NO new cases of Covid-19 have been detected in Clare today. That’s according to the latest figures from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), who are appealing for people to follow infection control guidelines over the Bank Holiday Weekend. It follows concern over a spike of 11 confirmed cases reported on Thursday. Today (Friday) the HPSC has been notified of 38 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 26,065 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. There have been no new deaths reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre today. The total number of Covid-19 related fatalities to-date remains at 1,763. The breakdown of today’s cases is as follows: • 22 males/ 16 females • Median age 30 years • 82% are under 45 years of age • 32 cases are located in Dublin or Kildare • 26 are associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of confirmed cases Over the past two days a total of …
Read More »Three new cases of Covid-19 confirmed in Clare
Three of the 12 new cases of Covid-19 are in Clare. The number of confirmed cases in Clare now stands at 372. The new cases in Clare are the first confirmed in the county in a fortnight. There have been no new deaths reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre today. There has now been a total of 1,764 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight Saturday July 25, the HPSC has been notified of 12 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 25,881 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community.
Read More »Almost four weeks without Covid case
It has been almost four weeks since the last positive case of Covid-19 was diagnosed in Clare. However over the last five months, 32 people have died from virus in the county while a total of 368 people have tested positive. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that 1 person with Covid-19 has died. There has now been a total of 1,742 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight last Monday, the HPSC has been notified of 24 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 25,538 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Dr. Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “As of 5pm this evening, the Covid Tracker App had approximately 545,000 downloads. This is one more example of the solidarity and collective spirit that has characterised the Irish public’s response to Covid-19 to date. “The app is an important tool to support our contact tracing systems. It has the …
Read More »Three weeks Covid clear
It has been three weeks since the last positive case of Covid-19 was diagnosed in Clare. However over the last five months, 32 people have died from virus in the county while a total of 368 people have tested positive. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre confirmed this evening that there had been two further deaths nationwide from Covid-19 bringing to 1,740 the total number of people who have died from the virus. The HPSC has also been notified of nine confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 25,498 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Dr. Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “Ireland’s 14 day incidence of Covid-19 is now less than three cases per 100,000. This is amongst the lowest in Europe and demonstrates that the disease remains suppressed in our communities. The key to maintaining this status is responsible individual behaviours and avoiding any complacency.” “HIQA’s report on mortality today demonstrates that …
Read More »Sheepdogs demonstrate social distancing in the Burren
WITH strict Covid-19 social distancing guidelines still in place, John Davoren has trained his famous sheepdogs at Caherconnell cashel fort in the Burren to demonstrate the concept. It makes for interesting viewing in an online Facebook video for those who might be contemplating visiting the award-winning visitor attraction after it reopens next week. The Border collies separate the sheep into small groups and get them to stay there no matter what distractions there might be. Farming in an area where his family has lived for centuries, John began training dogs, teaching a variety of dogs to work with both sheep and cattle when he was a teenager. Unable to open for 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic put the country into lockdown, John now has everything at the ready to allow visitors walk through the ancient stone fort and see the sheepdog demonstrations without any worries of being too close to anybody else but family members. His unique enterprise attracts people …
Read More »‘Out of the difficulties and sadness of this pandemic, it has brought us closer together as a community.’
IN recent weeks, debate has been raging over the Covid-19 death toll in residential facilities across Ireland. Despite the differing political opinions, there is little doubt that those living and working in nursing homes were at the forgotten front line for a number of crucial weeks as the pandemic took hold. Keeping coronavirus out involves a heroic struggle against an ever-present enemy. St Theresa’s Nursing Home in Kilrush, is one of the facilities that has managed to avoid an outbreak, while as many a quarter of homes in Clare have been affected to-date, according to the Health Service Executive (HSE). “My heart goes out to those who have had outbreaks,” said Yvonne Moroney, Director of Nursing at the family run facility on the Kilkee Road. “They have done everything in their power, but there is a constant risk and we are all living with that risk.” Yvonne, who is on call 24/7 at St Theresa’s, has seen an already demanding …
Read More »Campaign continues to re-open Tulla Bank of Ireland branch
A CAMPAIGN to have the Bank of Ireland in Tulla re-opened is gaining momentum. The branch was one of 101 nationwide which were closed temporarily in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Branches in Kilkee and Miltown were also shut down, as Bank of Ireland said it needed to switch focus to priority services. Members of the Killaloe Municipal District are to send a letter to the regional manager seeking the restoration of services, while a petition is circulating in the town and a Facebook campaign ‘Open Our Bank’ has been set up. Sheila Vaughan of Vaughan Supply said the concern locally is that the bank has used Covid-19 as an opportunity to close the Tulla branch permanently. “Bank of Ireland saw its chance and moved very quickly to close the doors,” she said. “The move is anti-rural, especially when so many small businesses are finding things tough.” Ms Vaughan said that while many services can be conducted on-line, the lack …
Read More »Details emerge of rare ‘plague stone’ outside Quin
HOLY wells have long been a source of comfort in times of trouble, and in East Clare a monastic site, sacred to sixth century saint, has not only a well, but also a rare ‘plague stone,’ believed to cure disease. “Luchtigern, a sixth century local saint was said to be able to cure any type of pestilence,” explained Quin historian and writer, Michael Houlihan. “His church and holy well stand on the northern shore of Fenloe Lake, a few miles southeast of Quin village. Keeping in mind that vaccines did not become commonplace until the mid to late nineteenth century, any type of contagion or airborne sickness took a huge toll on the local population. People did what they could to seek some kind of intervention. Many reached out to the saint.” As a resident of the East Clare village, Michael has long been aware of the folklore of St Luchtigern. His current research on the holy wells of Clare …
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