People urged to keep track of who they meet over bank holiday weekend

The information will help with contact tracing if a Covid-19 infection is later detected, officials said.

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People socialising over the bank holiday weekend have been urged to keep track of who they meet.

Health officials say it will quicken the contract tracing process if people subsequently test positive for coronavirus.

The combination of the bank holiday, forecast good weather and opportunities offered by lockdown relaxations is predicted to see more people out and about over the coming days.

On Friday, Galway City Council moved to close off some popular visitor locations amid concerns about large numbers gathering.

Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said keeping a record would help speed up contract tracing if it was required (Niall Carson/PA)

At the daily National Public Health Emergency Team briefing, deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said: “We do recognise that people are out and about that little bit more, particularly with the bank holiday weekend and particularly with the good weather.

“If they are meeting people, in as much as possible, if they could keep a record of who they are meeting that would help in the event of their confirmed cases.

“That would help the public health teams and their contract tracers to make contact more quickly and ensure, in so far as possible, that spread is stopped.”