Tag Archives: Clare Covid-19

A CLARE GP is supporting calls for people to wear masks in public places in a bid to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses, which has resulted in increased admissions to local surgeries and University Hospital Limerick. Dr Michael Kelleher estimates presentations to his practice has gone up by up to 20% over the last four weeks due to the surge in RSV, Covid-19 and influenza. The Lahinch doctor recalled mask wearing was a very effective measure during peak Covid-19 surges and should again be repeated in the midst of a significant hike in respiratory illnesses. “There is evidence that wearing a mask reduces droplet transmission. In the midst of a surge in respiratory illnesses, I think wearing masks in public places might be perfectly reasonable, particularly if you are a vulnerable individual. “Wearing a mask protects a person you are in close contact with more than yourself. It does make sense. If there was more mask wearing in public, …

IN a note in last week’s parish newsletters, people attending mass were urged to consider wearing masks once more. Parish priest Father Arnold Rosney said that while people are not being compelled to wear masks, it is wise to do so. “All I’m doing is trying to encourage people to wear a mask again, just inviting them to think of their own safety and the safety of everyone else when we gather for mass. “Crowds do attend mass, especially at the time of funerals. I feel its responsible on my part to alert them to the fact that there are huge Covid numbers and a lot of people with flus and sickness, and there’s the situation in our hospitals.” Priests and eucharistic ministers at local masses will be wearing them while giving out communion, he added.

THE 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 in Clare has slumped dramatically to the second lowest in the country, new figures have revealed. The prevalence of the virus has fallen in recent months from a high of 208% on May 25 to just 55% in the last two weeks. This compared to Limerick, which is the fourth highest in the country with 120 cases per 100,000. The number of confirmed Covid-19 PCR cases in Clare is edging closer to 40,000, In total, there were 39,898 confirmed PCR cases in the Banner County on Wednesday following five new diagnoses on Tuesday. There were 66 PCR cases in the Banner county over the last two weeks and the 14-day incidence in the county per 100,000 is 55.5% These latest figures only include PCR confirmed cases of Covid-19 and don’t include those who register online with a positive antigen test.

DATA on deaths associated with Covid-19 in Clare, in the first two years of the pandemic, show that more than half of fatalities were in the 75+ age group. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) published figures in recent days showing a total of 97 deaths in this county of people who had Covid-19 between March 2020 and February 2022. The youngest was in the 45-54 age range. There were six deaths of people aged 55-64; 11 in the 65-74 age range; 36 in the 75-84 age range and 43 in the 85+ group. Clare had the lowest number of deaths in Munster. Deputy Michael McNamara who was Chairperson of the Special Committee on Covid-19 said every death was a tragedy. “Like all deaths from all causes and of all ages in Clare during that period of time, each death was a tragedy,” he said. “During most of that time, the pain and loss was frequently compounded by not being able …

VISITING restrictions have been put in place on the inpatient wards at Nenagh Hospital due to the increased level of COVID-related activity within the hospital and in the community at present. A spokesperson for UL Hospitals Group said, “We regret the inconvenience these access restrictions cause for inpatients. The decision has been taken to help keep all our patients, their loved ones, and our staff safe, and to ensure essential hospital services can remain open for patients. “The situation is being monitored on a daily basis, and hospital management hopes to reintroduce visiting to relatives of inpatients as soon as it is safe to do so. “We wish to reassure patients and their loved ones that all appropriate infection control precautions are being followed to minimise the risk of spreading infection among staff and patients within our health facilities, and also within the wider community. All other services in the hospital continue to operate as normal. The only exceptions, on …

THE number of confirmed Covid-19 PCR cases in Clare is edging closer to 40,000, new figures have revealed. In total, there were 39,500 confirmed PCR cases in the Banner County on Wednesday, May 25, following 20 new diagnoses the day before. Allowing for people who have caught the virus twice, this means around one in three people in Clare have had Covid. There were 247 PCR cases in the Banner county over the last two weeks and the 14-day incidence in the county per 100,000 is 207.9% These latest figures only include PCR confirmed cases of Covid-19 and don’t include those who register online with a positive antigen test. Four out of the five electoral areas had a 14-day incidence rate that was higher than the national average of 209.60% from May 3 to May 16. There were 65 cases in the Kilrush Electoral Area, which translated into an LEA rate of 309. The number of confirmed PCR cases was …

A NORTH Clare family doctor is encouraging people to wear face masks in public places as four electoral divisions have recorded a 14-day incidence rate higher than the national average. Dr Michael Kelleher made the plea this week after official figures revealed there were 469 cases of Covid-19 in the Ennis Local Electoral Area (LEA) from March 1 to March 14. This translates into a 14-day incidence rate of 1,517, which is much higher than the national average of 1,188. The incidence of the virus was also high in the Shannon LEA where 445 cases were recorded during the same period, giving an incidence rate of 1,464 per 100,000. There were 265 case the Kilrush LEA where the incidence rate was 1,262. The Ennistymon LEA recorded 248 cases, which translates into an incidence rate of 1,511. Killaloe was the only LEA to record an incidence rate of 994 below the national average after the detection of 200 cases. Dr Kelleher …

VISITING restrictions remain in place for inpatient wards in University Hospital Limerick due to very high levels of Covid positive patients in the hospital and the high level of community transmission. The visitor ban has been in place since Sunday afternoon and the only exceptions are • parents visiting children in hospital • people assisting confused patients; for example, dementia • visiting on compassionate grounds; for example, for patients who are critically unwell or at end of life A spokesperson for UL Hospitals Group said, “We regret the imposition of visiting restrictions so soon after we began to lift them. The decision has been taken to help keep all patients and staff safe, and to ensure that the hospital’s essential services can remain open at this time.” Exemptions are limited to one person per patient and will be looked at on a case by case basis. In cases where exemptions apply, it is strongly recommend that the visitor is fully …