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A Department of Health briefing in Dublin last night, Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

Harris says restricting flights arriving from northern Italy 'wouldn't be effective'

Advice to Irish travellers expanded as citizens have now been urged to avoid four northern Italian regions.

LAST UPDATE | 4 Mar 2020

RESTRICTING FLIGHTS ARRIVING from northern Italy “wouldn’t be effective”, according to Health Minister Simon Harris. 

Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, the health minister said suspending flights from the affected Italian areas would not work for “a variety reasons”, stating that it would not prevent people from those areas arriving into Ireland through other member states. 

Harris noted that the issue is being “kept under constant review” on a daily and hourly basis. 

His comments come following new advice from new advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that non-essential travel to four Italian regions should now be avoided.

The advice was delivered last night as the second case of the Covid-19 coronavirus was confirmed in the Republic of Ireland in a woman who had returned from northern Italy. 

The advice against travelling refers to the Lombardy, Veneto, Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna regions in northern Italy. 

The move comes after an increase in the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Italy and a number of new towns being put on lockdown. Italy has so far reported 79 deaths from 2,502 Covid-19 cases. 

Isolated towns in Lombardy include; Codogno, Castiglione d’Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo and San Fiorano.

Vo’ in Veneto has also been isolated as have Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont. 

The DFA said certain public services, tourist attractions, bars, restaurants and cultural events may also be curtailed in these regions depending on advice from local authorities in Italy.

It is also advising people currently in Italy to check the following websites for updates; Malpensa Airport in Milan, Bergamo Airport in Milan, Marco Polo Airport in Venice, Bologna Airport, Port of Genoa and Port of Venice

The DFA is also advising against non-essential travel to mainland China, Iran and the Daegu and Cheongdo areas of South Korea.

Sick pay legislation 

Harris was also asked about the emergency legislation on sick pay that Boris Johnson plans to enact in the UK.

Johnson told parliament today that if people are asked to self isolate, they may lose out financially. He announced that he plans to bring forward emergency legislation for the payment of statutory sick pay, so that it kicks in on the first day you are sick instead of the fourth day, which is currently the case.

“No body should be penalised for doing the right thing,” said the UK prime minister.

When asked whether Ireland will follow suit, Harris said “we are looking at this as we speak”.

The minister said the first meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19, which is chaired by the Taoiseach, will meet on Monday. He added that senior officials also met today.

He said statutory sick pay is in place, but said if there is a need to make amendments to support people, the government will look at how best to do that.

Earlier this week, Labour’s Alan Kelly stated that he would introduce an emergency bill to the House tomorrow, when the Dáil returns for the second day since the general election. 

Mass gatherings 

Speaking about why the Italy versus Ireland Six Nations game was called off, but the restriction of flights from Italy has not been announced, Harris said suspending the rugby game was a specific decision made due to it involving a large number of people from the affected area congregating in confined space for a prolonged period of time. 

He said there is not the same risk with people travelling from areas of Italy who are “out and about” in open spaces, adding that there is no travel ban currently in the EU.

As it currently stands, the St Patrick’s Day Festival is going ahead, said the minister. He said the situation is being monitored but that the advice today is that it should not be cancelled. 

Guidance on mass gatherings is due to be published today, which will help guide organisers when making a decision about future events. 

Following the announcement yesterday evening that a second Covid-19 case had been confirmed in Ireland, contact tracing got underway. 

If you are not contacted by the health authorities “you are not deemed to be at risk”, said Harris. 

In the case that the authorities could not contact everyone suspected to have come in contact with the patient, a public health announcement would be made. 

He was keen to point out that this is not necessary at the moment. It has occurred previously during a case of the measles, he said. 

The measles patient travelled on a bus, and a public health announcement was issued for people who travelled on a certain bus at a certain time. 

“If we need to do it, it is a tool available to us,” he said. 

Holidaymakers 

With concerns over travel to certain areas outlined by the DFA, The Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) is advising that Irish travellers and holidaymakers follow the advice of the authorities when travelling overseas.

