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Ireland West Airport is following public health advice in relation to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

COVID-19 has now spread from China to more than 30 other countries including Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States Canada and Australia.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), which is Ireland's specialist agency for the investigation and management of communicable diseases, are the experts in this area and follows guidance from the World Health Organization and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

The HPSC, which is part of the Health Service Executive (HSE), sets the public health guidelines on how to deal with contagious diseases. Ireland West Airport follows all of the HPSC’s guidelines and we have been liaising closely with them since the outbreak of the virus.

Irish health officials have said that there is no requirement for health screening/temperature checks at Irish airports at this time and note that this type of screening is not recommended by the World Health Organization.

Separately, there are formal protocols in place in the event of a passenger presenting with acute respiratory infection on an inbound aircraft, and these will be strictly adhered to.

The HPSC will continue to closely monitor the situation and will keep us informed immediately should there be any change in the guidelines.

The coronavirus is a flu-like virus and the best way to prevent its spread it to observe good hand and respiratory hygiene habits. 

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. You can use an alcohol-based hand rub if your hands are not visibly dirty.

Practice good respiratory hygiene - when coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose. Sneeze or cough into a tissue or your elbow. Discard the tissue immediately and then wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
Health authorities are not recommending that the general public should wear face masks. There is no evidence that using masks in the general community is of any benefit, according to the HPSC. 

We will continue to keep passengers informed with the latest information.

There is more information on COVID-19 here https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/