LAST UPDATE | 23 Sep 2020

TÁNAISTE LEO VARADKAR is restricting his movements after an official at his Department tested positive for Covid-19.

Although he received a negative Covid-19 test result, he is still restricting his movements.

This is because it can take up to 14 days for Covid-19 to show up in your system after being exposed to it.

Appearing via video link at an event today, Varadkar said: “One of the officials in my Department who I work very closely with tested positive for Covid yesterday, and that makes me a close contact so I’ll be working from home for a little while.”

The public health advice states that if you had to restrict your movements because you were a close contact of a confirmed Covid-19 case, you should continue to do so even if you have received a negative Covid-19 test result.

In a statement, the Minister for Business and Fine Gael leader said: “Yesterday I was informed that I was a close contact of someone who tested positive for Covid-19. I was swabbed yesterday and the test has come back negative.

In line with public health advice, I will be restricting my movements to home and outdoor exercise.

There are no implications for anyone who has been in close contact with me. I am perfectly well and will be working from home.

It comes after the Cabinet had to restrict their movements while Health Minister Stephen Donnelly waited for the results of a Covid-19 test last week. The test came back negative.

With reporting from Christina Finn and Ian Curran.