COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland: Difference between revisions
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{{2019–20 coronavirus outbreak data/Republic of Ireland medical cases}} |
{{2019–20 coronavirus outbreak data/Republic of Ireland medical cases}} |
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==Impact== |
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===Economy=== |
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Panic buying of hand sanitisers and face masks ensued as fear of the pandemic spread.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/coronavirus-food-supply-focus-of-meeting-with-grocery-sector-1.4194427|title=Coronavirus: Food supply focus of meeting with grocery sector|last=Pope|first=Conor|website=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-06}}</ref> Supermarkets introduced social distancing measures and additional cleaning and disinfecting within stores.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/supermarkets-to-limit-customer-numbers-to-slow-coronavirus-spread-1.4205966|title=Supermarkets to limit customer numbers to slow coronavirus spread|work=[[The Irish Times]]|first=Conor|last=Pope|date=18 March 2020|accessdate=18 March 2020}}</ref> |
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[[Commercial aviation|Flights]], to and from some affected regions, were suspended.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Goodbody|first=Will|date=2020-03-10|title=Ryanair and Aer Lingus suspend Italian flights|journal=RTÉ News|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0310/1121382-ryanair/|language=en}}</ref> Major departments stores shut, including [[McElhinney's]] on Sunday 13 March,<ref>https://www.drapersonline.com/news/comment/coronavirus-closures-you-have-to-look-beyond-your-own-business/7039812.article</ref> [[Brown Thomas]] and [[Arnotts]] on the evening of 18 March.<ref>https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/coronavirus-brown-thomas-arnotts-and-penneys-closing-until-further-notice-1.4205768</ref> [[Penneys]] (which trades abroad as [[Primark]]) followed suit the same evening.<ref>https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2020/0318/1123856-brown-thomas-arnotts/</ref><ref>https://www.thejournal.ie/penneys-closing-coronavirus-5050561-Mar2020/</ref> |
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| ⚫ | On 18 March, banks together with the [[Minister for Finance (Ireland)|Minister of Finance]] [[Paschal Donohoe]] announced a range of measures, including providing working capital, payment breaks and deferred court proceedings.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Finn|first=Brian|date=2020-03-18|title=Banks announce measures for impact of Covid-19|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0318/1123788-banks-covid-19/|journal=RTÉ News|language=en}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | On 16 March, [[Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection]] [[Regina Doherty]] announced a Pandemic Unemployment Payment, available for six weeks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/pandemic-unemployment-payment-coronavirus-jobseekers-5047512-Mar2020/|title=Pandemic unemployment payment set up to help people out of work due to coronavirus closures|last=Burke|first=Ceimin|website=TheJournal.ie|language=en|access-date=2020-03-20}}</ref> |
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===Education=== |
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Initially, some schools around the country were closed and pupils were instructed to self-isolate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/school-to-close-for-14-days-as-precautionary-measure-after-coronavirus-case-985087.html|title=School to close for 14 days as precautionary measure after coronavirus case|last=Sunday|last2=March 01|date=2020-03-01|website=www.irishexaminer.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-06|last3=Pm|first3=2020-09:16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/coronavirus-covid19-ireland-west-clare-school-closed-5034051-Mar2020/|title=Two Clare schools close for two weeks after pupil among four people to test positive for Covid-19 in the west|last=Flynn|first=Pat|website=TheJournal.ie|language=en|access-date=2020-03-06}}</ref> Lectures from [[Trinity College Dublin]] were cancelled and delivered online.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/trinity-cancels-lectures-in-bid-to-limit-coronavirus-threat-1.4198706|title=Trinity cancels lectures in bid to limit coronavirus threat|work=[[The Irish Times]]|first=Carl|last=O'Brien|language=en|date=10 March 2020|accessdate=10 March 2020}}</ref> On 12 March [[Taoiseach]] [[Leo Varadkar]] announced the closure of all schools, colleges and childcare facilities until at least 29 March and has recommended indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people to be cancelled.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/coronavirus-schools-colleges-and-childcare-facilities-in-ireland-to-shut-1.4200977|title=Coronavirus: Schools, colleges and childcare facilities in Ireland to shut|last=Leahy|first=Pat|last2=Cullen|first2=Paul|website=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-12|last3=Lynch|first3=Suzanne|last4=Kelly|first4=Fiach}}</ref> [[Minister for Education and Skills|Minister for Education]] [[Joe McHugh]] announced on 18 March that [[Leaving Certificate (Ireland)|Leaving]] and [[Junior Certificate|Junior]] Cert [[Oral exam|oral]] and practical exams were cancelled.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/students-to-get-full-marks-as-leaving-and-junior-cert-oral-and-practical-exams-cancelled-1.4206797|title=Students to get full marks as Leaving and Junior Cert oral and practical exams cancelled|last=Editor|first=Carl O'Brien Education|website=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19}}</ref> |
Initially, some schools around the country were closed and pupils were instructed to self-isolate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/school-to-close-for-14-days-as-precautionary-measure-after-coronavirus-case-985087.html|title=School to close for 14 days as precautionary measure after coronavirus case|last=Sunday|last2=March 01|date=2020-03-01|website=www.irishexaminer.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-06|last3=Pm|first3=2020-09:16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/coronavirus-covid19-ireland-west-clare-school-closed-5034051-Mar2020/|title=Two Clare schools close for two weeks after pupil among four people to test positive for Covid-19 in the west|last=Flynn|first=Pat|website=TheJournal.ie|language=en|access-date=2020-03-06}}</ref> Lectures from [[Trinity College Dublin]] were cancelled and delivered online.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/trinity-cancels-lectures-in-bid-to-limit-coronavirus-threat-1.4198706|title=Trinity cancels lectures in bid to limit coronavirus threat|work=[[The Irish Times]]|first=Carl|last=O'Brien|language=en|date=10 March 2020|accessdate=10 March 2020}}</ref> On 12 March [[Taoiseach]] [[Leo Varadkar]] announced the closure of all schools, colleges and childcare facilities until at least 29 March and has recommended indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people to be cancelled.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/coronavirus-schools-colleges-and-childcare-facilities-in-ireland-to-shut-1.4200977|title=Coronavirus: Schools, colleges and childcare facilities in Ireland to shut|last=Leahy|first=Pat|last2=Cullen|first2=Paul|website=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-12|last3=Lynch|first3=Suzanne|last4=Kelly|first4=Fiach}}</ref> [[Minister for Education and Skills|Minister for Education]] [[Joe McHugh]] announced on 18 March that [[Leaving Certificate (Ireland)|Leaving]] and [[Junior Certificate|Junior]] Cert [[Oral exam|oral]] and practical exams were cancelled.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/students-to-get-full-marks-as-leaving-and-junior-cert-oral-and-practical-exams-cancelled-1.4206797|title=Students to get full marks as Leaving and Junior Cert oral and practical exams cancelled|last=Editor|first=Carl O'Brien Education|website=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19}}</ref> |
