[ad_1]
EL Taoiseach has said there will be “many bumpy roads ahead” with Covid-19, but stated, “We are getting over this.”
Although Micheal Martin admitted that it is an enormously challenging period, he was optimistic that Ireland’s economy remained “viable” during the first shutdown.
4
4
4
4
The Fianna Fail leader insisted the country needed time to prepare for a shutdown after the government rejected NPHET’s Level 5 recommendation two weeks before it was enforced, insisting that at Level 3, “Ireland had the strictest restrictions in Europe ”.
And he said: “In my opinion, it is a very challenging agenda. But as a country we are getting over this, and there will be many bumpy roads ahead with Covid-19, but we have a clear political position in working with NPHET. “
The Taoiseach also accepted that Ireland’s strategy in which we have returned to lockdown is wearing people out.
Speaking at a virtual meeting of the MacGill Summer School, he said: “The strategy that we are following is trying to suppress the virus through human behavior and restrictions, and it is very difficult for people.
‘PEOPLE ARE FATIGATED’
“People are now tired, especially after the first block, to have to go to a second.
“And I think we’ve learned from the first reopening that the next one will be important.”
But he added: “As a country, we have managed through the first shutdown, through reopening, to keep our economy viable and to maintain the foundations for a recovery after Covid.
“That is not an insignificant achievement in itself.”
Martin insists that eliminating Covid-19 here is impossible.
He said: “An elimination strategy … is impossible for Ireland, and those who defend it do not comply with the what ifs later.
“Our geographical location is not conducive to this, we have two jurisdictions on the island, we are very close to Great Britain and we are very close to Europe, and that flow of people due to our connections means that to seal the island, I don’t think, or sealing the border is a possibility. “
BLOCKING FINES
The Taoiseach’s comments occur when the implementing laws have come into effect.
People who host house parties in violation of coronavirus regulations could face fines of up to 2,500 euros after the new legislation goes into effect this weekend.
Legislation passed by the Dail on Friday night empowers the gardai to impose fines on people who breach lockdown regulations.
The public faces fines of up to € 500 for violating the 5km travel limit introduced as part of the lockdown measures.
Those who organize parties or gatherings at home could face a fine of up to € 1,000 in the first instance.
Second and third offenders can face prison terms and fines of up to 2,500 euros.
Legislation supporting the use of fines for violations of the restrictions passed at Dail and Seanad on Friday.
The law regarding house parties takes effect this weekend, but notices of flat fines will be introduced next week.
There will be more than 2,500 uniformed gardai on duty each day during the six-week shutdown unveiled Thursday.
The fines were introduced in an attempt to curb the spread of Covid-19 among households.
POSITIVITY RATE FALLS
Statistics released by Ireland’s Central Statistical Office on Friday show that outbreaks in private homes account for 54 percent of cases related to an outbreak in the past four weeks.
Meanwhile, HSE chief Paul Reid tweeted on Friday night to reveal that for the previous seven days, the test positivity rate dropped marginally each day, from 8.9% to 5.8%.
Reid added, “One way or another, I hope it gives everyone a little encouragement and hope.”
CSO figures also showed that there is a reduction in the contacts that positive cases have, from six to four.
This indicates a behavior change according to a member of NPHET.
Dr Mary Favier, Covid-19 Advisor to the Irish College of General Practitioners, said: “I think what it shows is that people’s behavior is changing, the way they live their lives is changing.
“What they are doing in terms of their contacts, in terms of the number of people they meet, the fact that they are staying home, the fact that there is less travel on the roads.
“These would have been examples of what would have been happening at Level 3 and I think that can only be improved at Level 5.”
CASES IN HOSPITAL
But, at 2 pm today, 315 covid-19 patients were hospitalized and 37 of them are in the ICU.
Health chiefs said there were 16 hospitalizations in the last 24 hours.
Elsewhere, two wards of a hospital, including a psychiatric unit, in Co Kildare are dealing with a Covid-19 outbreak.
Health officials say an outbreak control team is addressing the cases in two wards at Naas General Hospital, and the Lakeview Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, based on the hospital grounds.
An HSE spokeswoman said the outbreaks in the acute care hospital are separate from the outbreak in the psychiatric ward.
Staff and patients have been screened for Covid-19 as part of the contact tracing system.
All personnel identified as close contacts of the Covid-19 cases have been asked to isolate themselves.
It is called an outbreak in a healthcare setting when there are a minimum of two positive contacts.
OUTBREAK MANAGEMENT
An HSE spokeswoman said: “Plans have been developed to support continuity of services and guide senior management to identify the level of impact on service and staff.
“Protection of public health is of the utmost importance and every effort is made to reduce the risk of the spread of Covid-19.
“The HSE cannot comment on individual cases or outbreaks as doing so would violate our duty of confidentiality to interested individuals and organizations.
“Maintaining confidentiality is not just an ethical requirement for the HSE, it is also a legal requirement as defined in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) along with the Data Protection Laws 1988-2018.”
On Friday night, Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan urged people to “do your part to break the chains of transmission.”
He said: “15,000 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in the last 14 days.
‘TOTAL SHOCK’
Nurse seen in ‘good mood’ hours before body was found and baby was discovered dead
TRAGEDY SHOCK
Nurse’s colleagues say ‘hearts are broken’ after mother and son were found dead
WALK
Woman, 25, fighting for her life after plummeting 30 meters from the park
POLICE PROBE
Police alerted Gilligan after it emerged she was behind the plot to kidnap a girl
COVID UPDATE
4 deaths from Covid-19 and 859 new cases, since 16 people were hospitalized in 24 hours
“It is vital that all newly diagnosed people isolate themselves for the full 10 days to protect the people they live with, the people they love, and the people in their communities from this highly infectious disease.
“Isolating yourself means staying home, staying in your room as much as possible, staying away from other people, including those in your home.”
Dr Holohan added: “I appeal to everyone to behave as a close contact. Stay home, except for essential reasons. “
[ad_2]