concerned about the spread of Covid-19.<\/p>\n
Mr Harris added: \u201cI don\u2019t want people to be unduly concerned about this, particularly for those of us who are generally healthy and well.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting a virus can be an unpleasant experience and it can require that you stay at home and be self-isolated but most people recover very well from this.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are now 13 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the Republic of Ireland, as well as three in Northern Ireland \u2013 bringing the total number of cases on the island to 16.<\/p>\n