Tag Archives: Covid-19 restrictions

WITH restrictions having been relaxed from last Saturday morning, suddenly people were given more freedom than they have seen in almost two years. It should mark the beginning of a positive spring season for Clare retailers, with Covid fears presumably set to fall along with the risk of infection. Gwen Culligan, proprietor of the County Boutique on O’Connell Street in in Ennis said things are finally looking up. “Yes, we are looking forward to a good season ahead, it’s all very positive and we’re looking forward to better times,” she told The Champion. It was only on Friday evening, January 21, that people found out the restrictions would be gone the following morning, and she said the Saturday, generally the busiest shopping day of the week, wasn’t unusually hectic, but given the time of year that wouldn’t have been unexpected. “We were busy, but this time of year would be a quieter time for us anyway. People will mostly be …

Partners were permitted to accompany pregnant Clare women for their 12-week scan in University Maternity Hospital Limerick on Friday afternoon. The gradual easing of partner restrictions follows new guidance issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre on August 5th in respect of the 12-week scan and c-section. University Maternity Hospital Limerick already facilitates partner access for elective and emergency sections. In a statement issued to the Clare Champion,  the UL Hospitals’ Group confirmed patients with scheduled appointments over the next three weeks will be contacted by phone and offered the opportunity to attend a separate dating scan appointment with one accompanying person. For new appointments going forward a GP letter will be assessed, the patient will be offered two appointments, a dating scan appointment and an antenatal clinic appointment with an explanation of the difference in both appointments, and clearly stating which appointment their accompanying person can attend. As is current practice a member of the midwifery team working from …

CLARE’S multi-million euro hospitality sector will be disproportionately hit by the latest “farcical” and “unworkable” restrictions in indoor dining, a local TD has claimed. Deputy Michael McNamara has confirmed he will try to put the latest extension of Covid-19 restrictions for the hospitality sector to a Dáil vote with the help of other Independent deputies. He said it now seems the government is going down the road of a form of “medical apartheid” where non-residents of a bar or restaurant can only enjoy a meal indoors if fully vaccinated. Expressing surprise at the latest move, the Independent Deputy said the government had previously stated it would not adopt this approach and noted the overall uptake of the vaccine against Covid-19 in Ireland is very high by European standards. The Scariff-based deputy pointed out very few bouncers or security personnel have a medical degree to assess whether their customers are fully-vaccinated. “Who is going to be standing outside the doors of …

WHAT started as an art project from humble beginnings along a sea wall in North Clare has been washed on the crest of a huge wave to become a new visitor attraction with the wow factor. Clahane artist, Ann Vaughan had no idea she would be the brainchild for a concept that has been embraced by hundreds of artists, children as young as two years of age, adults and holidaymakers when she placed the first stone on a sea wall a short distance from her art gallery. “I thought I would just paint a few stones, put them down and see what happens. Then I noticed that kids were putting stuff up. It just started from there. People started adding to it,” explained Ann. Ann came up with this innovative idea during the early stages of lockdown to give people some hope and encouragement in the midst of all the doom and gloom about new Covid-19 restrictions. In recent months, …

CLARE Sláinte An Chláir has confirmed it is still providing a lot of services for local cancer patients, despite restrictions imposed during Covid-19 restrictions. One of the centre’s counsellors, Bridget Haren is provides meditation and mindfulness on Tuesdays and Thursdays on line using Zoom to 18 recipients. Using a Whatsapp group, another counsellor provides a similar service to people who may not have access to internet or proper broadband. In addition, cancer patients can also receive one-on-one counselling by telephone. Oncology nurse, Anne Murphy from Tulla contacts people via telephone who require information or advice, which is proving to be very beneficial. The centre’s physiotherapist provides online exercise classes to 12 people on Wednesdays, after the first class was provided last week. Marie Kelly, who runs the outreach service in Raheen, oversees a Whatsapp counselling and meditation group. The charity was forced to close its popular drop-in service at its main centre in Kilnamona on March 5 following the introduction of …