[ad_1]
Acting Medical Director Dr. Ronan Glynn warned that inappropriate use of face coverings could increase the risk of Covid-19.
Speaking at the National Public Health Emergency Team briefing last night, Dr. Glynn said that while the vast majority of people wear face covers when necessary, some do not use them correctly.
Face coverings are now mandatory in certain places, including on public transportation and at retail outlets.
Dr. Glynn said it appears that about 90% of people wear face covers when appropriate, but he cautioned that too many people wear them under the chin or leave their nose exposed.
He said that neither method provides protection against Covid-19 and, in fact, may increase the risk of the virus.
“We see too many people walking with [face coverings] under his chin. We see a lot of people wearing them, but with their noses exposed. “Acting Medical Director Dr. @ronan_glynn urges people to make sure they cover their faces properly. # COVID-19 pic.twitter.com/WCJzIxEMSz
– RTÉ News (@rtenews) August 31, 2020
When asked if face shields were an acceptable alternative to covers, he said they were acceptable but not as good as face masks or covers.
He said that if there is a scenario where a person can only wear a visor, then they should, but if possible a face cover should be used.
Yesterday, 53 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 were reported and there were no more deaths.
Of the new cases, 75% corresponded to people under 45 years of age and 14 cases were identified as community transmission.
Latest coronavirus stories
The World Health Organization says that data to date suggests that 80% of Covid-19 infections are mild or asymptomatic, 15% are serious oxygen-requiring infections, and 5% are critical and require ventilation.
Generally, you must be 15 minutes or more close to and within two meters of an infected person to be considered at risk or in close contact.
Meanwhile, a Co Kildare hotel owner has said business owners “need cash and they need it fast” after going through “three unprecedented weeks of economic disaster” after county restrictions were placed to stop an increase in coronavirus cases.
The restrictions were lifted last night “with immediate effect.”
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mary Fennin of the Clanard Court Hotel in Athy said that cash flow has been depleted in the sector locally and that she has managed to trade successfully for just one month this year so far.
Ms. Fennin said that after a very uneventful January and February, the business would start to go live when the first closing came.
He said that once things were reopened, business was thriving and rooms were filling up quickly, but all of this was lost with the second closure.
He said his business has lost three weeks, including four weekends of the tourist season in August and the last of the summer holidays, which are now over.
He called on people to come to Kildare and support businesses, saying “we need all the support we can get.”
Ms Fennin said that government support is much needed in terms of cash flow and liquidity, adding that the cancellation of the Plowing Championships and the Electric Picnic Festival are yet another blow to the region.
[ad_2]