Tag Archives: Covid-19

DEPUTY Michael McNamara has criticised the lack of comprehensive information on self-harm presentations and suicide in Ireland during the current “oppressive” lockdown. The East Clare deputy has described the lack of empirical evidence on the impact of the lockdowns for people with mental health difficulties as an insult to these patients. The Independent deputy has expressed frustration about receiving self-harm information from only 24 out of 36 acute hospitals who are collecting this data. Speaking in the Dáil recently, Deputy McNamara stated nothing visibly has happened since he raised this issue recently. Acknowledging Minister of State, Mary Butler is working hard behind the scenes to advance mental health issues, he stressed everyone is living in an “incredibly oppressive society at present”. “The feeling is entirely oppressive and it is largely driven by elements in the media. I questioned whether there was sufficient coverage of mental health and I was attacked by some public health doctors for doing that and told …

AS the number of Covid-19 cases in Clare climbs to a total of almost 4,500, the Mid-West Public Health Department has warned single cases of the B117 strain have resulted in whole household outbreaks. While the 14-day incidence of the virus in the Banner has fallen from 322% last week to 144% this week, the HSE is expressing concern about a pattern of household clusters. A HSE spokesman warned the new variant seems to be more transmissible with higher numbers of infections from each new case. The 14-day incidence in Clare is now the fourth lowest in the country just above Tipperary, which stands at 147% and much lower than Limerick’s 252%. According to figures produced by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, there were 172 new cases of Covid-19 in Clare, 492 in Limerick and 225 in Tipperary from Februar 2 to February 15. The five-day moving average from January 19 to February 11 to February 15 is 36 in …

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of six additional cases of Covid-19 in Clare, while there have been 57 additional deaths related to Covid-19. 34 of these deaths occurred in February, 21 in January, 1 in December and 1 in November. The median age of those who died was 82 years and the age range was 52-99 years. There has been a total of 4,036 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Tuesday, February 16, the HPSC has been notified of 650 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 211,751 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 325 are male/ 323 are female 65% are under 45 years of age The median age is 37 years old 192 in Dublin, 53 in Galway, 50 in Meath, 46 in Kildare, 46 in Cork and the remaining 263 cases are spread across 19 other counties. As of 8am today, 831 Covid-19 …

THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 15 new cases of Covid-19 in Clare, while there have been a further 33 deaths related to the disease notified. 31 of these deaths occurred in February and two in January. The median age of those who died was 81 years and the age range was 42-105 years. There has been a total of 3,980* COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Monday, February 15, the HPSC has been notified of 744 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 211,113** confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 373 are male/ 366 are female 68% are under 45 years of age The median age is 31 years old 301 in Dublin, 77 in Galway, 37 in Waterford, 36 in Offaly, 32 in Kildare and the remaining 261 cases are spread across all other counties.*** As of 8am today, 861 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, …

THERE have been 16 new cases of Covid-19 notified in Clare, while there have been no new deaths reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre today. There has been a total of 3,948 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Sunday, February 14, the HPSC has been notified of 821 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 210,402* confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 430 are male/ 389 are Female 70% are under 45 years of age The median age is 31 years old 333 in Dublin, 91 in Galway, 53 in Limerick, 41 in Kildare, 38 in Meath and the remaining 265 cases are spread across all other counties. As of 8am today, 916 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 157 are in ICU. 40 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours. As of Friday, February 12, 265,237 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland: 175,238 people have …

THE Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, has today confirmed locations for 37 vaccination centres across Ireland for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, including the West County Hotel in Ennis and the Radisson Blu Hotel on the Ennis Road in Limerick. The centres have been confirmed by the HSE, with at least one in every county. These centres will support the vaccination of the general population in a safe and efficient manner. While currently vaccines are being administered in healthcare settings and by GPs, many people will be offered their vaccination in these centres, having self-registered online. All of the centres vary in size and operating hours and have been selected based on population density, ease of access, transport and parking. The design and layout of the centres also incorporates learnings from the COVID-19 swabbing centres. It is important to note that the centres will be of different sizes and operating hours will be based on vaccine supply and catchment area …

THE start of community-based Covid-19 vaccination for elderly people in Clare who are 85 and older has been described as “historic” by a doctors’ group. The Irish College of General Practitioners, the professional and training body for General Practitioners in Ireland, has welcomed the start of the next phase in the country’s Covid-19 vaccination programme, as GP-led clinics and GP practices begin the process of vaccinating their over 70’s patients around the county. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be administered by 70% of GPs and practice nurses in their own premises. Practices with less than 200 patients over 70 will either buddy with a nearby practice or invite their patients to vaccination centres. Patients will be contacted directly for appointments by their own GPs. Dr Nuala O’Connor, the ICGP’s Clinical Lead on Covid-19, said this is the start of the recovery from Covid-19 for many people, and is an historic moment. “GPs look forward to vaccinating this cohort of …

A REDUCTION in sports related activities due to Covid-19 restrictions has been cited as one of the main contributor factors to a dramatic 17.3% decrease in attendances at the Local Injury Unit (LIU) in Ennis Hospital last year. The LIU, which treats minor injuries for Clare people seven days a week from 8am to 8pm, processed 9,537 attendances during 2020. This was a 17.3% decrease on the previous year due to the impact of Covid-19 social restrictions. One of the new developments last year was the attendance of some patients from outside the hospital’s catchment area in places bordering Clare such as Gort in South Galway. In addition to free plentiful parking, high standards and efficiency of the service, Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Brenda Bleach says there is a lot to recommend the unit if you have a minor injury that requires rapid treatment. Despite the drop last year, Brenda and her colleagues remain busy due to the variety and …