Tag Archives: Covid-19

A SOUTH East Clare woman living in Milan has raised welcomed the removal of Italy from the list of countries from which visitors must go into Mandatory Hotel Quarantine (MHQ) when they arrive in Ireland. Rachel Turner, a native of Bridgetown, who has been living and working in Italy for over a decade, said the decision of the Irish government to add Italy to the list for MHQ sent shockwaves through the community, when it was announced last month. She also told The Champion that it had led to an upsurge in anti-Irish sentiment online. Speaking from Milan this week Rachel said she was very pleased that concerns of the Irish-Italian community had now been listened to and that Italy has been removed from the Irish government’s  red list. “I am very relieved to know that if in an emergency I can get home though no-one wants to think like that it’s a scary prospect not being able to,” she …

A SOUTH East Clare woman living in Milan has raised welcomed the removal of Italy from the list of countries from which visitors must go into Mandatory Hotel Quarantine (MHQ). Rachel Turner, a native of Bridgetown, who has been living and working in Italy for over a decade, said the decision of the Irish government to add Italy to the list for MHQ sent shockwaves through the community, when it was announced last month. She also told The Champion that it had led to an upsurge in anti-Irish sentiment online. Speaking from Milan this week Rachel said she was very pleased that concerns of the Irish-Italian community had been listened to. “I am very relieved to know that if in an emergency I can get home though no-one wants to think like that it’s a scary prospect not being able to,” she said. “We are happy to be off the list but the situation of MHQ in Ireland needs to …

Garda statistics show only 418 Covid breach penalties GARDA statistics in relation to Covid-19 fines indicate that Clare is the most compliant county in the Southern region. Over the course of 2021 to-date, 418 fines were issued in Clare out of a total of 6,041 in the region. These were imposed for breaches of regulations, including the holding of house parties and travelling without a reasonable excuse. The figure for Clare represents the lowest number of financial penalties issued in any of the divisions in the South. By comparison, there were 429 fines issued in Kerry up to the end of April; 525 in Tipperary; 544 in West Cork; 745 in North Cork; 1,270 in Limerick and 2,100 in Cork City. An analysis of fines issued in Clare in the month of April shows the average number was five per week. As the phased re-opening of society and the economy continues, Kilmurry McMahon native and Deputy Garda Commissioner, Anne Marie …

NONE of the Banner’s libraries have got to open to the public in 2021 yet, but the doors will be unlocked again from next Monday, albeit with restrictions reflecting yet another new normal. “We’re due to open on the 10th in a browsing capacity only, so there won’t be people sitting around for long periods of time in the library,” said county librarian Helen Walsh this week. “We have a metric with how many we can let in at a given time and a time limit as well, so it’ll really be in and out, as opposed to having students sitting down. Now, you can still access things like the photocopier and printer and things like that,” she assured. She felt click and collect could have preceded this stage and is pleased it wasn’t introduced. “We are delighted we are open, because we thought it would be click and collect, which was the way we were before. That would have …

CELEBRATIONS to mark the 400th anniversary of the Spancilhill Horse Fair will not go ahead this year, as organisers of the world-famous event have taken the decision to cancel the festival for 2021. The event is a much-loved focal point in the calendar for horse-traders and equestrian enthusiasts across this country and beyond, and it is very much tied to its date of June 23. “It is more or less set in stone and that’s meant we’re not really in a position to defer or postpone the fair,” explained Chairperson of the event committee Brian Clune. “The date is tied in with other big events in Clare like the Willie Clancy Summer School and then the likes of the Dublin Horse Show and the Ballinasloe Horse Fair. We took the decision to cancel over the weekend and while it’s disappointing to think that this is the second year without Spancilhill Fair, we really had no choice. Inter-county travel is still …

CONCERNS shared by the family of the late Laura Brennan about the effect Covid-19 has had on the roll-out of the HPV vaccine have been highlighted in the Seanad. Senator Martin Conway has urged the government to “think outside the box”, suggesting Covid-19 vaccination centres could be used to administer the HPV vaccine alongside drafting in pharmacists. The Fine Gael Senator recalled the “phenomenal work” that Laura Brennan did in promoting the vaccine prior to her death. “We are all fully aware of the immense challenges that have been posed by the Covid-19 pandemic but this vaccine is extremely important. It is critical to the future health of girls and boys,” he said. He continued, “The pandemic caused difficulties, particularly in the delivery of the programme within schools. It is well-recognised that giving the vaccine in schools has resulted in a significantly higher uptake. We need to think outside the box. “We have had vaccine capacity in some of the …

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan has penned an open letter to those who’ve been vaccinated. Detailing what comes next, Dr Holohanw is urging those who have been cocooning to return to living their lives, albeit while adhering to Covid-19 guidelines. An open letter to those who’ve been vaccinated on what comes next – from Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer This pandemic has dealt each and every person in Ireland an unfair hand, in many different and diverse ways. Everyone has made difficult sacrifices; everyone has had one of the most uniquely challenging years of their lives. In that sense, we are all in this together. However, there are some of us who were faced with more difficulties than others: firstly, those of you who have been bereaved by this disease and have experienced loss in a way that has been cruelly constrained by this disease and the restrictions it imposes on us. I would like to express my …

WHILE many people in their 60s have been vaccinated at this stage, the wait goes on for Margaret Morgan, who will turn 101 on June 1. Margaret’s daughter Peggy says that bringing her to Kilrush or Ennis for a vaccine is not possible and she really hopes her mother can be seen to soon. She has raised questions over the mobile vaccine unit that has been promised, without a specific date. “She’ll be 101 on June 1 and she’s still waiting for her vaccine. I was talking on the radio about it, but I haven’t heard anything from the HSE to tell you the truth. They’re all saying please God it’ll be soon, but when?” Peggy herself has already been vaccinated. “I’m her full time carer and I have my two injections got, and all her care assistants have them got, the public health nurse has them got. “I have made calls to her GP and it’s all about the …