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State broadcaster [[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] announced on 21 March that it would begin showing "school" live on television.<ref>https://extra.ie/2020/03/21/must-see/rte-school-claire-byrne-show</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Hospital staff in some hospitals also self-isolated. In [[Cork University Hospital]], over 60 members of staff self-isolated after a case was discovered there.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2020-03-06|title=Over 60 CUH staff self-isolate following Covid-19 case|journal=RTÉ News|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0306/1120531-coronavirus/|language=en}}</ref> Some nursing homes and hospitals placed stricter visitor restrictions in the hope of stopping the spread of the virus.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nursing Homes Ireland and two Cork hospitals bring in visitor restrictions over Covid-19 fears |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/nursing-homes-ireland-and-two-cork-hospitals-bring-in-visitor-restrictions-over-covid-19-fears-986160.html |website=www.irishexaminer.com |date=6 March 2020 |publisher=Irish Examiner |accessdate=6 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/coronavirus-six-hospitals-in-mid-west-impose-visitor-ban-1.4195232|title=Coronavirus: Six hospitals in mid-west impose visitor ban|last=Raleigh|first=David|last2=Kelleher|first2=Olivia|website=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/mass-gatherings-coronavirus-covid-19-5036764-Mar2020/|title=Mass gatherings and Covid-19: Don't attend if sick and consider your plans if you're in an 'at risk' group|last=MacNamee|first=Garreth|website=TheJournal.ie|language=en|access-date=2020-03-07}}</ref> A company that makes [[Surgical mask|surgical face masks]], for the global and local market, increased its production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/limerick-firm-reaping-benefits-of-soaring-face-mask-demand-around-world-985474.html|title=Limerick firm reaping benefits of soaring face mask demand around world|last=Tuesday|last2=March 03|date=2020-03-03|website=www.irishexaminer.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-11|last3=Pm|first3=2020-02:35}}</ref> The [[Health Service Executive]] began stocking up on [[Ventilator|ventilators]] in anticipation of a possible surge in respiratory distress cases from coronavirus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/medics-raise-concerns-about-staffing-levels-as-hse-stocks-up-on-ventilators-1.4201544|title=Medics raise concerns about staffing levels as HSE stocks up on ventilators|last=Editor|first=Simon Carswell Public Affairs|website=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref> On 17 March, [[Minister for Health (Ireland)|Minister of Health]] [[Simon Harris (politician)|Simon Harris]] announced free consultations for [[COVID-19 testing]] and a recruitment drive to hire more healthcare workers including those retired and working part-time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/coronavirus-hse-seeks-to-hire-all-available-healthcare-workers-1.4205259|title=Coronavirus: HSE seeks to hire all available healthcare workers|last=Wall|first=Martin|website=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref> |
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===Politics=== |
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[[Commercial aviation|Flights]] to and from some affected regions were suspended.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Goodbody|first=Will|date=2020-03-10|title=Ryanair and Aer Lingus suspend Italian flights|journal=RTÉ News|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0310/1121382-ryanair/|language=en}}</ref> |
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[[2020 Irish general election|A general election]] took place in Ireland on 2 February, before the outbreak had been declared a pandemic or reached Europe. [[2020 Irish government formation|Talks on government formation]] began soon afterwards and continued as the first case was confirmed in Ireland. [[Sinn Féin]] president [[Mary Lou McDonald]] was the first high-profile politician affected, with her party cancelling events and her family entering self-isolation for a period after McDonald confirmed on 2 March that her children attended the same school as the student with the first recorded case of COVID-19 in Ireland.<ref>https://www.newstalk.com/news/mary-lou-mcdonald-cancels-meetings-children-attend-coronavirus-hit-dublin-school-976286</ref> |
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On 16 March, independent Donegal TD [[Thomas Pringle (politician)|Thomas Pringle]] entered isolation due to previous contact with someone in Dublin and the high risk to his own personal health.<ref>https://www.thejournal.ie/thomas-pringle-coronavirus-isolation-5049206-Mar2020/</ref><ref>https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/donegal-td-in-isolation-amid-coronavirus-fears-988415.html</ref> On 18 March, independent MEP [[Luke 'Ming' Flanagan]] announced that he and his family would begin self-isolating after his daughter exhibited symptoms of COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/lukeming/status/1240218656241483776|title=Luke 'Ming' Flanagan|date=18 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | [[Saint Patrick's Day|St Patrick's Day]] parades were called off due to the fear of the virus spreading further.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/coronavirus-st-patricks-day-parade-17879218|title=Coronavirus: St Patrick's parade cancelled in Stepaside Dublin for Public Health|last=Mcgowran|first=Leigh|date=2020-03-06|website=dublinlive|access-date=2020-03-07}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.waterfordlive.ie/news/what-s-on/523258/dungarvan-s-st-patrick-s-day-parade-cancelled-over-coronavirus.html|title=Dungarvan's St. Patrick's Day parade cancelled over coronavirus|website=www.waterfordlive.ie|access-date=2020-03-07}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/Youghal-parade-cancelled-due-to-coronavirus-concerns-8b1a3c5c-0e53-4723-92e1-ff22ab7acc3a-ds|title=Parades in Cork towns cancelled and postponed due to coronavirus concerns|website=Echo Live|access-date=2020-03-07}}</ref><ref name=":8" /> |
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[[Dáil Éireann]] reconvened under social distancing measures on 19 March 2020 to pass emergency legislation. At the written request of [[Ceann Comhairle]] [[Seán Ó Fearghaíl]], the sitting was limited to 48 TDs (11 each representing [[Fianna Fáil]], [[Fine Gael]] and [[Sinn Féin]], four [[Green Party (Ireland)|Greens]], three members of the regional independent group and two members of all other parties and groups). The legislation - Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020 - passed all stages, and, following requests by opposition TDs, included a [[sunset clause]] for review in November.<ref>https://www.thejournal.ie/emergency-covid19-legislation-ireland-5051280-Mar2020/</ref> During the sitting, [[Eamon Ryan]] called on the Irish to grow lettuce on their window sills: "Let us get every south facing window sill in this country and lettuce plant our seeds in the next week so that if there is any supply crisis in food in two or three months time when this really hits hard, we'll have our salads ready to go".<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Byrne|first1=Andrew|last2=Corcoran|last2=Mark|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/politics/eamon-ryan-dail-speech-coronavirus-21721928|title=Green Party leader Eamon Ryan calls on Irish to grow food on windowsills in fight against coronavirus|date=20 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The Vintners Federation of Ireland, the Licensed Vintners Association and the Irish government urged all bars and pubs to close from midnight 15 March until, at minimum, 29 March. The official statement cited difficulty in maintaining [[social distancing]] in bars and pubs. All pubs and nightclubs in [[Temple Bar, Dublin|Temple Bar]], a hot-spot of Dublin's nightlife, announced that they would comply in response. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stated that he "may seek enforcement powers from [[Dáil Éireann|Dáil]]/[[Seanad Éireann|Seanad]]" in order to compel pubs and bars to close.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/coronavirus-government-calls-on-all-pubs-and-bars-to-close-from-tonight-1.4203494|title=Coronavirus: Government calls on all pubs and bars to close from tonight|work=[[The Irish Times]]|first1=Simon|last1=Carswell|first2=Jennifer|last2=Bray|date=15 March 2020|accessdate=17 March 2020}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | [[Seanad Éireann]], also siting in reduced numbers, passed the legislation after a three-hour debate on 20 March.