[ad_1]
Update 7pm
An emergency meeting was held in Galway after large crowds gathered in the city last night and colleges returned for a new semester.
Authorities have now agreed to work together to crack down on large youth gatherings in the city that is home to more than 30,000 students.
In a joint statement issued following the meeting between the Galway City Council, Gardaí, NUI Galway and the students, the group described the crowds gathered last night as completely unacceptable.
He said he would work to ensure a repeat of last night’s events was avoided, adding that he would meet again later in the week if necessary.
I’m sure the army could help the Gardaí in Galway City. Look at the end of the day, 30,000+ third grade students here, and we have to have a coordinated approach.
Meanwhile, local Fianna Fáil senator Ollie Crowe has said he believes the army should be deployed to help gardaí ensure Covid-19 guidelines are followed.
“Gardaí in Galway needs additional resources here. Like I said, they are under enormous pressure, they have a huge workload with limited resources, ”he said.
“In terms of communication or in terms of planning, I am sure that the army could certainly help the Gardaí in Galway City. Look at the end of the day, over 30,000 third grade students here, and we have to have a coordinated approach. “
Viral
It comes as images of hundreds of people gathering in Galway City went viral amid the county’s growing Covid-19 cases, with hundreds of people gathering in the Shop Street and Spanish Arch areas to socialize.
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.
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.”
Expulsion
Meanwhile, NUI Galway has warned students that they could face expulsion for violating public health guidelines and has called the crowds of youth gathered at Spanish Arch “deplorable”.
The university said that while the vast majority of students are doing their best to stay safe, they will not hesitate to deal with any violation of public health guidelines in accordance with the student code of conduct, with penalties including expulsion.
NUIG Student Union President Padraic Toomey said the behavior was unacceptable.
Toomey said: “You can go too far in anything, and we have to prove it and show this as a message of ‘you can’t do this again.’ [NUI Galway students]. We have to work together to point out when something is wrong. “
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. “
[ad_2]