COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect the lungs and airways and is caused by a new virus called the 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. This can be direct or indirect (on hands, objects, surfaces). If you come into close contact with someone who is shedding the virus and who is coughing or sneezing, or if you touch – with your hands – surfaces or objects on which someone who has the virus has coughed or sneezed , and then touch your mouth, nose or eyes without having washed your hands thoroughly, you may contract the virus.
As COVID-19 is a new illness, we are still learning about how easily the virus spreads from person to person and how to control it, so it is important to keep up to date and make sure you are using the most up to date guidance available. This information is available from the following links:
- HSE-HPSC: https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/
- HSE Hub: https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
- Department of Health: https://www.gov.ie/en/news/7e0924-latest-updates-on-covid-19- coronavirus/
COVID-19 can be a mild or severe illness. Severe illness is much more common in older people (especially older than 70) and in people vulnerable for other reasons. Severe illness is much less common in children and young adults in good health. (See below) …….