<ref>https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/seanad-pass-draconian-emergency-covid-19-legislation-despite-serious-concerns-989170.html</ref> [[President of Ireland|President]] [[Michael D. Higgins]] wrote the legislation into law later that day, giving the state the power to [[Detention (imprisonment)|detain]] people, restrict travel and keep people in their homes in order to restrict the pandemic.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kenny|first=Aisling|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0320/1124275-covid19-coronavirus-politics/|title=President Higgins signs emergency measures into law|date=20 March 2020|work=RTÉ|access-date=|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In the wake of [[fake news]] and rumours circulating online, including claims that a military-enforced "status red lockdown" would be enforced from 11:00 on Monday 16 March, ministers and the head of the [[Irish Defence Forces]] made calls for people to be more responsible with the information they shared online and to only trust reputable sources.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/whastapp-defence-forces-debunked-5044990-Mar2020/|title=Debunked: 'No substance whatsoever' to WhatsApp voicenote claiming Ireland is going into 'Status Red' lockdown|first=Sean|last=Murray|newspaper=TheJournal.ie|date=13 March 2020|access-date=18 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/be-careful-where-you-get-your-news-5047472-Mar2020/|title=Simon Coveney criticises WhatsApp messages about lockdown that are spread 'deliberately to cause panic'|first=Gráinne|last=Ní Aodha|newspaper=TheJournal.ie|date=16 March 2020|access-date=18 March 2020}}</ref> |
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===Sport=== |
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| ⚫ | On 18 March, banks together with the [[Minister for Finance (Ireland)|Minister of Finance]] [[Paschal Donohoe]] announced a range of measures, including providing working capital, payment breaks and deferred court proceedings.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Finn|first=Brian|date=2020-03-18|title=Banks announce measures for impact of Covid-19|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0318/1123788-banks-covid-19/|journal=RTÉ News|language=en}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Many sporting events, including Ireland's final two rugby [[2020 Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]] fixtures against Italy and France, [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] and [[League of Ireland]] games, were postponed or cancelled altogether.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Carroll|first=Rory|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/feb/26/ireland-v-italy-six-nations-match-postponed-due-to-coronavirus|title=Ireland v Italy in Six Nations postponed and may be cancelled due to coronavirus|date=2020-02-26|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-03-06|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Diallo |first1=Raf |title=France v Ireland postponed, French minister confirms |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/0309/1121090-six-nations-say-decision-not-yet-made-on-cancellations/ |language=en |date=9 March 2020 |work=RTÉ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|date=2020-03-12|title=GAA, FAI & IRFU suspend all games, Euro 2020 up in air|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2020/0312/1121866-gaa-cancel-all-games-euro-2020-under-review/|language=en|journal=RTÉ}}</ref> |
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===Other=== |
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| ⚫ | On 16 March, |
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| ⚫ | Hospital staff in some hospitals also self-isolated. In [[Cork University Hospital]], over 60 members of staff self-isolated after a case was discovered there.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2020-03-06|title=Over 60 CUH staff self-isolate following Covid-19 case|journal=RTÉ News|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0306/1120531-coronavirus/|language=en}}</ref> Some nursing homes and hospitals placed stricter visitor restrictions in the hope of stopping the spread of the virus.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nursing Homes Ireland and two Cork hospitals bring in visitor restrictions over Covid-19 fears |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/nursing-homes-ireland-and-two-cork-hospitals-bring-in-visitor-restrictions-over-covid-19-fears-986160.html |website=www.irishexaminer.com |date=6 March 2020 |publisher=Irish Examiner |accessdate=6 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/coronavirus-six-hospitals-in-mid-west-impose-visitor-ban-1.4195232|title=Coronavirus: Six hospitals in mid-west impose visitor ban|last=Raleigh|first=David|last2=Kelleher|first2=Olivia|website=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/mass-gatherings-coronavirus-covid-19-5036764-Mar2020/|title=Mass gatherings and Covid-19: Don't attend if sick and consider your plans if you're in an 'at risk' group|last=MacNamee|first=Garreth|website=TheJournal.ie|language=en|access-date=2020-03-07}}</ref> A company that makes [[Surgical mask|surgical face masks]], for the global and local market, increased its production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/limerick-firm-reaping-benefits-of-soaring-face-mask-demand-around-world-985474.html|title=Limerick firm reaping benefits of soaring face mask demand around world|last=Tuesday|last2=March 03|date=2020-03-03|website=www.irishexaminer.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-11|last3=Pm|first3=2020-02:35}}</ref> The [[Health Service Executive]] began stocking up on [[Ventilator|ventilators]] in anticipation of a possible surge in respiratory distress cases from coronavirus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/medics-raise-concerns-about-staffing-levels-as-hse-stocks-up-on-ventilators-1.4201544|title=Medics raise concerns about staffing levels as HSE stocks up on ventilators|last=Editor|first=Simon Carswell Public Affairs|website=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref> On 17 March, [[Minister for Health (Ireland)|Minister of Health]] [[Simon Harris (politician)|Simon Harris]] announced free consultations for [[COVID-19 testing]] and a recruitment drive to hire more healthcare workers including those retired and working part-time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/coronavirus-hse-seeks-to-hire-all-available-healthcare-workers-1.4205259|title=Coronavirus: HSE seeks to hire all available healthcare workers|last=Wall|first=Martin|website=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | [[Saint Patrick's Day|St Patrick's Day]] parades were called off due to the fear of the virus spreading further.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/coronavirus-st-patricks-day-parade-17879218|title=Coronavirus: St Patrick's parade cancelled in Stepaside Dublin for Public Health|last=Mcgowran|first=Leigh|date=2020-03-06|website=dublinlive|access-date=2020-03-07}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.waterfordlive.ie/news/what-s-on/523258/dungarvan-s-st-patrick-s-day-parade-cancelled-over-coronavirus.html|title=Dungarvan's St. Patrick's Day parade cancelled over coronavirus|website=www.waterfordlive.ie|access-date=2020-03-07}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/Youghal-parade-cancelled-due-to-coronavirus-concerns-8b1a3c5c-0e53-4723-92e1-ff22ab7acc3a-ds|title=Parades in Cork towns cancelled and postponed due to coronavirus concerns|website=Echo Live|access-date=2020-03-07}}</ref><ref name=":8" /> The [[National Lottery (Ireland)|National Lottery]] cancelled its weekly game show ''[[Winning Streak]]'' and withdrew [[scratchcards]] from shops.<ref>https://www.98fm.com/tv/winning-streak-cancelled-scratch-cards-removed-shops-986209</ref> Filming of ''[[Fair City]]'' ceased, and episodes shown twice weekly instead of the normal three.<ref>https://extra.ie/2020/03/18/entertainment/movies-tv/rtes-fair-city-will-cut-down-weekly-output-as-production-is-halted</ref> [[RTÉ Television]] started showing weekday morning [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] live from [[Cathedral of St Eunan and St Columba|St Eunan's Cathedral]] in [[Letterkenny]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://donegalnews.com/2020/03/mass-at-st-eunans-cathedral-to-be-aired-daily-on-rte/|title=Mass at St Eunan’s Cathedral to be aired daily on RTE|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=19 March 2020|accessdate=19 March 2020}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The Vintners Federation of Ireland, the Licensed Vintners Association and the Irish government urged all bars and pubs to close from midnight 15 March until, at minimum, 29 March. The official statement cited difficulty in maintaining [[social distancing]] in bars and pubs. All pubs and nightclubs in [[Temple Bar, Dublin|Temple Bar]], a hot-spot of Dublin's nightlife, announced that they would comply in response. