This is the second update from CFI in relation to Covid-19 (Coronavirus). Because health information and guidance can change rapidly, CFI would recommend that our members and their families review the following 3 websites on a regular basis.

Summary of key sources of Health Information about Covid-19 (Coronavirus)

• To find out more about Covid-19 (Coronavirus) visit the HSE website here

• For latest updates from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre visit here

• For travel advice visit the Department of Foreign Affairs website here

If you have concerns about Covid-19 (Coronavirus) phone HSE Live on 1850 24 1850

CFI Advocacy on Behalf of our Patients

As you will have likely seen from several media reports over the weekend, CFI has been advocating on behalf of our members in seeking to ensure that there are active tailored public health responses in relation to Covid-19 (Coronavirus) particularly if it moves from the present Containment Phase to Mitigation Phase (see definitions below).

Over the past few days CFI has:

• Written to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO)
• Spoken on RTE1 6.1 News; RTE Primetime and BBC Northern Ireland
• Sought a meeting with senior health officials
• Responded to concerns raised in specific hospitals and schools

CFI is currently drawing up a submission on our present concerns to help inform the public health response in Ireland to ‘at risk’ groups.

Definitions Explained :

Containment Phase: This means that, irrespective of case severity, all efforts are focused on identifying cases and their contacts early, in order to prevent further transmission (secondary spread).

Mitigation Phase: This will be activated where containment is no longer effective in controlling the spread of Covid-19 (Coronavirus). In this phase, the focus of the HSE will be on identifying the cases who are most severely unwell

Ireland is currently in Containment Phase.

Media Links