With that in mind, some travellers may wish to cancel flights over the coming weeks or months.

In the instance where someone decides not to travel on a flight they have booked, no refund will be made available, usually, according to Dermott Jewell of Consumers’ Association of Ireland 

However, with the advice issued by the DFA, Jewell said an argument could be made to an airline that a refund is warranted.

Once the Department of Foreign Affairs states you should not go to that area, “then that is sufficient reason to be able to say to an airline ‘I’m not going because the Department has suggested that’s the wrong thing to do’” and I have expectations now of a refund, he said.

Indeed

In the last week, a number of companies have asked workers to stay at home as a precaution.

Recruitment company Indeed, meanwhile, has asked its global workforce – including 1,000 staff in Dublin  – to work from home until further notice. 

The company told staff that although there have been no confirmed cases of Covid-19 among staff, its goal is “to minimise the risk to employees and help to lower the probability of the spread of the virus to you, your families and the communities where we operate.”

The company has also halted all business travel and cancelled events planned for the coming weeks.

Indeed said it recognised that the precaution would be “inconvenient” for some but that it continues to act “out of an abundance of caution”. 

What’s the latest advice from the HSE? 

The HSE’s main advice page on the coronavirus has been changed overnight to note the new case. 

In a section detailing the risk of catching the virus, the latest advice says:

The risk of catching coronavirus in Ireland is still low. This may change. However, most people may continue to go to work, school and other public places, as usual.

Anyone who knows they have been in close contact with a confirmed case in the last 14 days and has symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, fever) should:

  • Isolate themselves from other people – this means going into a different, well-ventilated room, with a phone
  • Phone their GP, or emergency department – if this is not possible, phone 112, or 999
  • In a medical emergency (if you have severe symptoms) phone 112 or 999

Close contact means either:

  • Face-to-face contact
  • Spending more than 15 minutes within 2 metres of an infected person
  • Living in the same house as an infected person

More details on how to protect yourself from Covid-19 are available on the HSE website

- With reporting by Hayley Halpin, Daragh Brophy and Cónal Thomas 

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    Mute Ken Collins
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    Apr 15th 2015, 7:38 AM

    Their defence of this slaughter is actually a joke in this day and age… We have to kill them to see what they eat and how old they are. Laughable from one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world.

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    Mute OneTrueVoice
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    Apr 15th 2015, 8:02 PM

    Hindus are still upset that we’re still experimenting on cattle to figure out how tasty the perfect steak is.

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    Mute Mursh
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    Apr 15th 2015, 7:51 AM

    They’ve established that the leading cause of death is a harpoon to the head.

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    Mute Ben Redline
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    Apr 15th 2015, 7:58 AM

    Japan have been whale hunting since the early 1900′s how much research do these fcukers need? and don’t get me started on the Dolphin hunts absolutely disgusting.

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    Mute Sean Barry
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    Apr 15th 2015, 10:33 AM

    you should just mind your own business. Let other countries manage their own affairs and traditions

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    Mute cholly appleseed
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    Apr 15th 2015, 12:33 PM

    Except Sean, Japan has no claim to the whales of the Antarctic.

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    Mute james r
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    Apr 15th 2015, 7:36 AM

    horrific .. should be banned

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Apr 15th 2015, 9:28 AM

    It is banned, at least for commercial purposes. The Japanese claiming that this is for “research” is obviously an attempt to circumvent the ban on whale hunting.

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    Mute John Ryan
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    Apr 15th 2015, 6:01 PM

    The odd thing is that few in Japan actually eat it anymore. Its a bit like French people not really eating frogs legs and snails. In Japan whale meat is not very popular .

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Apr 15th 2015, 7:39 AM

    Who are these idiots trying to convince? Certainly not the world! Murderers all.