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stated that he "may seek enforcement powers from [[Dáil Éireann|Dáil]]/[[Seanad Éireann|Seanad]]" in order to compel pubs and bars to close.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/coronavirus-government-calls-on-all-pubs-and-bars-to-close-from-tonight-1.4203494|title=Coronavirus: Government calls on all pubs and bars to close from tonight|work=[[The Irish Times]]|first1=Simon|last1=Carswell|first2=Jennifer|last2=Bray|date=15 March 2020|accessdate=17 March 2020}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In the wake of [[fake news]] and rumours circulating online, including claims that a military-enforced "status red lockdown" would be enforced from 11:00 on Monday 16 March, ministers and the head of the [[Irish Defence Forces]] made calls for people to be more responsible with the information they shared online and to only trust reputable sources.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/whastapp-defence-forces-debunked-5044990-Mar2020/|title=Debunked: 'No substance whatsoever' to WhatsApp voicenote claiming Ireland is going into 'Status Red' lockdown|first=Sean|last=Murray|newspaper=TheJournal.ie|date=13 March 2020|access-date=18 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/be-careful-where-you-get-your-news-5047472-Mar2020/|title=Simon Coveney criticises WhatsApp messages about lockdown that are spread 'deliberately to cause panic'|first=Gráinne|last=Ní Aodha|newspaper=TheJournal.ie|date=16 March 2020|access-date=18 March 2020}}</ref> |
||
The Monday night current affairs television series ''[[Claire Byrne Live]]'' on 9 March 2020 was filmed with a reduced studio audience as an effort at social distancing; seven days later, on 16 March 2020, there was no studio audience and presenter [[Claire Byrne]] conducted interviews with guests, such as Minister for Health Simon Harris, live from her garden shed, as she had been advised to self-isolate.<ref>https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/claire-byrne-live-from-her-shed-was-low-key-terrifying-or-maybe-just-terrifying-terrifying-1.4205029</ref> On 15 March 2020, ''[[The Irish Times]]'' announced that its building on [[Tara Street]] in Dublin would close immediately as a staff member had just been confirmed to have tested COVID-19 positive (the paper remained in print and the website continued to be updated).<ref>https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/member-of-staff-at-the-irish-times-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-1.4203722</ref> On Wednesday 18 March, [[Newstalk]] radio presenter and former medical doctor [[Ciara Kelly]] announced that she had tested COVID-19 positive, though she was no longer practising, had taken precautions and had not been abroad.<ref>https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0318/1123944-ciara-kelly-coronavirus/</ref> She had continued to present the Monday and Tuesday editions of her programme, ''Lunchtime Live'', from the hot press (a type of Irish [[cupboard]]) in her home, and Mick Heaney of ''The Irish Times'' described her Wednesday programme as "a compelling show, remarkably so considering it was hosted by an ill woman sitting in an airing cupboard".<ref>https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/i-have-something-personal-to-share-ciara-kelly-told-listeners-1.4206973</ref> On 21 March, it was reported that a staff member at state broadcaster [[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] had tested COVID-19 positive.<ref>https://www.newstalk.com/news/rte-staff-member-tests-positive-covid-19-986732</ref> |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
Revision as of 03:30, 22 March 2020
 | This article documents a current pandemic. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (March 2020) |
| 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Ireland | |
|---|---|
 Map of the pandemic in Ireland (as of 18 March): 100+ confirmed cases
11–99 confirmed cases
1–10 confirmed cases | |
| Disease | COVID-19 |
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Ireland |
| First outbreak | Northern Italy (local) Wuhan, Hubei, China (global) 30°35′14″N 114°17′17″E / 30.58722°N 114.28806°E |
| Index case | Dublin |
| Arrival date | 29 February 2020 (4 years, 3 months and 1 week ago) |
| Confirmed cases | 785 |
| Recovered | 5 |
Deaths | 3 |
| Government website | |
| Gov.ie - Latest updates on COVID-19 (Coronavirus) | |
The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic was confirmed to have spread to Ireland on 29 February 2020.[1] This was announced by Tony Holohan the Chief Medical Officer for the Irish Department of Health.[1] Response to the pandemic included cancellation of St Patrick's Day parades and all festivals.[2][3][4][5] Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also announced the closure of all schools, colleges, childcare and other public facilities until at least 29 March.[6]
As of 21 March, there have been 785 confirmed cases and 3 deaths.[7][8]
Statistics
 | Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
| Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
Timeline
February
On 29 February the first confirmed case was announced involving a male student from the east of the country who arrived there from Northern Italy.[9][10] A secondary school linked to the case, Scoil Chaitríona in Glasnevin, was shut down for two weeks as a precautionary measure.[9][11]
March
On 3 March a second case was confirmed of a female in the east of the country who had been to Northern Italy.[12] The second case was unrelated to the first case.
On 4 March four more cases were confirmed, two females and two males in the west of the country who traveled from Northern Italy, bringing the total to six.[13]
On 5 March seven more cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 13.[14] Four of the cases were related to travel from Northern Italy—four males from the east of the country—one of these four cases was connected to Trinity College Dublin.[15] Two of the seven cases were associated with close contact with a confirmed case—two females in the west of the country. One of the seven cases was a male in the south of the country who had no history of travel abroad.[16]
On 6 March more than 60 staff at Cork University Hospital have been asked to self-isolate following a case of community transmission of COVID-19 at the hospital.[17] Five more cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 18.[18]
On 7 March one more case was confirmed bringing the total to 19.[19]
On 8 March two more cases were confirmed bringing the total to 21.[20]
On 9 March three more cases were confirmed bringing the total to 24.[21]
On 10 March ten more cases were confirmed bringing the total to 34.[22]
On 11 March the first death occurred, of an elderly patient in Naas General Hospital in Co. Kildare, and nine new cases were announced.[23] This brought confirmed cases to 43. A patient admitted to Cork University Hospital, for coronavirus disease was discharged after making a full recovery.[24]
On 12 March, 27 new cases were confirmed, bringing the total cases in the country to 70.[25] In response to the increase of cases, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the closure of all schools, colleges and childcare facilities until 29 March.[6]
On 13 March, 20 new cases were confirmed, bringing the total cases in the country to 90.[26]
On 14 March, 39 new cases were confirmed and another death announced of a man in the East of the country with underlying medical conditions. This brings the total cases to 129 with 2 deaths in total.[27]
On 15 March, 40 new cases were confirmed. The total number of cases stood at 169 with 2 deaths.[28] Four patients were discharged from University Hospital Limerick.[29] The Government ordered bars and public houses to close and advised against house parties.[30]
On 16 March, 54 new cases were confirmed. The total number of cases stood at 223 with 2 deaths.[31]
On 17 March, 69 new cases were confirmed, bringing total cases in the country to 292 with 2 deaths[32]
