All passengers who were in contact with a woman who has tested positive for the coronavirus have been traced, the Department of Health confirmed.
At a press briefing this morning, Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health Dr Tony Holohan said it is likely we will see more confirmed cases of the virus in the coming days.
The woman travelled through Dublin Airport on her way home to Northern Ireland from northern Italy.
It was announced last night that the woman tested positive for the illness on returning home to Belfast.
Dr Holohan refused to state what day the infected woman travelled back through Dublin Airport from Italy but said it was in the last 14 days.
He also anticipated “another case or cases will be imported into this country.”
However, he said there are no plans in place to screen or check temperatures at Dublin Airport because it’s not “effective” and a waste of resources.
Northern Ireland's Public Health Agency would not confirm how the patient travelled home from Dublin Airport, but she is believed to have used a train.
The woman, who is understood to not have been traveling alone, was tested at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
It is understood she was then allowed to return home and is receiving specialist medical treatment there.
Dr John Cuddihy, Director of the Health protection surveillance centre said “a small number” of people who have been in contact with the woman on her flight back to Ireland and on public transport have been alerted.
And these people are now being actively monitored for symptoms of Covid-19 and will be tested for the virus if they present with any changes to their health.
Deputy Chief medical officer of the department of health Ronan Glynn said he “it wouldn’t be a surprise to us of further cases in the days to come.”