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    Mute john mccarthy
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    Apr 15th 2015, 7:55 AM

    The sea shepherd and captain Paul Watson will be back in action soon. I am always very humbled to know that these people are so dedicated to the conservation of Whales and the lengths they will selflessly go to, to protect them.

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    Mute Justin Credible
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    Apr 15th 2015, 8:37 AM

    Whale Wars is one of the worst tv shows ever made, the whole logic behind the show is flawed. Its all about TV ratings, and not too much about saving whales. They have put peoples lives at risk, and spent a lot of money to save tens of whales, when that money could be spent on a legal team to change the laws on “research killings”, which would save thousands of whales over the decades. The Faroe Island episode was the worst one, as their whaling is actually sustainable, yet it made for good TV for people that believe everything they are fed.

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    Mute brian boru
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    Apr 15th 2015, 8:39 AM

    Faroe Islands whaling is an aberration and the fact that the eu allows it continue is a shocking reality.

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    Mute Live Long
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    Apr 15th 2015, 8:41 AM

    Just because its sustainable doesn’t make it right, fox hunting is sustainable but that’s not an excuse for this savagery. Have you ever seen the whale hunts on the Faroe Islands? Stuff of nightmares.

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    Mute Justin Credible
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    Apr 15th 2015, 8:56 AM

    Why is it an aberration, when its sustainable, and its one of their main sources of food? In the grand scale of things, its very small scale whaling, and is sustainable. The episode of whale wars in the Faroe Island made me agree with the Faroese people over Paul Watson. Yes I have seen the whale hunts on the Faroe Islands, I honestly wouldn’t comment on them unless I had. It not for someone with a weak stomach, however the same can be said about any meat factory. have a look at how chickens are killed!
    You can’t even begin to compare fox hunting to whaling. In modern hunts, its more about a day out with the horses and dogs, its actually rare that any foxes are killed, as they are nocturnal.

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    Mute Live Long
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    Apr 15th 2015, 9:07 AM

    Are you comparing the killing of mindless chickens to the killing of sentient beings like whales. Chickens get it easy compared to the whales who usually drown in their own blood. The islanders don’t need whale meat, they eat it as a delicacy, its just an out dated tradition that fulfils a bloodlust, that has no place in the modern world.

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    Mute Shane Carroll
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    Apr 15th 2015, 9:30 AM

    Hi Justin.
    You say “its actually rare that any foxes are killed, as they are nocturnal.” I regularly see foxes during the day on my walks in the countryside. Why would they be chasing them during the day if they thought there were none about?!!
    “its more about a day out with the horses and dogs,” Yes but with the intention of catching a fox and ripping it to shreds with packs of dogs. A questionable day out pursuit in our modern times.
    Are you not aware of the studies which link animal abuse and manic behavior??
    This is not hunting for food, it is killing for pleasure and i believe it should be banned along with any other activity which involves killing animals for pleasure.

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    Mute Justin Credible
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    Apr 15th 2015, 9:44 AM

    Chickens are also sentient. As are pigs, of which there are over 1.5 million in Ireland, their sole purpose is to be slaughtered and eaten. My points about Paul Watson, and National Geographic are valid though, the Faroese people kill a small number of non endangered whales every year. However, as they are slaughtered in a way that looks horrific to most people, it shocks people into supporting the Sea Shepherd, and males them look like heroes. However, while National Geographic and Paul Watson are spending money making a show against sustainable whaling, the Japanese are still killing endangered whales. If they really cared about saving those whales that need the most help, then that money would be spend on changing the laws, or banning meat from endangered whales in Japan. However, that wouldn’t make for an exciting tv show. Its not just whales that need help, the Japanese are killing thousands of sharks every year too for shark fin soup. Sharks are taken on board a boat, fins cut off, then thrown back alive with no fins to die. But as sharks are seen as “killers”, and not friendly like whales, most people don’t care, so it would be hard to fund a “shark wars” tv show. Whale wars in a nut shell, is and incredibly scripted piece of American garbage, giving the “facts” they want to give, while putting peoples lives at risk.

