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Images of hundreds of people gathered in Galway City have gone viral amid the increase in Covid-19 cases in the county.
Galway is one of the counties NPHET is closely monitoring with a decision on whether to move to Level Three, the restrictions likely to be taken at the end of the week.
Hundreds of people gathered last night in the Shop Street and Spanish Arch areas of the city to socialize in scenes that local Fianna Fáil senator Ollie Crowe labeled “simply unacceptable.”
Along with images from last night’s meeting, Crowe wrote: “He has sympathy for those entering college for the first time during Covid, but these scenes are simply unacceptable, particularly with the recent growth in Galway cases. I have contacted Millstreet Gardai and have written to the president of NUIG, although I fear that harm may be done. “
He has sympathy for those entering college for the first time during Covid, but these scenes are simply unacceptable, particularly with the recent growth in Galway cases. I have contacted Millstreet Gardai and written to the president of NUIG, although I fear harm may be done. pic.twitter.com/IASFtk6Eqr
– Ollie Crowe (@olliecrowe_ie) September 28, 2020
Local Fine Gael Councilor Eddie Hoare said the numbers “will inevitably increase”, adding that he expects Level Three restrictions to be introduced in Galway before the weekend.
Spanish Arch, Galway tonight. The numbers will inevitably continue to rise. I would expect a level 3 restriction before the end of the week … pic.twitter.com/cBLUoJOfj9
– Cllr. Eddie Hoare (@EddieHoareFG) September 28, 2020
In a statement issued to BreakingNews.ie, a Garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí attended the site of a gathering of people that took place in the Galway City area on 09/28/2020 at approximately 10 pm The crowd dispersed without incident and Gardaí informed bystanders of the relevant sanitary guidelines in force.
“The Gardaí is not investigating violations of public health regulations by attendees.”
The spokesperson added: “There are no criminal regulations regarding social distancing, the wearing of masks in public areas. A Garda Síochána does not have statutory powers under the ‘Covid Regulations’ to prevent these meetings from taking place.
“With regard to regulations that are not declared as Criminal Regulations under the Health Act of 1947 as amended, An Garda Síochána takes the three E’s approach that will see Gardaí engage, educate and encourage, alone.”
The news comes after Acting Medical Director Dr. Ronan Glynn said he was keeping a close eye on Cork and Galway.
Dr. Glynn said that one in five cases in Cork in the past two weeks was related to pubs and restaurants, while a large group in Galway dates back to a house party.
He said: “Unfortunately, we are seeing a particularly rapid increase in incidence [of Covid-19 infection] in several counties. I want to highlight Cork and Galway, which we have been doing for about a week, but also Monaghan and Roscommon, because their overall population size is smaller, their incidences can increase very quickly with a relatively small number of cases, but that said, yes they stand out for the speed with which the situation is deteriorating. “
An additional 390 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed yesterday in the Republic of Ireland.
209 of yesterday’s cases were located in Dublin, 27 in Cork, 22 in Donegal, 21 in Galway, 14 in Kildare, 14 in Monaghan, seven in Roscommon, seven in Tipperary, seven in Waterford, seven in Wexford, six in Limerick , six in Longford, five in Laois, five in Meath, five in Offaly, five in Sligo, with the remaining 23 cases spread across eight other counties.
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