The Health Service Executive (HSE) is asking any people who have recently been in a COVID-19 affected area to contact them.

It has issued new advice for people returning from areas affected by the coronavirus.

They are being asked to phone the HSELive on 1850-24-1850 if they have been to the following areas in the last 14 days.

• China
• Hong Kong
• Iran
• Japan
• Singapore
• South Korea
• In Italy the provinces, Lombardy, Piemonte, Veneto and Emilia - Romagna

People should also contact the HSE if they have been in contact with a person who has coronavirus or in a hospital or healthcare centre where people were being treated for coronavirus.

Source: HSE

The HSELive is open Monday to Friday 8.00am to 8.00pm and 10.00am to 5.00pm on Saturday and Sunday.

When people phone they will be asked for details of their stay, where they were, and if they have been in contact with a person who has coronavirus.

They will also be asked if they have symptoms of coronavirus, and what to do next.

For those who are well and have not been in contact with coronavirus, they will be told to watch out for symptoms over the next 14 days.

However they can continue with their daily life and go to work as usual.

If they have had close contact with a person who has coronavirus, they will be monitored for 14 days.

A doctor will phone them daily to make sure they remain well.

They will be asked to stay separate from other people as much as they can for 14 days - including not going to work.

Source: HSE

For those who have been to an affected area in the last 14 days and have a cough, fever/high temperature, feel short of breath or have difficulty breathing they should phone their GP, emergency department or student healthcare centre immediately.

They should also:

• stay indoors
• avoid contact with other people
• follow this advice even if symptoms are mild

People are advised not to go to a GP surgery, emergency department or healthcare centre - but to phone them first.

This is so they do not accidentally put other people at risk.

Any employee who has travelled from one of the affected areas in the last 14 days should follow the advice above.

If an employee has no symptoms, they do not need to take any measures in the workplace.

More information can be found here

Main image: Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer at the Department of Health addresses a media briefing on COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Dublin | Image via @merrionstreet on Twitter