WATERFORD has its first confirmed case of the Coronavirus. In a letter to staff of the hospital this evening, General Manager Grace Rothwell said that The National Virus Reference Laboratory had informed them this evening that UHW has a confirmed case of COVID-19.

This patient had been an inpatient in Medical 7 Ward (the patient did not meet the case definition at this time). A decision was taken on March 9 to test the patient for COVID-19 and in accordance with protocol was then transferred to an isolation room in the Pine Ward, a ward which was specifically opened to facilitate the isolation and care of patients either suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

There were 10 new cases of the virus in Ireland today.