Of the 24 people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland, the majority (14) have been linked to travel from affected areas.
A number of the cases have been as a result of local (7) and community (3) transmission.
As cases increase, the demands on the 60 public health doctors leading the process of contact tracing also grows.
TRANSMISSION
There are several ways that Covid-19 can be transmitted.
Where a person returns from one of the affected areas and tests positive for the virus this is known as an Imported Case.
In the event that a person who tests positive for Covid-19 can be linked to another case in Ireland that is known as Local Transmission.
And where a person tests positive for Covid-19 and has not been abroad or had contact with another case in Ireland that is known as Community Transmission.
CONTACT TRACING
Contact Tracing is what happens when a person tests positive for Covid-19.
The person who tested positive is known as the Index Case.
Everyone who has been in contact with that person will be contacted by the Health Service Executive.
Those regarded as close contacts are at risk and will be asked to restrict their movements.
But contacts of those contacts are at No Risk and are advised to continue about as normally.
ADVICE
The advice to anyone with concerns about contacts they may have had in relation to Covid-19 is to contact the HSE Live Helpline on 1850 24 1850.