On 18 March, 74 new cases were confirmed, bringing total cases in the country to 366 with 2 deaths.[33] More detailed information about hospital statistics, age range affected, how COVID-19 is spreading, healthcare workers and cases by county was published by the National Public Health Emergency Team starting on this day.[34]
On 19 March, 191 new cases were confirmed, bringing total to 557. 1 new death was recorded, bringing the total to 3 deaths.[35][36]
On 20 March, 126 new cases were reported, bringing the total to 683.[37]
On 21 March, 102 new cases were reported, bringing the total to 785.[38]
Testing
As of 9 March 2020, 1784 people had been tested.[39]
As of 17 March, 6636 people have been tested.[40]
As of 21 March, over 10,000 people have been tested.[41]
Cases
Early cases
| Case no. | Date announced | Status | Origin type | Origin | Location | Treatment facility | Sex | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1[42] | 29 February 2020 | Unknown | Travel-related | Northern Italy | Dublin, Glasnevin | Mater Hospital[43] | Male | Student |
| 2[12] | 3 March 2020 | Unknown | Travel-related | Northern Italy | East of country | Unknown | Female | Unknown |
| 3[13] | 4 March 2020 | Recovered on 16 March[29] | Travel-related | Northern Italy | West of country | University Hospital Limerick | Female | Unknown |
| 4[13] | 4 March 2020 | Recovered on 16 March[29] | Travel-related | Northern Italy | West of country | University Hospital Limerick | Female | Unknown |
| 5[13] | 4 March 2020 | Recovered on 16 March[29] | Travel-related | Northern Italy | West of country | University Hospital Limerick | Male | Unknown |
| 6[13] | 4 March 2020 | Recovered on 16 March[29] - Healthcare worker | Travel-related | Northern Italy | West of country | University Hospital Limerick | Male | Unknown |
| 7[16] | 5 March 2020 | Unknown - Healthcare worker | Community-related | Unknown | South of country - Cork | Cork University Hospital | Male | Unknown |
| 8–11[16] | 5 March 2020 | Unknown | Travel-related | Northern Italy | East of country | Unknown | Male | Unknown |
| 12–13[16] | 5 March 2020 | Unknown | Person-to-person spread | Case(s) in West of country | West of country | Unknown | Female | Unknown |
| 14[18] | 6 March 2020 | Unknown | Travel-related | Northern Italy | East of country | Unknown | Male | Unknown |
| 15[18] | 6 March 2020 | Unknown | Person-to-person spread | Case(s) in West of country | West of country | Unknown | Female | Unknown |
| 16[18] | 6 March 2020 | Unknown | Person-to-person spread | Case 7 | South of country | Unknown | Female | Unknown |
| 17[18] | 6 March 2020 | Unknown | Travel-related | Unknown | South of country | Unknown | Male | Unknown |
| 18[18] | 6 March 2020 | Unknown | Travel-related | Northern Italy | South of country | Unknown | Female | Unknown |
| 19[19] | 7 March 2020 | Unknown | Travel-related | Northern Italy | East of country | Unknown | Male | Unknown |
| 20[20] | 8 March 2020 | Unknown | Community-related | Ireland | East of country | Unknown | Female | Unknown |
| 21[20] | 8 March 2020 | Intensive care unit | Community-related | Ireland | South of country - Cork | Bon Secours Hospital, Cork | Male | Unknown |
| 22[21] | 9 March 2020 | Unknown | Person-to-person spread | Ireland | South of country | Unknown | Female | Unknown |
| 23[21] | 9 March 2020 | Unknown | Person-to-person spread | Ireland | West of country | Unknown | Female | Unknown |
| 24[21] | 9 March 2020 | Unknown - Healthcare worker | Person-to-person spread | Ireland | South of country | Unknown | Female | Unknown |
| 25[22] | 10 March 2020 | Unknown - Healthcare worker | Person-to-person spread | Ireland | South of country | Unknown | Male | Unknown |
| 26[22] | 10 March 2020 | Unknown - Healthcare worker | Person-to-person spread | Ireland | East of country | Unknown | Female | Unknown |
| 27-29[22] | 10 March 2020 | Unknown | Travel-related | Travel from affected area | South of country | Unknown | Male | Unknown |
| 30[22] | 10 March 2020 | Unknown | Person-to-person spread | Ireland | West of country | Unknown | Male | Unknown |
| 31[22] | 10 March 2020 | Unknown | Person-to-person spread | Ireland | West of country | Unknown | Female | Unknown |
| 32[22] | 10 March 2020 | Unknown | Person-to-person spread | Ireland | South of country | Unknown | Female | Unknown |
| 33[22] | 10 March 2020 | Unknown | Travel-related | Travel from affected area | East of country | Unknown | Male | Unknown |
| 34[22] | 10 March 2020 | Unknown | Travel-related | Travel from affected area | East of country | Unknown | Female | Unknown |
| 35[23] | 11 March 2020 | Unknown | Person-to-person spread | Unknown | South of country | University Hospital Waterford | Male | Unknown |
| 36-38[23] | 11 March 2020 | Unknown | Travel-related | Unknown | South of country | Unknown | Male | Unknown |
| 39[23] | 11 March 2020 | Unknown | Person-to-person spread | Ireland | South of country | Unknown | Female | Unknown |
| 40[23] | 11 March 2020 | Unknown | Person-to-person spread | Ireland | South of country | Unknown | Male | Unknown |
| 41-42[23] | 11 March 2020 | Unknown | Travel-related | Unknown | South of country | Unknown | Male | Unknown |
| 43[23] | 11 March 2020 | Unknown | Person-to-person spread | Ireland | East of country | Unknown | Male | Unknown |
| 44-65[25] | 12 March 2020 | - | Person-to-person spread | Ireland | - | - | - | - |
| 66-67[25] | 12 March 2020 | - | Community-related | Ireland | - | - | - | - |
| 68-70[25] | 12 March 2020 | - | Travel-related | Travel from affected area | - | - | - | - |
| 71-76[26] | 13 March 2020 | - | Travel-related | Travel from affected area | - | - | - | - |
| 77-88[26] | 13 March 2020 | 4 are Healthcare workers | Person-to-person spread | Ireland | - | - | - | - |
| 89-90[26] | 13 March 2020 | - | Community-related | Ireland | - | - | - | - |
| 91-129[27] | 14 March 2020 | - | - | - | 21 East, 13 South, 3 North/West, 2 West | - | 29 Male, 10 Female | - |
| 130-169[44] | 15 March 2020 | - | - | - | 25 East, 9 West, 6 South | - | 23 Male, 17 Female | - |
| 170-223[45] | 16 March 2020 | - | - | - | 41 East, 11 South, 2 North/West | - | 30 Male, 24 Female | - |
| 224-292[32] | 17 March 2020 | - | - | - | 48 East, 13 South, 5 North/West, 3 West | - | 29 Male, 40 Female | - |
| 293-366[46] | 18 March 2020 | - | - | - | - | - | 45 Male, 29 Female | - |
Noted figures
| Period | Name | Location | Treatment | Status | Origin type | Birth | Occupation | Sex |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Michael Carton | Dublin | Hospitalisation[47] | Recovered[48] | 1984 | Fireman, former hurler | Male | |
| March 2020 | Mark Prendergast | Swords | Self-isolation[49] | Recovered[50][51] | Travel through Heathrow Airport (suspected)[52] | 1989 | Guitarist | Male |
| March 2020 | Ciara Kelly | Greystones[53] | Self-isolation[54] | Recovered[55] | Community-related[56] | 1971 | Broadcaster, columnist, former medical doctor | Female |
| March 2020 | Claire Byrne | Bray[57] | Self-isolation[58] | Recovered[59] | 1975 | Journalist, presenter | Female | |
| March 2020 | Suzanne Campbell | Leinster | Hospitalisation[60] | Unclear | 19?? | Television director, producer, food writer | Female | |
| March 2020 | Seán Boylan | Blanchardstown | Hospitalisation[61] | Recovered[b] | While attending a medical appointment[63] | 1949 | Herbalist, former football manager | Male |
| March 2020 | Siobhán Killeen | Dublin | Self-isolation[64] | Unclear[c] | 1995 | Ladies' footballer and association football player | Female | |
| March 2020 | Ryan Tubridy | Monkstown[67] | Self-isolation[68] | Recovered[69] | 1973 | Broadcaster, writer | Male | |
| March 2020 | John Prine | Nashville[d] | Hospitalisation[72] | Deceased[73] | 1946 | Country folk singer-songwriter | Male | |
| April 2020 | Tim Robinson | London[e] | Hospitalisation | Deceased[75] | 1935 | Cartographer | Male | |
| April 2020 | Tom Scully | Dublin | Hospitalisation[76] | Deceased[f] | 1930[76] | Priest, former football manager | Male | |
| April 2020 | Jonathan Glynn | New York City[g] | Self-isolation[78] | Recovered[79] | 1993 | Hurler, coach | Male | |
| April 2020 | Mary Lou McDonald[80] | Dublin | Self-isolation | Recovered[81] | "I have no idea how I got it, it will forever be a mystery"[82] | 1969 | Politician (one of 160 members of the 33rd Dáil), President of Sinn Féin | Female |
| April 2020 | Danny Delaney | Portlaoise | Hospitalisation[83] | Deceased[h] | Outbreak at the Maryborough Centre | Before 1950s | Former footballer, former administrator | Male |
