[ad_1]
Today no new deaths of Covid-19 patients were reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Center.
This leaves the total virus-related deaths in Ireland at 2,099.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) reported another 301 confirmed cases of the disease on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases from the pandemic to 74,246.
Of the new cases, 119 are in Dublin, 32 in Donegal, 16 in Cork, 13 in Kildare and 13 in Kilkenny, and the remaining 108 cases are spread over 18 other counties.
The average age is 32 years and 64% are under 45 years of age.
As of Sunday afternoon, there were 231 Covid-19 patients in the hospital, including 28 in the ICU. There were eight additional hospitalizations in the previous 24 hours.
The national incidence of the disease fell slightly to 80.7 cases per 100,000 people during the last 14 days. Donegal, the county with the highest incidence, saw a small increase from yesterday, with an incidence of 224.9. Kilkenny and Louth have the next highest incidences by county, while Leitrim, with an incidence of 15.6, has the lowest.
Earlier on Sunday, recently released meeting minutes showed Nphet members last month calling for the weekly imposition or lifting of pandemic restrictions as the number of cases varied.
Nphet also heard a proposal that people limit themselves to six contacts outside of their family for six months, but this was rejected as “unrealistic.”
This week-to-week approach was proposed by “some members” to take into account the changing epidemiological situation, but other Nphet members questioned its “practicality”.
Instead, Nphet resolved to recommend a two-phase approach to lifting Level 5 restrictions before Christmas in order to “mitigate any rush” if stores, restaurants and other services open the same day.
This implied an initial relaxation of the measures as of December 1 and, later in the month, an additional relaxation “in recognition of the holiday period.” Subsequently, the restrictions would be tightened again to the level of December 1 for at least three weeks “to assess the impact of the Christmas period.”
The government ultimately opted for a gradual approach to lifting the restrictions, but raised them earlier and more broadly than Nphet recommended.
Concern was also raised at Nphet’s November 12 meeting about the plan to reopen on December 1 “and whether this date would be too early with respect to Christmas, which could cause a significant increase in the number in the run-up to Christmas”.
“Members stated that they would favor a conservative approach in early December, followed by a social period with very clear guidelines, and then a return to more conservative measures after the holiday period.”
Surpassing in hospitality
In relation to the hospitality sector, “many members” of Nphet raised the issue of overlapping events and asked that it “examine why some environments should be open, rather than justifying why they should remain closed”. But other members pointed to other countries’ rules on capacity limits and opening hours as potential examples of what should be implemented in Ireland.
The meeting also discussed concerns about incidence rates in Co Donegal, which were then, and now, more than double the national rate. Cross-border travel, as well as large outbreaks at wakes and funerals, were identified as some of the factors driving the trend.
Officials said Irish data was needed on the types of settings and activities related to an increased risk of virus transmission. Retrospective contact tracing and well-designed case-control studies should also be considered.
The meeting resolved to consider the types of supports necessary for people to be able to isolate themselves safely at home.
Members of the Health Information and Quality Authority told the meeting that a small proportion of cases ultimately generate most of the local transmission of the virus. The areas of greatest risk were indoors, with high occupancy and poorly ventilated environments, where there is screaming and singing, insufficient use of face coverings and prolonged contact.
The range and / or intensity of public health measures may have to differ for the settings and activities that lead to over-propagation, according to Nphet. These settings include “health and social care settings, food and meat processing plants, cruise ships, prisons, shopping malls, religious settings, bars, clubs, restaurants, gyms, offices, weddings, and large shared accommodations.”
The particular issue of poorly ventilated environments and the risk they pose to the spread of disease was highlighted at the meeting, and ventilation experts will be drafted to build on previous research work.
The Health Department said there is now a greater understanding of high-risk environments, activities and behaviors, in addition to greater knowledge about community transmission and the impact restrictions have on the spread of the virus. There are more lessons to be learned from recent exit strategies employed by other countries, he said.
International travel
On international travel, the meeting heard that “many people” have contacted the Department of Foreign Relations to determine whether traveling to see family at Christmas is considered essential.
Nphet said that the progress made during the Level 5 restrictions could be compromised by the importation of cases through international travel and emphasized the need to manage this risk effectively.
Christmas planning was also discussed in a meeting on November 5. According to the minutes, “the distinction between pubs and restaurants was noted as important, and the idea of a pub / restaurant as a more controlled environment, when the guidelines are strictly applied and enforced, should be considered a private home.”
“Emphasis on how to make higher risk activities safer was highlighted, with particular attention to the guidance on ventilation for pubs / restaurants / retailers that was observed due to super spreader events that occurred previously.”
Nphet’s communications team came up with a “safe socialization” proposal whereby “people should socialize with an exclusive group of six people outside their home for the next six months or until a vaccine is distributed”. Young adults living at home would be allowed a “group of six separated from their parents.”
“Many Nphet members expressed concern that the expectation may be unrealistic, especially when it relates to the arrival of a vaccine. It was also pointed out that it can be exclusive, particularly among the younger cohorts ”, the minutes record.
[ad_2]