Irish diplomat party in New York spoiled by Covid-19 case

Guests at a party hosted by Irish diplomats at the consulate in New York City last week were advised to go for Covid-19 tests after an attendee tested positive for coronavirus.

The Irish consulate hosted a "media reception" on Tuesday evening at its consulate on Park Avenue in Manhattan with more than 20 guests attending.

Department of Foreign Affairs staff checked that attendees were vaccinated and guests were asked to wear a face mask in the hall. One attendee subsequently tested positive for the disease.

“It was far less rowdy than any Manhattan restaurant or bar at the moment. They were being so cautious,” one guest told The Irish Times.

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Andrew Byrne, the deputy consul general in charge of media and communications, had to email attendees to inform them about the positive case.

“In accordance with our safety protocols, I am writing to let you know that we have learned of a positive Covid-19 tests from an attendee at our event at the consulate on Tuesday evening,” Mr Byrne told guests.

“This individual received their test results this evening and we wanted to inform you promptly. This individual was fully vaccinated.”

‘Precautionary measure’

Mr Byrne told guests that the consulate was recommending that they get tested at one of the Covid-19 testing sites around the city “as a precautionary measure”.

One guest at the party, New York Magazine journalist Shawn McCreesh, wrote in a column published online on Thursday that he tested positive for Covid-19 after attending.

The column, entitled “The Media Variant’ Hits New York City”, detailed the number of people working in media who caught the virus during a busy week of Christmas parties.

“Shuffling forward a few places in line, I began to tick off the last few days of media partying in my head and wondered if my migraine was more than the usual mid-week hangover,” he wrote, listing the Irish consulate party as one he attended last week.

‘Full compliance’

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said that Irish diplomatic missions abroad follow local Covid-19 rules and regulations set by host governments.

“This event in New York was conducted in full compliance with all local regulations. Invited guests presented vaccination proofs and identification before entrance,” he said.

“Once an attendee later tested positive that week, all attendees were notified.”

New York reported a record number of daily Covid-19 infections last week, with more than 20,000 cases reported on Friday for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

A senior public health adviser to the city’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, warned last Thursday that the positivity rate in the city was doubling every three days.