Another Dublin construction site closed after Covid-19 case confirmed
-With reporting by Press Association
A worker on a construction site in north Dublin has tested positive for Covid-19.
John Sisk and Son has confirmed a single case of the virus at the TU Dublin development at Grangegorman.
The site has been shut down for deep cleaning.
A spokesman for the firm said the Health Service Executive (HSE) has been made aware of the incident.
SIPTU Construction Sector Organiser John Regan says the developer is following procedures properly and hopes the site will return to operation soon.
Mr Regan said: "Sisk have acted very quickly, they've shut down the site the minute it happened and are doing all the sanitising that is expected of them.
"And hopefully the site will get back up and running soon."
It comes after more than 20 workers at a site on Townsend Street also tested positive for the virus.
The acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said more than 20 cases had been linked to the site so far and many other workers have been tested.
In a statement, the building company at that site John Paul Construction said: “Following confirmation that a staff member on one of our construction sites in Dublin had tested positive for Covid-19, a comprehensive testing has identified a number of additional positive cases.
“We have followed the specific advice of the HSE and the Health and Safety Authority at all times in relation to this and are assisting the HSE in arranging further tests as required.
“We have temporarily closed the site as advised by the HSE.”
The company said the health and safety of its workers and the communities in which it operates is its top priority, “and we wish those affected a speedy recovery”.
The outbreak of the virus has had an enormous impact in construction across the country but especially in Dublin where output has taken a significant hit.
Just over 13,500 houses and apartments were under construction across the country in June.
Economists have warned the Covid-19 lockdowns and the continuing health restrictions at building sites will significantly reduce the number of new homes to well below 20,000 this year compared to the 21,500 units built last year.