We want to give the people of Tipperary Town the best advice regarding Covid-19 (Coronavirus).

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus. COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization.

Symptoms

If you have any common symptoms of COVID-19 (coronavirus), self-isolate (stay in your room) and phone your GP straight away. Your GP will tell you if you need a COVID-19 test. Other people in your household will need to restrict their movements (stay at home). It can take up to 14 days for symptoms to show. They can be similar to symptoms of cold and flu. An early diagnosis from your GP means you can get the help you need and avoid spreading the virus, if you have it.

Most Common Symptoms:

Fever

Cough

Tiredness

Less Common Symptoms:

Aches and pains

Sore throat

Diarrhoea

Conjunctivitis

Headache

Loss of taste or smell

A rash on skin

Discolouration of fingers or toes

How it Spreads:

The virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or exhales. These droplets are too heavy to hang in the air, and quickly fall on floors or surfaces. You can be infected by breathing in the virus if you are within close proximity of someone who has COVID-19, or by touching a contaminated surface and then your eyes, nose or mouth.

Covid-19 Advice from the HSE:

The HSE's website is the most reliable source for information on Covid-19 and is updated regularly. We have included some links to external sites below for your information. Click on each heading to read the most up to date information from the HSE.

Protect yourself and others from COVID-19

COVID- 19 (coronavirus) is spread in sneeze or cough droplets. To infect you, the virus has to get from an infected person’s nose or mouth into your eyes, nose or mouth. This can happen if someone who has the virus coughs or sneezes near you. Or if you touch something they have been in contact with, such as an object or a surface.

It is important that you:

wash your hands properly and often

practice social distancing

cover coughs and sneezes

Follow the advice from the HSE as strictly as possible and encourage others to do this too.

How COVID-19 is spread

You can get COVID-19 if you come into close contact with someone who has the virus.

COVID-19 is mainly spread through close contact and droplets that come from your nose and mouth. For example, from someone who is talking loud, singing, shouting, coughing or sneezing. This happens when people are within 1 to 2 metres of each other. It is why keeping a 2 metre distance from other people is so effective in reducing the spread.

You can also get the virus from surfaces. For example, when someone who has the virus sneezes or coughs, droplets with the virus can fall onto surfaces around them. If you touch that surface and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth, you could become infected too.

Read about how to manage symptoms of COVID-19 at home.

There is no vaccine or specific treatment for COVID-19 (coronavirus). But many of the symptoms of COVID-19 can be treated at home. About 80% of people can recover at home and without needing to go to hospital. If you develop symptoms, you should self-isolate to stop the spread of COVID-19. Phone your GP or GP out-of-hours straightaway to discuss your symptoms and whether you need a test for COVID-19.

Returning to work safely

Work from home unless you work for an essential service that cannot be done from home. Do not return to your workplace if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 (coronavirus), are self-isolating or restricting your movements, or have not spoken with your employer before going back to your workplace If you are returning to work, you need to take some precautions. Follow the advice of your employer. This is to protect you from coronavirus.

Download the Covid Tracker App

Stay safe. Protect each other.

COVID Tracker is a free app for your mobile phone. It will help us to protect each other and slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ireland. Using the COVID Tracker app along with the existing public health measures will help us all stay safe when we meet up, socialise, work or travel.