COVID-19 in Ireland

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

If you get the COVID-19 virus, you may experience a high fever including chills, dry cough and tiredness.  The HSE has more about the different symptoms of COVID-19.

You can read about how COVID-19 is spread and how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 infection.

If you are at high risk from COVID-19, you should follow HSE advice to protect yourself from COVID-19. The HSE also has advice if you have a weak immune system or are pregnant.

There are no COVID-19 restrictions in Ireland.

If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 and feel unwell, you should avoid contact with other people.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 you should:

• Stay at home for 5 days
• Avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk from COVID-19

If you have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, look out for symptoms of COVID-19.

You should also take care to protect others, especially those who are at higher risk from COVID-19. For example you should take extra care, if you are visiting a nursing home or residential care facility.

Should I go to the doctor or hospital?

If you feel very unwell, you should phone your GP.  You should not visit your GP or pharmacy in person.

Call 112 or 999 if you are short of breath and your GP is not available.

Most people no longer need to get tested. Your GP or a healthcare worker will tell you if you need to take a test. The HSE has information about testing for healthcare workers.

If you want to do a test yourself (without a HSE recommendation), you can find more about using COVID-19 antigen tests.

If you are aged over 18 and test positive for COVID, you should:

• Stay at home for 5 days
• Avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk from COVID-19

There is different advice below if your child tests positive for COVID-19.

Most children do not need to get tested for COVID-19.

Children aged under 4 should not get an antigen test.  Find more from the HSE on antigen tests for children.

If your child tests positive for COVID-19, they should:

• Stay at home for 3 full days from the day their symptoms started
• Avoid contact with other people

The HSE has different advice if your child or baby has COVID-19 symptoms.

Find out more about protecting your child from COVID-19 and knowing when to send your child to school or childcare.

If you want to wear a face mask to protect yourself and others, you should do so.

You may be asked to wear a face mask when visiting some health and care settings. The healthcare staff will let you know if you need to.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, cold or flu, it may not be safe to visit a health or care setting. Contact them for advice before visiting.

Read more about face masks.

You may be recommended to get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster because of your age or if you are at higher risk from COVID-19.

Find more about vaccines for COVID-19.

People at the highest risk from COVID-19 may be eligible for COVID-19 medication.

There is no requirement to show proof of vaccination or recovery to travel to Ireland.

You can read more on the HSE website about the long-term effects of COVID-19 and living with long COVID.