The student is believed to have left Wuhan a number of days ago, before the city was closed.
A Chinese student at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) is being kept in isolation in his accommodation in Waterford having travelled to Ireland from Wuhan in China in recent days.
A spokesperson from WIT confirmed to JOE on Monday that the student had left Wuhan some days ago, before the city was closed. He has presented no signs of illness and has agreed to stay in his accommodation by himself for the time being as a precautionary measure.
A statement released to JOE by WIT on Monday morning read: “A student arrived in Waterford on Sunday having left Wuhan some days ago before the city was closed; he is not ill and as a precaution he has agreed not to attend college and stay in his accommodation by himself for the time being.
“We have been in touch with the HSE and are being directed by them.”
A spokesperson for the HSE South East Community Healthcare said: "The HSE’s Public Health Department in the South East is aware of the situation and is working closely with Waterford Institute of Technology."
The news comes as the Coronavirus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, continues to spread, with
over 2,700 cases having been confirmed as of Monday morning (27 January).
Last week, a lockdown was imposed on the city, which has a population of over 11 million, in an effort to quarantine the virus, a move described by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as "unprecedented in public health history".
80 deaths have been confirmed as a result of the virus so far and cases have been reported in several countries across the globe.
According to the UK Department of Health, over 50 people in the UK, including Northern Ireland, have been tested for the virus, but all tests to date have come back negative.
