Now is the time to #FlattenTheCurve.

That was the plea from Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan this afternoon as he appealed to the Irish public to stick rigidly to health guidelines issued by the HSE.

“Every one of us must play our part,” he reminded his Twitter followers, adding eight rules to adhere to over the coming week as the country battles the spread of coronavirus.

There are now 214 confirmed COVID-19 cases on the island of Ireland, 45 of which are in the north.

The jist is that complacency is dangerous; we all need to double down on our efforts when it comes to hygiene, social distancing and how we interact with each other.

Here are eight things to remember, according to Dr Tony Holohan:

1. Reduce your social contacts – see only a handful of people in your network.

2. Distance yourself 2 metres from people in shops & supermarkets.

3. Stop shaking hands or hugging when you say hello

4. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth

5. Wash your hands regularly and practice cough and sneeze hygiene

6. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

7. Check on your vulnerable family members and neighbours
8. Work from home where possible

Stay informed: @roinnslainte | @HSELive | @WHO

— Dr Tony Holohan (@CMOIreland) March 16, 2020

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