Search icon

News

27th Oct 2020

Too many people with Covid symptoms not self isolating, says Tony Holohan

Jade Hayden

“Spread the message, not the virus.”

Too many people with symptoms of Covid-19 are not self isolating, Dr Tony Holohan has warned.

The Chief Medical Officer has said that many people displaying symptoms of the virus – including a dry cough, fever, and tiredness – are not self isolating to curb the potential spreading of Covid-19 to others.

Similarly, Dr Holohan warned that many people awaiting Covid test results are not self isolating or restricting their movements.

“We need to have cases and contacts acting fully in accordance with advice,” he wrote on Twitter.

“There are too many stories of people with symptoms/waiting on tests and not self-isolating, also contacts not restricting movements.

“Spread the word and make sure we all know what to do if we have contracted Covid-19 OR if we have symptoms of Covid-19 OR if we are awaiting a test result.

“Spread the word and make sure we all know what to do if we are a close contact of a confirmed case of Covid-19. Spread the message, not the virus.”

Dr Holohan’s words came following the October bank holiday weekend, where 939 additional cases were reported on Monday night, and three more deaths.

This brings Ireland’s total Covid related death toll to 1,885.

Dr Holohan also shared a new video detailing steps to be taken when a person is self isolating due to coronavirus symptoms.

They are:

1. Avoiding contact with other people, especially older people and vulnerable people with a long-term health condition

2. Staying apart from other people in your household

3. Cleaning your room every day with disinfectant

4. Not going to work, school or public areas

5. Not having visitors in your home

Dr Holohan added that people can stop self isolating 10 days after the on set of Covid symptom if they have been fever-free for this amount of time.

You can check out the video here:

Topics:

covid,news