| April 2020 | Tom Duffy | Dublin[86] | Hospitalisation[87] | Recovered[88] | 1929 | Former circus ringmaster | Male | |
| April 2020 | Tom Mulholland | Drogheda | Hospitalisation | Deceased[i] | Outbreak at Dealgan House Nursing Home | 1936 | Former footballer | Male |
| April 2020 | Dave Bacuzzi | Dublin | Hospitalisation | Deceased[j] | 1940 | Former association football player and manager | Male | |
| April 2020 | Laura Bernal | Rathmines[91] | None | Deceased[k] | Mid-1950s | Diplomat (ambassador to Ireland of Argentina) | Female | |
| April 2020 | Noel Walsh | Ennis[94] | Hospitalisation[94] | Deceased[94] | 1935 | Former footballer, former administrator | Male | |
| May 2020 | Declan Lynch | Antrim | Self-isolation[95] | Recovered[96] | 1992 | Footballer | Male | |
| June 2020 | Conor McKenna | Melbourne[l] | None[m] | Recovered | 1996 | Professional Australian rules footballer and Gaelic footballer | Male | |
| June 2020 | Arthur Keaveney | Unclear | Deceased[101] | 1951 | Historian of Ancient Rome | Male | ||
| September 2020 | Conor Morrison | Santry[n] | Self-isolation[102] | Recovered[o] | Mid-1990s | Footballer | Male | |
| September/October 2020[103] | Tommy Tubridy | Doonbeg | Self-isolation | Recovered | 19?? | Footballer | Male | |
| September/October 2020 | David Tubridy | Doonbeg | Self-isolation[104] | Recovered | 1980s | Footballer | Male | |
| October 2020 | Aidan Breen | Fermanagh | Self-isolation[105] | Unclear | 19?? | Footballer | Male | |
| October 2020 | Jack Byrne | Dublin | Self-isolation[p] | Recovered | 1996 | Association football player | Male | |
| October 2020 | Emer Currie | Dublin | Self-isolation[109] | Recovered[110] | 1979 | Politician (one of 60 members of the 26th Seanad) | Female | |
| November 2020 | Callum Robinson | Dublin | None[q] | Recovered | 1995 | Association football player | Male | |
| November 2020 | Alan Browne | London[r] | Self-isolation | Recovered[s] | 1995 | Association football player | Male | |
| November 2020 | Billy Morgan | Cork | Required health system treatment[115] | Recovered[115] | 1945 | Football manager and former player | Male | |
| November 2020 | Matt Doherty | Cardiff[t] | Unclear | Recovered[u] | 1992 | Association football player | Male | |
| November 2020 | James McClean | Cardiff[v] | Unclear | Recovered[w] | 1989 | Association football player | Male | |
| December 2020 | Charlie McConalogue | Dublin[x] | Self-isolation[121] | Recovered[122] | 1977 | Politician (one of 160 members of the 33rd Dáil), Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine | Male | |
| January 2021 | Helen McEntee | Ireland | Self-isolation[123] | Recovered | 1986 | Politician (one of 160 members of the 33rd Dáil), Minister for Justice | Female | |
| January 2021 | James Cross | Seaford, East Sussex[y] | Unclear | Deceased[124] | 1921[124] | Diplomat and kidnapping survivor (October Crisis) | Male | |
| January 2021 | Adam Idah | Norwich[z] | Self-isolation | N/A | 2001 | Association football player | Male | |
| January 2021 | Ronan Curtis | Portsmouth[aa] | Self-isolation | No[127] | 1996 | Association football player | Male | |
| February 2021 | Marie-Louise O'Donnell | Ireland | Recovered[128] | 1952 | Academic, broadcaster, former senator | Female | ||
| March 2021 | Mark Lanegan | Killarney[129] | Hospitalization[129] | Recovered | 1964 | Singer and songwriter | Male | |
| March 2021 | Ruhan Pretorius | Chittagong[ab] | Sent to isolation room[131] | Recovered | 1991 | Cricket player | Male | |
| August 2021 | Conor Meyler | County Tyrone[ac] | Unclear | Recovered | 1994 | Footballer | Male | |
| August 2021 | Niall Morgan | County Tyrone[ad] | Unclear | Recovered | 1991 | Footballer | Male | |
| August 2021 | Chris de Burgh | Enniskerry | At home[133] | 1948 | Singer | Male | ||
| August 2021 | Callum Robinson | West Bromwich[ae] | 1995 | Association football player | Male | |||
| September 2021 | John Maughan | Enniscrone[135] | Isolation at home | Recovered | 1962 | Football manager | Male | |
| September 2021 | Shane Long | Faro, Portugal[af] | Self-isolation | 1987 | Association football player | Male | ||
| September 2021 | Brian Kennedy | Killarney[ag] | Recovered | 1966 | Singer | Male | ||
| November 2021 | Eamon Ryan | Dublin | Self-isolation and retaking the test[ah] | 1963 | Politician (one of 160 members of the 33rd Dáil), Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Minister for Transport | Male | ||
| November 2021 | Frank Feighan | Sligo | Self-isolation[140] | 1962 | Politician (one of 160 members of the 33rd Dáil), Minister of State for Public Health, Well Being and National Drugs Strategy | Male | ||
| November 2021 | Mark Sykes | Oxford[ai] | Unclear | Recovered[142] | 1997 | Association football player | Male | |
| December 2021 | Luke O'Neill | Leinster | Self-isolation | Recovered[143] | 19?? | Scientist, Professor of Biochemistry in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin | Male | |
| March 2022 | Michael D. Higgins | Dublin[144] | Self-isolation | 1941 | President of Ireland | Male | ||
| March 2022 | Sabina Higgins | Dublin[145] | Self-isolation | 1941/2 | Wife of the President of Ireland | Female | ||
| March 2022 | Simon Harris | Leinster | Self-isolation[146] | 1986 | Politician (one of 160 members of the 33rd Dáil), Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science | Male | ||
| March 2022 | Thomas Pringle | Ireland | Self-isolation[147] | 1967 | Politician (one of 160 members of the 33rd Dáil) | Male | ||
| March 2022 | Brendan O'Connor | Leinster | Self-isolation[148] | 1970 | Broadcaster, journalist | Male | ||
| March 2022 | Claire D. Cronin | Ireland[aj] | Self-isolation | 1960 | Diplomat, United States Ambassador to Ireland | Female | ||
| March 2022 | Micheál Martin | Washington, D.C.[ak] | Self-isolation in Blair House | 1960 | Politician (one of 160 members of the 33rd Dáil), Taoiseach | Male | ||
| March 2022 | Charlie McConalogue | Ireland | Self-isolation | Recovered[al] | 1977 | Politician (one of 160 members of the 33rd Dáil), Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine | Male | |
| March 2022 | Dickie Rock | Dublin[am] | Self-isolation | Recovered | 1936 | Singer | Male | |
| March 2022 | Helen McEntee | Ireland | Self-isolation[155] | 1986 | Politician (one of 160 members of the 33rd Dáil), Minister for Justice | Female | ||
| March 2022 | Leo Varadkar | Ireland | Self-isolation[156] | 1979 | Politician (one of 160 members of the 33rd Dáil), Tánaiste | Female | ||
| April 2022 | Claire Byrne | Bray[157] | Self-isolation[158] | 1975 | Journalist, presenter | Female | ||
| April 2022 | Cecelia Ahern | Ireland | Unclear | Recovered[159] | 1981 | Writer | Female | |
| June 2022 | Eamon Ryan | Dublin | Self-isolation[160] | 1963 | Politician (one of 160 members of the 33rd Dáil), Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Minister for Transport | Male | ||
| July 2022 | Finlay Bealham | Dunedin[an] | Unclear | 1991 | Rugby union player | Male | ||
| July 2022 | Maurice Deegan | Ireland[ao] | Unclear | Recovered | 1972 | Football referee | Male |
- Notes
- ^ Footballers from Antrim, Fermanagh and Tyrone are included as they play games, and against teams from, across the island.
- ^ The former Meath manager spoke during an interview on RTÉ Radio in January 2021 about spending six days in Blanchardstown's Connolly Hospital the previous March after becoming ill six days after a routine medical appointment; he was discharged after a further six days on the 31st of that month.[62]
- ^ Killeen returned to work in April and was reported as having recovered.[65] However, she said in late June she was "still on the long road to full recovery".[66]
- ^ The singer—who lived part-time in Kinvara, in the southwest of County Galway, and married a woman from County Donegal—died in hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, on 8 April 2020. His wife also contracted the virus but recovered.[70][71]
- ^ The cartographer—who wrote on the west of Ireland, settled in the Aran Islands and was a member of Aosdána and the Royal Irish Academy—died in hospital in London, England, on 3 April 2020, two weeks after his wife.[74]
- ^ The former Offaly manager—who led the team to the 1969 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final—died in Dublin on the morning of 7 April.[77]
- ^ The hurler—who won the 2017 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship with Galway—tested COVID-19 positive in the U.S., where he was working as a coach with the New York team. His fiancée also tested positive. Both recovered. Their diagnoses were announced on 13 April after both had recovered.
