Cork City is a ‘Danger Zone’ as Covid Rates Rise

Cork City is now a “danger zone” for the coronavirus, as cases have risen rapidly in the past two weeks, the Taoiseach said, raising fears that an urban closure may be imminent.

Infection rates have risen in urban areas, and public health officials are “very concerned” that the cities of Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford will have to close when universities and institutes of technology reopen, Micheál Martin said.

But Mr. Martin stressed that we still have “a chance” to avoid stricter restrictions if everyone rigidly adheres to public health guidelines. He advised people to “reduce congregations, reduce the number of social contacts and wear masks in stores and on public transport.”

Speaking at the announcement of 100 new jobs for local technology firm Workvivo in Cork, the Taoiseach said: “I was speaking with the Medical Director during the week and in places like Cork City, cases have been increasing in a straight line in last. two weeks.

That is worrying: 20 to 30 cases a day. Also in other areas of the city.

“We’re pointing that out and making it very clear to people that those are danger areas right now. However, Cork is coming from a low base. There is an opportunity to stabilize her. Basically, it’s in our hands.”

He said the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) may recommend that the government impose restrictions in other areas, following recent closures in Dublin and Donegal.

“They [Nphet] they are concerned about urban centers, ”he said.

“Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford, especially as universities and institutes of technology reopen in the coming weeks.

“That’s a concern: where there are high-density populations, the virus can thrive in such situations.

“Nphet can advise in terms of particularly localized restrictions although, to date, it has been county by county.”

Those restrictions may now move to localized municipal closures, allowing the county to operate more freely if infection rates remain lower there.

“The numbers are growing particularly in the cities and urbanized parts of those counties,” Martin said.

“Our goal is to tell the people who live in these places: we can avoid having to go to level three. We can keep the numbers low. We can stabilize the numbers if we adhere to the guide and all of us personally and collectively do things. which will prevent the virus from growing.

“Suffice it to say now that they are very concerned.”