Irish government warns against all but essential travel to Italy amid virus outbreak

Ireland’s deputy leader Simon Coveney said the “totally unprecedented” advice comes after the Italian government extended quarantine measures to the whole country.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs said people should not travel to Italy unless it is absolutely necessary.

He said the vast majority of people who tested positive for coronavirus in Ireland had travelled to northern Italy.

Mr Coveney told RTE’s Morning Ireland that it is “totally unprecedented” for a Minister of Foreign Affairs to advise Irish citizens not to travel to a large EU member state.

“But that is the advice this morning,” Mr Coveney added.

“I’m in favour of anything that public health experts say would work and I think politicians need to listen to people who are knowledgeable on how to make the right decisions here.

“The truth is that we have no experts on the planet on Covid-19 because it’s new, 13 weeks ago no-one ever heard of it.”

Mr Coveney added that it is inevitable Ireland will move to the delay phase.

He explained: “The (delay phase) is trying to stop the spread of the virus in a population that has no immunity and recognising the reality that we effectively have no vaccine and no treatment.”

On Monday, more cases of Covid-19 in the Republic were confirmed, bringing the total number to 24.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will later take part in a teleconference with other EU leaders to discuss a joint response to the coronavirus outbreak, where he is expected to raise the issue of flights and travel restrictions.

Mr Coveney added: “We are trying to provide responses that are proportionate, so if you shut a country down without good reason and evidence to back that up, then I think you cause significant damage to people’s quality of life.

“What we’re trying to do is follow the public health advice that is appropriate given the level of threat at any given time.

“I’m a politician, a policymaker, and we need to listen to experts in terms of the recommendations and the advice that they give.

“This response needs to be health-driven and that is what we’re doing, rather than politicians going off on solo runs and doing things that aren’t recommended.

“We’re very much working with our public health team and with the HSE.”

Mr Coveney added that the Government is taking “unprecedented action” in relation to travel advice.

The Tanaiste added: “That’s why we are preparing now in our health service to add significant bed numbers to decant people from hospitals that don’t need to be there, so that we create space to try to deal with a problem that could become much, much worse very, very quickly.

“A lot is happening and of course the advice will be upgraded on a daily basis.

“The special Cabinet committee on Covid-19 is meeting again on Friday and again on Monday.

“The National Public Health Emergency team is meeting again today, and of course we’ll update the Government in relation to advice so you may find that the government moves to do a lot more very quickly.”

On Monday, Mr Varadkar warned that more than half of the population in the Republic of Ireland could contract Covid-19.

He made the comments as the government unveiled a 430 million euro financial aid package to tackle the health crisis.

The government also cancelled all St Patrick’s Day parades across the country.

The 430 million euro will be allocated to provide additional staff and capacity in the health service to deal with the virus, while the government also plans to amend legislation on sick pay to make it available from the first day of illness rather than the current six days.