- ^ The former footballer died at the Maryborough Centre in Portlaoise on the morning of 14 April.[84][85]
- ^ The former footballer died at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda on 20 April.[89]
- ^ The Englishman—who had lived in Ireland since the 1970s and managed the association football clubs Cork Hibernians and Home Farm—died at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin on 21 April.[90]
- ^ The body of Argentina's ambassador to Ireland was found at her residence in Dublin on 26 April and subsequently identified as COVID-19 positive. Bernal was not repatriated and was buried near Foxford, County Mayo.[92][93]
- ^ The then Essendon Football Club player became the Australian Football League's first COVID-19 case when he returned a low-level positive result on 20 June. After a particularly negative reaction from the local media,[97][98] McKenna returned home and resumed his football career with Tyrone.[99]
- ^ McKenna's positive test could not be replicated.[100]
- ^ The Donegal footballer discovered he had tested COVID-19 positive on a September Monday night in Santry before a scheduled operation to repair a leg injury.[102]
- ^ A scheduled operation to repair a leg injury went ahead in October, indicating he was COVID-19 negative at this time (six weeks after the positive test).[102]
- ^ The Republic of Ireland international association football player tested positive for COVID-19 while on international duty in October. Byrne's club Shamrock Rovers confirmed this while also announcing that another of their players, Aaron Greene, had tested positive.[106] Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley said Byrne was "probably the worst out of the group" of players at the club.[107] Byrne later reported having had breathing difficulties while ill.[108]
- ^ The Republic of Ireland international association football player was asymptomatic.[111] He tested negative upon returning to his club West Bromwich Albion.[112]
- ^ The Republic of Ireland international association football player tested positive for COVID-19 after playing a full mid-November game away to England at Wembley Stadium.[113]
- ^ Browne scored a winning goal for his club Preston North End in December.[114]
- ^ The Republic of Ireland international association football player tested positive for COVID-19 after playing a full mid-November game away to Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium. The announcement also included James McClean's positive result.[116]
- ^ Doherty was playing for his club Tottenham Hotspur in December.[117]
- ^ The Republic of Ireland international association football player tested positive for COVID-19 after playing a full mid-November game away to Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium. The announcement also included Matt Doherty's positive result.[118]
- ^ McClean was playing for his club Stoke City in December.[119]
- ^ The minister was tested after returning from Brussels on 17 December. The result was negative. McConalogue then went shopping in Dublin city centre hours ahead of a scheduled five-day follow-up COVID-19 test which led to the positive result he received "sometime between 10.30am and 11am" on 23 December. He displayed no symptoms.[120]
- ^ Cross, a diplomat born in Nenagh, County Tipperary, died of COVID-19 on 6 January 2021.
- ^ Norwich City announced on 8 January that Idah had tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of his club's FA Cup third round proper game against Coventry City, but that the Republic of Ireland international association football player was "well" and isolating.[125]
- ^ Portsmouth Football Club announced on 12 January that Republic of Ireland international association football player Curtis had tested positive for COVID-19 after "feeling rough" and developing symptoms ahead of his club's FA Cup Third round proper game against Bristol City.[126]
- ^ South African-born Pretorius tested positive for COVID-19 while playing for the Ireland Wolves cricket team in Bangladesh in 2020–21. The match was suspended.[130] His test was later found to be a false positive.[131]
- ^ The outbreak in the Tyrone football squad twice delayed the 2021 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final against Kerry at Croke Park. Meyler later disclosed that he was one of the players who had tested positive for COVID-19 (despite having received two vaccinations), though he was asymptomatic.[132]
- ^ The outbreak in the Tyrone football squad twice delayed the 2021 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final against Kerry at Croke Park. Morgan later disclosed that he was one of the players who had contracted COVID-19, though he mistook his symptoms for hayfever.[132]
- ^ West Bromwich Albion Football Club announced on 25 August that Republic of Ireland international association football player Robinson had tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of his club's 2021–22 EFL Cup second round game against Arsenal. The test result also caused the player to miss the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A fixtures for his national team.[134]
- ^ The Republic of Ireland international association football player tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A away game against Portugal.[136]
- ^ Belfast-born Kennedy tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after performing in Killarney.[137]
- ^ Eamon Ryan's test result was announced late on 6 November alongside the cancellation of his planned visit to the COP26 conference in Glasgow.[138] By the following evening, Ryan had taken a second test and set off for COP26 after receiving a negative result.[139]
- ^ Sykes's introduction to the Republic of Ireland national football team was delayed after he tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of his club Oxford United's away game against Wigan Athletic..[141]
- ^ Claire D. Cronin had been scheduled to attend the in-person meeting between President of the United States Joe Biden and Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the White House on 17 March, a meeting which ultimately did not occur (see below). She had also intended to participate in Irish-American festivities alongside Ambassador of Ireland to the United States Daniel Mulhall.[149]
- ^ Micheál Martin's test result was announced on 16 March while he was at an event in Washington being held for St Patrick's Day. This meant Martin could not personally meet President of the United States Joe Biden at the White House as planned the next day. Biden and Martin met virtually instead, with Martin isolating in Blair House. Martin said he would chair the next cabinet meeting from the Irish embassy in Washington.[150][151]
- ^ The minister had been due to travel to Canada for St Patrick's Day. He later confirmed that a positive test had prevented him from doing so. His period of isolation elapsed in time for him to sit on the "VIP lorry" at the parade in Buncrana.[152]
- ^ Rock and his wife tested positive for COVID-19 in March 2022. Rock's wife later died in the intensive care unit of a Dublin hospital.[153][154]
- ^ The Australian-born Irish prop had been due to play in the first test of the 2022 Ireland rugby union tour of New Zealand but COVID-19 meant he could not.[161]
- ^ Deegan had been due to referee the inaugural Tailteann Cup final but the GAA confirmed a change of referee on 6 July.[162] Deegan was absent for what would have been his final inter-county game after contracting COVID-19.[163]
Cumulative cases by county
| County | Cases (%) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | 422,228(30.20%)
| ||||||||
| Cork | 139,325(9.97%)
| ||||||||
| Galway | 75,453(5.40%)
| ||||||||
| Kildare | 69,838(5.00%)
| ||||||||
| Limerick | 58,564(4.19%)
| ||||||||
| Meath | 58,042(4.15%)
| ||||||||
| Donegal | 52,814(3.78%)
| ||||||||
| Louth | 46,539(3.33%)
| ||||||||
| Tipperary | 42,072(3.01%)
| ||||||||
| Wexford | 37,442(2.68%)
| ||||||||
| Clare | 35,870(2.57%)
| ||||||||
| Wicklow | 35,398(2.53%)
| ||||||||
| Mayo | 34,951(2.50%)
| ||||||||
| Waterford | 33,923(2.43%)
| ||||||||
| Kerry | 33,609(2.40%)
| ||||||||
| Westmeath | 30,146(2.16%)
| ||||||||
| Kilkenny | 25,549(1.83%)
| ||||||||
| Laois | 23,536(1.68%)
| ||||||||
| Cavan | 22,841(1.63%)
| ||||||||
| Offaly | 21,438(1.53%)
| ||||||||
| Monaghan | 20,729(1.48%)
| ||||||||
| Carlow | 19,892(1.42%)
| ||||||||
| Roscommon | 19,014(1.36%)
| ||||||||
| Sligo | 17,275(1.24%)
| ||||||||
| Longford | 12,739(0.91%)
| ||||||||
| Leitrim | 8,658(0.62%)
| ||||||||
|
Total: 1,397,885 | |||||||||
14-day epidemiology
