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Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said that “the next two weeks are critical” in stopping the spread of Covid-19 and exiting Level 5 restrictions by the end of the month.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime tonight, Donnelly said there is “no desire to extend Level 5 restrictions.”
It comes as the Department of Health reported 11 additional deaths and 366 new cases of the virus in Ireland.
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As of 2 pm today, 272 patients are hospitalized with Covid-19. The number of people receiving treatment in intensive care units has risen by one since last night to 34.
On the proposal to fine people who gather outside to drink alcohol that was withdrawn by the government, Minister Donnelly said the decision was made to meet with the Garda commissioner to “see if there are problems around the current application “.
Donnelly said the “clear intention is for Level 5 to end at the end of November.”
He said that, as of today, 13 of the 26 counties have seen more cases in the past seven days than in the previous seven days, and the positivity rate has climbed back to about 4%.
“We will get out of Level 5 in early December. You can never say ever about anything, but there is no appetite to extend Level 5 beyond six weeks.”
The minister added, on RTÉ’s Six One, that the number of cases had fallen from 1,200 a day three weeks ago to 360 today, but said it is clear that people have become fatigued.
Large groups gathering to drink outside and higher levels of traffic on the highways are indications of this, he said.
Donnelly said he filed a memorandum to Cabinet today on the advance purchase of 2.2 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
He said the efficacy of the vaccine has yet to be validated, but said it is the fourth vaccine for which there is an advance purchase.
The minister said companies are saying that the earliest possible transport date for some of these vaccines would be late December, but public health authorities say they would be “very surprised if that actually happened.”
He said: “Being part of the EU group, we have access to millions of doses that would otherwise be very difficult for us to get.”
Total deaths about 2000
Eleven more people who were diagnosed with Covid-19 have died, the Department of Health reported. It brings the total number of Covid-19-related deaths to 1,995.
Another 366 cases of the coronavirus have also been confirmed, bringing the total number of cases to 68,686.
As of 2:00 p.m. today, 272 patients are hospitalized with Covid-19. The number of people receiving treatment in intensive care units has risen by one since last night to 34.
Of the cases reported today, 169 are men and 197 are women. 61% are under 45 years old. The average age is 38 years.
Today’s regional breakdown of cases is: 84 in Dublin, 44 in Limerick, 34 in Cork, 34 in Donegal, 24 in Roscommon and the remaining 146 cases are spread across 20 other counties.
Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan said he is “increasingly concerned that the positive trends that we have seen recently have not been sustained.”
“The five-day moving average of daily cases has increased from an average of 350 cases on November 11 to 424 today.
“We have two weeks to continue our efforts to reduce community transmission of this disease as much as possible. The lower the incidence, the more flexibility the country will have to make measures more flexible.”
In Northern Ireland, there have been nine more deaths from coronavirus, seven of which occurred in the past 24 hours. The official death toll from the Health Department stands at 878.
There are 549 new cases, bringing the cumulative total of positive tests to 47,711.
There are 449 confirmed Covid-19 patients in the hospital, 44 in the ICU, 35 of whom are connected to ventilators.
The latest figures in the North come as Prime Minister Arlene Foster called for a “collaborative and collective” path as ministers reflect on coronavirus restrictions.
Stormont leaders have clashed over a contentious voting mechanism that allowed the DUP to rule out a proposed extension to the Northern Ireland circuit breaker.
The Prime Minister said she hoped her party would not have to revert to the safeguard of the peace process era.
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Public Health Authorities Leading the School Covid Response – Foley
The Minister of Education has reiterated that it is the public health authorities and not the Department of Education that are leading the public health response to Covid-19 in schools.
Norma Foley is addressing the Oireachtas Joint Education Committee this afternoon.
Question from Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh on claims that teachers are being told to turn off the Covid-19 app while at school, and why school principals were told not to share information about confirmed cases with teachers or parents in a school. Norma Foley said adjudications are made by public health authorities and no one else within the school setting.
Government reflects on the reopening of places of worship
The Government is reflecting on the reopening of places of worship when the country leaves Level 5.
At the Dáil, the Taoiseach recognized the mental benefit and importance of faith for many in the Community.
Micheál Martin was answering questions from Labor leader Alan Kelly and the leader of the Peadar Tóibín Agreement.
He said his recent meeting with Roman Catholic archbishops focused on exempting mass attendance from Level 3 restrictions.
The Taoiseach said the government was taking “sectoral representations” in relation to worship, Advent, the run-up to Christmas, and attendance at Mass and services in a controlled environment.
“We want to go back to Level 3, but we will see certain aspects,” he said.
He noted that the public health council has been cautious around the meetings, adding that NPHET would advise it.
The Taoiseach will meet with representatives of various “religious” groups online tonight to discuss the restrictions.
Irish Church Together, which includes Christian leaders from the Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal and New churches, should ask the government to consider reopening churches for “regular public worship” at level 3, before other events outside of Sunday services. .
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