COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.
Symptoms of coronavirus
It can take up to 14 days for symptoms of coronavirus to appear. They can be similar to the symptoms of cold and flu.
Common symptoms of coronavirus include:
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a cough - this can be any kind of cough, not just dry
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shortness of breath or breathing difficulties
For people who get infected with coronavirus:
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80% will have mild illness and make a full recovery within a few weeks
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14% will have a more severe illness
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6% will have a critical illness
Read more about the symptoms and causes of coronavirus
Protect yourself and others from coronavirus
Everyone needs to stay at home to help slow the spread of coronavirus. You should only leave for essential reasons. This is the best way to protect your friends, families and communities.
It’s important to practice social distancing and wash your hands properly and often.
Follow this advice to protect yourself and others from coronavirus
Restricted movements and self-isolation
To help stop the spread of coronavirus everyone has been asked to stay at home. But some people may need to do more than this.
You may need to either:
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restrict your movements further
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self-isolate
You do these things to stop other people from getting coronavirus.
Read more about restricted movements and self-isolation
Testing
All tests ordered before 25 March have been cancelled apart from tests for healthcare workers.
Anyone who has already been tested will get their results. But there are delays because of the high demand.
Read more about testing for coronavirus
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for coronavirus. But many of the symptoms of coronavirus can be treated at home. Take any medication you are already taking as usual, unless you are told not to by a healthcare professional.
Most people who catch coronavirus will experience mild symptoms. They should make a full recovery without needing to go to hospital.
If your symptoms get worse and you feel very unwell you may need to go to hospital.
Read more about treatment for coronavirus
At-risk groups
There are some groups of people who may be at risk of serious illness if they catch coronavirus. This is similar to other infections such as flu.
People in these at-risk groups will be prioritised for tests if they have symptoms of coronavirus.
Read more about at-risk groups
Cocooning
Cocooning means protecting people over 70 years of age, people who are extremely medically vulnerable and people living in residential care homes or long-term care. If you are in one of these groups, you must take extra care to reduce interaction with other people. Do not go outside your home and garden.
Pregnancy and coronavirus
When you are pregnant, your body naturally weakens your immune system. This is to help your pregnancy continue successfully. It means that when you are pregnant you may pick up infections more easily.
All pregnant women should get the flu vaccine. This will protect you and your baby from the flu, not from coronavirus.
Read more about pregnancy and coronavirus
Children and coronavirus
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Encourage your child to wash their hands regularly and properly.
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Follow this advice to prevent your child from catching or spreading viral infections.
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Read this for information on how to care for a child in self-isolation.
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Download these comic strips which explain how coronavirus testing works to young children.
Travel and coronavirus
Arriving to Ireland from another country
If you do not have symptoms of coronavirus
You will need to restrict your movements for 14 days if you return to Ireland from any other country.
You do not need to restrict your movements if you:
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return to the Republic of Ireland from Northern Ireland
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are an essential supply chain worker, for example, a pilot, haulier, maritime staff member
Follow this advice to protect yourself and others from coronavirus.
If you have symptoms of coronavirus
If you develop symptoms of coronavirus, you will need to self-isolate and phone your GP. Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. The GP will assess you over the phone. If they think you need to be tested for coronavirus, they will arrange a test.
Travelling to another country from Ireland
Avoid all non-essential travel to other countries until 29 March.
Read the latest COVID-19 Travel Advisory travel information from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Travel to areas with widespread local transmission
If you travel to an area with widespread local transmission of coronavirus, the risk of catching the virus is high. The World Health Organisation (WHO) publish daily information on rates of local transmission.
Pets and coronavirus
There is no evidence that pets such as cats and dogs can catch or spread coronavirus.
Interpreting service for deaf people
Deaf Irish Sign Language users can get information about coronavirus using Irish Remote Interpreting Service (IRIS).
IRIS is available from 9am to 7pm, Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm on Saturday.
To access the service using Irish Sign Language, book an appointment or email remote@slis.ie.
This service is for Deaf Irish Sign Language users only.
More information
Department of Health - latest updates on COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre – information for health professionals
Read about hospital service disruptions and visiting restrictions