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    Mute Justin Credible
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    Apr 15th 2015, 9:58 AM

    Shane Carroll, for the record, I don’t go on hunts, I have never even been on a horse! I do come from a farming background though. Yes, you will see foxes during the day time in the summer, but not that many, as they are nocturnal. To see them in the middle of the day is very rare, its usually early in the morning, or late in the evening when the nights are short in the summer. I don’t agree with fox hunting with dogs, but in most hunts, they its rare for them to even see a fox. As I mentioned, the modern hunt is a social event, people don’t go out with the idea of trying to kill as many foxes as they can. If you have ever seen a hunt, take note of the condition of the horses and hounds, they don’t really look like they have been abused. Also, how many people that have pets, will set rat/mouse traps, or poison? Foxes are not killed for pleasure either, its the same as killing mice/rats. If a fox gets into a chicken coop, thats the end of the chickens, also, in spring a new born lamb is a very easy target

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    Mute Shane Carroll
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    Apr 15th 2015, 10:17 AM

    Fair enough that is a good point in relation to farmers and i understand foxes can pose a threat to their livelyhoods.
    However their are other preventative measures and i don’t think that hunting a fox with hounds is a solution to this issue.
    A loose pack of hounds has the potential to do much more damage than a fox ever could!
    Also from the people i know involved in fox hunts, the majority of them have nothing to do with chicken or sheep farming.

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    Mute Justin Credible
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    Apr 15th 2015, 10:40 AM

    I agree, and the horses can do a lot of damage to land in too! A lot of farmers don’t want hunts on their land, for the reasons you mentioned. There is also the issue of liability if somebody gets injured on your land. You are right, most people on the hunts are mainly into horses, a lot wont have chickens or sheep. to be honest, I cant remember the last time I heard of a local hunt actually killing a fox. 30-40 years ago, it would have been different, as it was the main form of keeping the foxes numbers down. Lamping at night with a riffle accounts for the vast majority of foxes being killed now.

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    Mute Lamb
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    Apr 15th 2015, 11:11 AM

    I thought they rammed Sea Shepherd and broke it in 2? Was there another one?

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    Mute Jon Burkin
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    Apr 15th 2015, 7:51 AM

    What’s wrong with us humans!

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Apr 15th 2015, 12:29 PM

    Selfish with the thinking and acting of a virus or cancer, greed, greed and more greed?

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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Apr 15th 2015, 8:34 AM

    1. Exactly how often do whales change their diet that 300+ of them need to be gutted every year for inspection?

    2. Just ban the sale of the whale meat from research. Just force the destruction of the carcass. They will stop spending money chasin, killing and processing them if there is no money in it

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    Mute mcos
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    Apr 15th 2015, 7:59 AM

    Scientific research me arse!!!

    This is a worthwhile, but tough watch -

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P08ay4y-gE0

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    Mute Sean J. Troy
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    Apr 15th 2015, 8:15 AM

    Japan has bought a lot of IWC votes with foreign aid packages. It’s very difficult to eradicate this problem by using official channels. But it needs to stop.

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    Mute Live Long
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    Apr 15th 2015, 8:43 AM

    Its a total shambles, the Japanese cant even give the whale meat away in their own country, they make schools serve it for lunch just to keep a few whalers in a job.

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    Mute Siju Jose
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    Apr 15th 2015, 7:39 AM

    Hum

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    Mute r keane
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    Apr 15th 2015, 9:13 AM

    Good people, bad tastes – only way to really stop it is to embarrass them publicly

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    Mute Duchess d'Punk
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    Apr 15th 2015, 8:25 AM

    awful!

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Apr 15th 2015, 12:28 PM

    I thought it was because whale meat was a delicacy and the fat cats there love eating it, they eat it until all the whales became extinct?

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    Mute John Cross
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    Apr 15th 2015, 5:40 PM

    Easiest way to stop whaling is to run a campaign to stop buying Japanese products if they start whaling again

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