| County | Confirmed cases (26 Nov to 2 Dec) | 7-day incidence per 100,000 of population[a] | Confirmed cases (19 Nov to 2 Dec) | 14-day incidence per 100,000 of population | 7-day incidence as percentage of 14-day incidence | 5 day moving average (28 Nov to 2 Dec) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlow | 677 | 1,189.1 | 1,236 | 2,171.0 | 54.77 | 110 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cavan | 375 | 492.3 | 883 | 1,159.2 | 42.47 | 60 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Clare | 764 | 643.0 | 1,484 | 1,249.0 | 51.48 | 113 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cork | 3,803 | 700.5 | 7,569 | 1,394.3 | 50.24 | 558 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Donegal | 793 | 498.1 | 1,821 | 1,143.9 | 43.55 | 117 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Dublin | 9,690 | 719.2 | 19,916 | 1,478.2 | 48.65 | 1,336 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Galway | 1,563 | 605.7 | 2,997 | 1,161.4 | 52.15 | 224 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kerry | 807 | 546.4 | 1,618 | 1,095.4 | 49.88 | 115 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kildare | 1,719 | 772.6 | 3,134 | 1,408.5 | 54.85 | 249 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kilkenny | 698 | 703.4 | 1,520 | 1,531.8 | 45.92 | 107 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Laois | 620 | 732.0 | 1,124 | 1,327.1 | 55.16 | 95 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Leitrim | 154 | 480.6 | 347 | 1,082.9 | 44.38 | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Limerick | 922 | 473.1 | 1,984 | 1,018.0 | 46.47 | 134 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Longford | 370 | 905.2 | 712 | 1,742.0 | 51.97 | 51 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Louth | 897 | 696.0 | 2,025 | 1,571.2 | 44.30 | 141 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mayo | 664 | 508.8 | 1,455 | 1,114.9 | 45.64 | 92 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Meath | 1,343 | 688.6 | 2,643 | 1,355.1 | 50.81 | 213 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Monaghan | 338 | 550.6 | 692 | 1,127.3 | 48.84 | 57 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Offaly | 447 | 573.4 | 825 | 1,058.2 | 54.18 | 68 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Roscommon | 389 | 602.7 | 739 | 1,145.0 | 52.64 | 65 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sligo | 334 | 509.7 | 725 | 1,106.3 | 46.07 | 57 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tipperary | 1,204 | 754.6 | 2,439 | 1,528.6 | 49.36 | 173 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Waterford | 792 | 681.7 | 1,675 | 1,441.8 | 47.28 | 116 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Westmeath | 804 | 905.7 | 1,677 | 1,889.2 | 47.94 | 119 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wexford | 892 | 595.8 | 1,843 | 1,230.9 | 48.40 | 133 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wicklow | 899 | 631.2 | 1,574 | 1,105.1 | 57.12 | 106 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Unknown/Other | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 31,958 | 671.1 | 64,657 | 1,357.8 | 49.43 | 4,078 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: Health Protection Surveillance Centre[165] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Impact
Economy
Panic buying of hand sanitisers and face masks ensued as fear of the pandemic spread.[166] Supermarkets introduced social distancing measures and additional cleaning and disinfecting within stores.[167]
Flights, to and from some affected regions, were suspended.[168] Major departments stores shut, including McElhinney's on Sunday 13 March,[169] Brown Thomas and Arnotts on the evening of 18 March.[170] Penneys (which trades abroad as Primark) followed suit the same evening.[171][172]
On 18 March, banks together with the Minister of Finance Paschal Donohoe announced a range of measures, including providing working capital, payment breaks and deferred court proceedings.[173]
On 16 March, Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty announced a Pandemic Unemployment Payment, available for six weeks.[174]
Education
Initially, some schools around the country were closed and pupils were instructed to self-isolate.[175][176] Lectures from Trinity College Dublin were cancelled and delivered online.[177] On 12 March Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the closure of all schools, colleges and childcare facilities until at least 29 March and has recommended indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people to be cancelled.[6] Minister for Education Joe McHugh announced on 18 March that Leaving and Junior Cert oral and practical exams were cancelled.[178]
State broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann announced on 21 March that it would begin showing "school" live on television.[179]
Politics
A general election took place in Ireland on 2 February, before the outbreak had been declared a pandemic or reached Europe. Talks on government formation began soon afterwards and continued as the first case was confirmed in Ireland. Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald was the first high-profile politician affected, with her party cancelling events and her family entering self-isolation for a period after McDonald confirmed on 2 March that her children attended the same school as the student with the first recorded case of COVID-19 in Ireland.[180]
On 16 March, independent Donegal TD Thomas Pringle entered isolation due to previous contact with someone in Dublin and the high risk to his own personal health.[181][182] On 18 March, independent MEP Luke 'Ming' Flanagan announced that he and his family would begin self-isolating after his daughter exhibited symptoms of COVID-19.[183]
Dáil Éireann reconvened under social distancing measures on 19 March 2020 to pass emergency legislation. At the written request of Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl, the sitting was limited to 48 TDs (11 each representing Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin, four Greens, three members of the regional independent group and two members of all other parties and groups). The legislation - Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020 - passed all stages, and, following requests by opposition TDs, included a sunset clause for review in November.[184] During the sitting, Eamon Ryan called on the Irish to grow lettuce on their window sills: "Let us get every south facing window sill in this country and lettuce plant our seeds in the next week so that if there is any supply crisis in food in two or three months time when this really hits hard, we'll have our salads ready to go".[185]
Seanad Éireann, also siting in reduced numbers, passed the legislation after a three-hour debate on 20 March.[186] President Michael D. Higgins wrote the legislation into law later that day, giving the state the power to detain people, restrict travel and keep people in their homes in order to restrict the pandemic.[187]
Sport
Many sporting events, including Ireland's final two rugby Six Nations fixtures against Italy and France, Gaelic Athletic Association and League of Ireland games, were postponed or cancelled altogether.[188][189][190]
Other
Hospital staff in some hospitals also self-isolated. In Cork University Hospital, over 60 members of staff self-isolated after a case was discovered there.[191] Some nursing homes and hospitals placed stricter visitor restrictions in the hope of stopping the spread of the virus.[192][193][194] A company that makes surgical face masks, for the global and local market, increased its production.[195] The Health Service Executive began stocking up on ventilators in anticipation of a possible surge in respiratory distress cases from coronavirus.[196] On 17 March, Minister of Health Simon Harris announced free consultations for COVID-19 testing and a recruitment drive to hire more healthcare workers including those retired and working part-time.[197]
St Patrick's Day parades were called off due to the fear of the virus spreading further.[2][3][4][5] The National Lottery cancelled its weekly game show Winning Streak and withdrew scratchcards from shops.[198] Filming of Fair City ceased, and episodes shown twice weekly instead of the normal three.[199] RTÉ Television started showing weekday morning Mass live from St Eunan's Cathedral in Letterkenny.[200]
The Vintners Federation of Ireland, the Licensed Vintners Association and the Irish government urged all bars and pubs to close from midnight 15 March until, at minimum, 29 March. The official statement cited difficulty in maintaining social distancing in bars and pubs. All pubs and nightclubs in Temple Bar, a hot-spot of Dublin's nightlife, announced that they would comply in response. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stated that he "may seek enforcement powers from Dáil/Seanad" in order to compel pubs and bars to close.[201]
In the wake of fake news and rumours circulating online, including claims that a military-enforced "status red lockdown" would be enforced from 11:00 on Monday 16 March, ministers and the head of the Irish Defence Forces made calls for people to be more responsible with the information they shared online and to only trust reputable sources.[202][203]
The Monday night current affairs television series Claire Byrne Live on 9 March 2020 was filmed with a reduced studio audience as an effort at social distancing; seven days later, on 16 March 2020, there was no studio audience and presenter Claire Byrne conducted interviews with guests, such as Minister for Health Simon Harris, live from her garden shed, as she had been advised to self-isolate.[204] On 15 March 2020, The Irish Times announced that its building on Tara Street in Dublin would close immediately as a staff member had just been confirmed to have tested COVID-19 positive (the paper remained in print and the website continued to be updated).[205] On Wednesday 18 March, Newstalk radio presenter and former medical doctor Ciara Kelly announced that she had tested COVID-19 positive, though she was no longer practising, had taken precautions and had not been abroad.[206] She had continued to present the Monday and Tuesday editions of her programme, Lunchtime Live, from the hot press (a type of Irish cupboard) in her home, and Mick Heaney of The Irish Times described her Wednesday programme as "a compelling show, remarkably so considering it was hosted by an ill woman sitting in an airing cupboard".[207] On 21 March, it was reported that a staff member at state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann had tested COVID-19 positive.[208]