The public can help to turn the tide on Covid-19 in Cork and Kerry in the coming weeks by knowing when they should self-isolate or restrict their movements.
That’s the message from acting Director of Public Health for the region, Dr Anne Sheahan, who is backing an interagency campaign on the importance of self-isolation or restricting movements when needed. The joint campaign comes from the HSE, an Garda Siochana, Cork City Council, Cork County Council and Kerry County Council.
Dr Sheahan explained that there’s been a slow but steady drop in the number of cases of Covid-19 in the region in recent weeks, and there’s now a key opportunity to drive the infection rates as low as possible.
“We need to reiterate our message about staying at home in all cases if
any of the following apply:
- If you’re concerned about any symptoms, stay at home and
contact your GP - If you’re waiting for a test, or for the results of a test or
of course if you have a positive test, then you must stay at home - If you’re the close contact of a case – stay at home
- If you’re a case yourself – you need to stay at home, and stay
in your own room.”
Dr Sheahan added: “I understand how difficult this can be, and that in particular self-isolation can be difficult. However, the work we are putting into testing and tracing cases of Covid-19 and contacts of people who have Covid-19 is only one part of the puzzle. The people we test and trace must stay at home and where appropriate, stay in their rooms.”
Dr Sheahan added that the Department of Public Health HSE South still occasionally encounters cases where someone is phoned with the news that their Covid-19 test is positive, and they have been out and about in public places between being referred for a test and getting that result.
“You may feel fine and have no symptoms, but as soon as you are referred for a test you and your household must stay at home. The people we contact who have positive results and who have not done this often feel incredibly guilty, as they may well have been spreading Covid-19 unnecessarily.
“Almost everyone receives a test appointment within 24 hours now, and results are sent back to you as quickly as possible. So please, for the sake of one or two days, self-isolate once you have been referred for a Covid-19 test. Don’t put yourself in a position where you have unknowingly spread the virus. Don’t be the one to pass it on.”
This week’s campaign from the HSE, an Garda Siochana, Cork City Council, Cork County Council and Kerry County Council aims to remind the people of Cork and Kerry that although self-isolation or restricting your movements can be very difficult, they are absolutely key to keeping rates of Covid-19 under control.
Self-isolating means staying in your room, and this applies to anyone:
– Waiting for a Covid-19 test appointment
– Waiting for the result of a Covid-19 test
– With a positive test result
Or
– With any symptoms of Covid-19.
Meanwhile, restricting your movements means staying at home, and all agencies are stressing the importance of the entire household staying at home when once one member of the household has tested positive for Covid-19. You will be advised by the HSE how long you need to stay at home for.
Further information is on hse.ie/coronavirus
