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The Executive Director of the Health Services Executive has said that the test positivity rate for Covid-19 continues to decline and that the average number of close contacts per person is now three, from 4.5.
In a post on Twitter, Paul Reid said: “The test positivity rate has dropped in the last 8 days. The number of close contacts has now dropped to an average of 3.
“Most of the close contacts are domestic. Still very early, but hey. We are all part of the solution. Let’s get on with this.”
The positivity rate in tests has dropped in the last 8 days. The number of close contacts has now been reduced to an average. of 3. Most close contacts are from home. Still very early but good. We’re all part of the solution. Let’s get on with this. @HSELive # COVID-19
– Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) October 25, 2020
Speaking in Newstalk, Reid said that the positive test rate in the past eight days had dropped to just over 5.5% and that the majority of close contacts are now people within the household, family contacts rather than social contacts. .
He also said that it was absolutely essential that people identified as close contacts restrict their movements for 14 days, even if they test negative.
Mr. Reid said it is wrong for employers to ask people to go back to work if they test negative.
In relation to recent difficulties with contact tracing, Reid said last weekend was “overwhelming” and that HSE was detected by uncontrolled levels of the virus in the community, going from 8,000 calls per week to 28,000 per week in a short time.
He said it was a challenge and he regretted what had happened and it was fixed.
Mr. Reid also said that although the signs in terms of positive tests are good, the HSE still needs members of the public to help change the situation.
He said the tests will not change it alone, nor will the ability of the UCI, but public behavior is also needed.
He said that over the summer, the HSE did a number of things, including building community testing centers, improving swab transfer logistics, building laboratory capacity and recruiting tracers.
Regarding ViraPro, the Irish company at the center of a major disinfectant product recall in schools, Reid said that around a million units of the disinfectant or around 7% to 8% of the total disinfectant product were being recalled. .
He said an alternate line has been secured.
When asked about the coronavirus in schools, Reid said there have been massive tests in 634 child care facilities, mainly schools, with around 16,000 students and teachers screened.
He said the positivity rate was 2.7 / 2.8%, which is significantly lower than the positivity rate in the community.
The latest figures from public health officials show that there are 295 patients in the hospital with Covid-19, of which 37 are in intensive care.
The figures, which are for 8am this morning, are a slight reduction from 312 yesterday.
Yesterday, the Health Department was notified of four more deaths related to the coronavirus and 859 new cases.
The total number of Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland rises to 1,882, while the number of confirmed cases is now 56,108.
Earlier this month, the number of people diagnosed with Covid-19 jumped above 1,000 a day.
On various occasions, more than 1,200 new cases were reported per day.
However, that number has dropped in the past two days and the infection rate continues to vary widely across the country.
The highest rates of the virus are found in Cavan, Meath, and Westmeath counties and much lower rates have been reported in Kilkenny, Wicklow, and Tipperary.
Across the country, the 14-day incidence rate of the virus per 100,000 people here is just under 303.
The average age of those diagnosed with Covid-19 is 35, and 62% of those diagnosed are under 45 years old.
As part of our National Operation, An Garda Síochána is verifying compliance with the
Retail services below Level 5 are subject to Criminal Regulations, can and are being enforced
A Garda Síochána continues to use 4Es, Engage, Explain, Encourage and last Enforce pic.twitter.com/dErLC0do2m– Garda Information (@gardainfo) October 25, 2020
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The opposition criticizes the Covid-19 fines
Sinn Féin justice spokesman Martin Kenny has said that the government should be able to tell the “small minority” of people who violate the new Covid-19 restrictions that no one will go to prison.
Speaking on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics, Kenny said that a fine for those who exceed the 5 km limit is “too steep.”
He said Sinn Féin opposed the fine legislation because it was “rushed without amendment”, which it said was “totally inappropriate”.
Kenny said the vast majority of people comply and want to adhere to the measures and follow the rules.
SF TD @Martin_Kenny says ‘The way the government has handled this has been most regrettable’ # COVID-19 #RTEPolítica #RTETWIP pic.twitter.com/eCUC9s5c2d
– Politics week (@rtetwip) October 25, 2020
Speaking about the same program, Bríd Smith of Solidarity-People Before Profit said the fines were a cover for the government’s own failure to treat the virus.
He said there is evidence that the fines do not work and that it sends a completely wrong message to society that it is personal behavior and not the government’s response.
Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice said he was not a fan of the fines and Gardaí will face a huge challenge.
He said that in rural areas, there are people who go out for a walk and aim to walk towards the villages, which could be more than 5 km away, given that there is no adequate public lighting on the road.
Mr. Fitzmaurice said we had to avoid fining people for the restrictions, which he described as “insane.”
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