Fight againt the virus: How mutations travel to Ireland
They may result from small changes but virus mutations are having a big impact. Here is a timeline of how the alarm was first raised that such variants could cause disruption to the world’s carefully laid vaccination plans.
9 JANUARY 25, 2021
The Cabinet announces plans for mandatory quarantine for all travellers from South Africa and Brazil. A timeline for when this will be introduced is awaited. All such passengers must now arrive with a negative PCR test and then isolate for 14 days. All visa-free travel from these countries is stopped.
8 JANUARY 17, 2021
After more than 2,000 travellers from Brazil arrived in Ireland since Christmas week the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL) detects the Brazilian P2 mutation in samples from Westmeath and Dublin. Two further cases are being treated as possible P1 variants but cannot be confirmed for technical reasons.
7 JANUARY 15, 2021
NPHET warns of the Brazilian variants known as P1 and another variant of lesser concern originating from Rio de Janeiro known as P2. It says there is ‘no evidence of these variants in Ireland’ and advises anyone arriving from Brazil to self-isolate and present for testing. Many do not present for tests.
JANUARY 12, 2021
13 cases of the P1 Brazilian variant first identified in Tokyo are confirmed in the city of Manaus, in Amazonas State. The variant had been circulating in the region for months undetected and may be able to reinfect those who caught previous strains.
1 SEPTEMBER 2020
The UK variant, which is more infectious and deadly, emerges in Kent and rapidly begins to spread. This variant is now responsible for two-thirds of new cases in Ireland and has now been reported in 70 countries.
2 OCTOBER 2020
The South Africa variant emerges in the Nelson Mandela Bay area on the country’s east coast. It quickly begins to spread throughout the Cape region and beyond. This variant has now been reported in 31 countries.
3 DECEMBER 25, 2020
Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan confirms the presence of the UK variant for the first time in Ireland.
4 JANUARY 2, 2021
Four travellers arrive at Tokyo’s Haneda airport having come from Brazil’s Amazonas State. Days later genome sequencing detects a new variant in their samples – now known as the P1 Brazilian variant.
5 JANUARY 8, 2021
Three cases of the South African variant are confirmed in Ireland, all associated with travel from South Africa. NPHET advises it is essential for healthcare workers travelling from South Africa to self-isolate for 14 days before working. Eight cases have been confirmed in Ireland up to today.