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The Health Service Executive will spend up to € 1 billion on personal protective equipment this year, with similar amounts to spend on testing and contact tracing as the country begins to emerge from the pandemic.
On May 18, the country will reach stage one on the roadmap to ease the restrictions. Garden centers and outdoor stores will be reopened, where social distancing can take place.
It will also be possible to meet small groups of friends and family outdoors.
The tremendous efforts of the people of Ireland are helping to protect our health care workers on the front lines and people most at risk of serious illness in our communities. #Firm hold🌈 pic.twitter.com/SYtdiis0oo
– HSE Ireland (@HSELive) May 10, 2020
Today, the number of coronavirus deaths in the country increased to 1,458 after the National Public Health Emergency Team announced 12 other deaths.
Some 236 new confirmed cases of the virus were confirmed, taking the total in Ireland since the outbreak began at 22,996.
Speaking today at a weekly press conference, HSE CEO Paul Reid said PPE would cost a billion euros per year and that there would be a “very significant similar cost” to establish a contract testing and tracing model for the country.
He said: “Our projections are that those costs are likely to exceed one billion in a year.
“The cost of not investing in these is much higher in terms of the cost to society of not abandoning our restrictions.”
Reid said nine million masks are required in the health system each week, the height of Liberty Hall’s 11 buildings, which is 195 feet tall.
He said the situation with Covid-19 is starting to improve as numbers in the ICU continue to drop, and are now 55% lower than the peak of 160.
Non-Covid-19 health services will resume in hospitals as the number of people in beds in the ICU decreases.
He said, “Now we can start non-Covid services in hospitals, but it won’t be easy.”
However, he warned that the health service cannot return to how it was before the pandemic and said: “What we cannot do in the next phase is to maximize the capacity of the health service.”
He said there are now three top priorities in non-Covid healthcare; cancer treatments, time-dependent surgery, including transplants and maximize the use of private hospitals.
He said that while the HSE is starting to resume regular hospital services, “we cannot return to overcrowded hospitals as was the case before the pandemic.”
“We need to keep capacity below 80% and protect Covid-19’s public and staff,” he added.
Regarding a return to non-Covid services, Reid said cancer would be a priority, as well as cardiovascular surgery and other treatments.
He said it was important that mental health and respite primary care services also be resumed.
He said that capacity will be needed in public and private health services to be used in the future.
Private hospitals became part of the public health system in March during the coronavirus pandemic.
Some 2,000 beds, nine laboratories and thousands of employees have been recruited into the public system,
This week’s HSE brieifing will take place in Sala Pillar at Mater Hospital, what a venue.# Covid19Ireland pic.twitter.com/d7uPFY7rvI
– Áine McMahon (@AineMcMahon) May 10, 2020
Because blocking measures will be slightly reduced next week, he said testing has increased significantly as Ireland is on track to have the ability to perform 100,000 tests per week from May 18 onwards.
He said all 30,000 staff and 28,000 nursing home residents have already been evaluated, and the labs now have the capacity to run 15,000 tests per day in the region.
The time it takes for a swab test to produce results is 2.4 days, which is in line with many of the other countries in general, and contact tracking was done within 1.5 days after that.
The Covid-19 contact tracking app will launch in late May, but Reid said it will be part of a larger tracking operation and not a panacea.
He said, “The contact tracking app plays a role, not an important role, but it does play a role in terms of the contact tracking process.”
Meanwhile, Health Minister Simon Harris urged people not to bend or stretch public health standards.
Good Sunday morning everyone! #Stay at home #Stay safe #Firm hold. We have this: let’s finish the job. We would all never forgive ourselves if we left things behind now # COVID-19 #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/dUFKPgRczC
– Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) May 10, 2020
He tweeted on Sunday: “If you are thinking of flexing or stretching public health rules, please don’t.
And whatever it is, remember this number: 72.
“The number of people in ICU with Covid-19 fighting for their life and health”.
He said that while people hope some restrictions will be eased starting May 18, people should stay the course.
He added: “People can’t think it’s okay to start from now … The bottom line is: it isn’t.
“It is dangerous. Every day counts.
“The reason these restrictions are in place until then: to save your life and keep your loved ones well.”
HSE will launch a new advertising campaign called “Hold Firm” inspired by the words of President Michael D Higgins, written in his 1993 poem Take Care.
Thank you @PresidentIRL for inspiring us with your words from the poem “Take Care”. Staying away from the people we love and the things we enjoy is not easy. But this is the best of us, taking care of each other. #Stay safe and protect each other #Firm hold🌈 pic.twitter.com/MqiwL9KVqD
– HSE Ireland (@HSELive) May 9, 2020
It occurs when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled new advice to “stay vigilant” in favor of the “stay home” message in the fight against the coronavirus.
Reid said the ads will acknowledge the work of health workers and the Irish to flatten the curve.
“Now we need to motivate and inspire people to continue those actions that help us stay safe and protect each other,” he added.
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