Junior Minister for Health Frank Feighan tests positive for Covid-19

The Minister of State with Responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Frank Feighan has tested positive for Covid-19.

Mr Feighan experienced mild symptoms of the virus on Sunday, and has received a positive result from a PCR test, the Department of Health said on Monday.

“Minister Feighan experienced mild symptoms of Covid-19 yesterday. As per public health advice, Minister Feighan immediately self-isolated and arranged a test which has returned a ‘detected’ result,” it said in a statement.

“Minister Feighan will continue to follow the public health advice, including working from home, and encourages anyone who experiences symptoms of Covid-19 to self-isolate and get tested straight away.”

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Meanwhile, Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan travelled to Cop26 on Monday after a follow-up Covid test confirmed he is not infected with the virus.

Mr Ryan initially received a positive test on Saturday, but he later received notification from the HSE that a second test was recommended.

“This result of this test showed Covid-19 was not detected. The public health advice in this instance is that the case is denotified,” a spokesman for the Minister said.

Mr Ryan was not symptomatic at any point. He underwent the initial test as a precautionary measure as recommended by Cop26 organisers.