The state response to Covid-19 fell into chaos yesterday when a vaccination program at a hospital was suspended and three people escaped from a mandatory quarantine facility at a hotel a day after the system went into effect.
As the government prepares to announce this week that strict public health restrictions should remain in place for much of the next two months, two key areas of its response to the virus have failed.
In a dramatic U-turn, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly yesterday ordered HSE to suspend vaccination operations at Beacon Hospital after revelations that teachers were given leftover blows at a private school. The suspension, which came 24 hours after Donnelly said it would be “counterproductive,” means that the 1,000 people a day who were vaccinated at the Beacon will have to be housed elsewhere.
The HSE advised members of the public to keep any existing vaccination appointments at the Beacon this week, but said other vaccination centers at Aviva Stadium and City West will now be used. “We will increase the capacity at these centers to manage this changed circumstances,” the HSE said.
Donnelly has written to the Beacon board of directors requesting a report of any other vaccinations that may have occurred outside of agreed protocols. Daycare workers caring for the children of Beacon Hospital staff were also beaten by the private hospital earlier this month, in addition to 20 teachers at St Gerard’s School in Bray, Co Wicklow, where they are reportedly attending. sons of CEO Michael Cullen.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin increased pressure on the Beacon Hospital board to remove Mr. Cullen last night, saying through a spokesperson that “The Beacon Hospital board should hold him accountable for his actions.”
Separately, three men, who had arrived on a flight from Dubai, escaped from the new mandatory quarantine facility at the Crowne Plaza hotel near Dublin Airport while on a smoke break outside.
It is understood that the Gardai of Ballymun were searching Waterford last night for one of the escaped men.
The other missing man is believed to be a native of Northern Ireland, meaning he may have already left the jurisdiction.
The third missing man reappeared after a couple of minutes and sources say he may not have fled as he returned voluntarily.
Gardaí was notified that three people had left the hotel yesterday afternoon and went to the scene. The Garda Press Office said: “A Garda Síochána is this afternoon in contact with the State Liaison Officer at a designated quarantine facility in the Dublin area, in accordance with current protocols.”
The Health Department declined to comment on the incident, but said the gardaí would investigate any alleged offense and enforce the law.
Given that the incident occurred just over 24 hours after the new system came into effect, the refusal of the Justice Department and An Garda Síochána to accept a permanent Garda presence at the facility is now likely to come under scrutiny.
A government figure called yesterday’s events a “weekend of chaos” as ministers are preparing this weekend to approve a slight easing of public health restrictions this week. But the country will remain under tight restrictions through April and much of May amid mounting concerns about a fourth wave of the virus.
Ministers have faced strong public outrage in recent days over the Beacon hospital revelations. Last night, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told the Sunday Independent: “This really hit a nerve with people, especially the elderly and the medically vulnerable, who have been waiting to get their vaccine.
“An answer was necessary. It was a clear violation of government rules and it just shouldn’t have happened.
The Sunday Independent understands that Donnelly wanted to suspend operations when the story broke. However, the HSE warned him that it could be counterproductive to the vaccination program. However, Donnelly and HSE CEO Paul Reid spoke at length yesterday and are said to have jointly agreed to suspend operations.
St Gerard’s has declined to comment on the story.
