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A small town in Roscommon is at the center of a Covid-19 health scare after a person at a party tested positive for the virus.
It is understood that the person had been examined shortly before the party, but the result only emerged later.
The person is believed to have later told friends that they did not tell him he needed to isolate himself until the test result returned.
Since the party, which took place in Elphin, everyone who was a close contact of the person who tested positive has been tested.
It is understood that around 60 people attended the party or were in contact with party goers.
The news of the case in Elphin comes as the Health Department has revealed that, of the 324 new cases of Covid-19, six are from Roscommon.
Since then, several Elphin companies have voluntarily closed for the time being.
Among them is Conal Tiernan, who runs the Elf Inn restaurant.
He told Shannonside Radio: “When I heard that the peak had increased in the Elphin area, I told myself that there was no point waiting for it to land at the gate.
“I just made the decision in the interest of the safety of my staff and clients that I would close until the Covid has left the area.” Roscommon County Councilor Joe Murphy told the Irish Examiner that the incident at Elphin is “a wake-up call.”
He said: “I think people have become lax.
“It is a wake-up call that this is serious enough.
“I don’t know all the details, and much of what is being said locally is speculation.
“But I understand that there was a party in Elphin, there is a positive case and contacts are being traced.
“There is a case of Covid-19, and now we are all waiting to see what happens next.”
He added: “So far we have done well at Co Roscommon.
“There have been some strange cases here and there.
“But people must remember that they must continue to take precautions and must not lower their guard against this virus.”
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