Tag Archives: Covid-19

The Department of Public Health Mid-West is strongly urging Clare people to review their Christmas plans, as Covid-19 infections continue to increase at an “alarming” rate. Over the past eight days, there have been more than 300 Covid-19 cases in the region. The vast majority of these cases have been recorded in Limerick, which has seen one of its largest spikes in infections since the start of the pandemic. Unlike any other period in the pandemic due to the nature of the festive season, the Department of Public Health pointed out there have been approximately three weeks of large social gatherings that have continuously intensified to date. Preliminary evidence indicates that gatherings among families, in private households, organised events, and in the hospitality sector, are now associated with outbreaks. The Public Health Mid-West team is managing outbreaks and new cases in extended families, private households, residential care settings, workplaces, the hospitality sector and in the community. Dr Rose Fitzgerald, Specialist …

CLARE people who are waiting for a Covid-19 test are being urged to self-isolate until they have their test in the interest of curbing the spread of the virus. In a statement released to the Clare Champion, HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare has reiterated that Clare people who wish to attend the test centre in Ballymaley, Ennis must have a referral from their doctor or GP. People are also advised to only attend the test centre at their allocated time and to attend their designated centre. HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare has also confirmed there is a high volume of people requesting a Covid-19 test as the country experiences a third wave of the virus. Any person can get a free test for Coronavirus if they have symptoms of Covid-19 and their GP thinks they need to be tested, if they are told they are a close contact by the HSE’s close contact tracing team. Anyone who is categorised as a close …

AFTER what has been a incredibly tough year for nursing home staff, residents and their families, a unique oral history project is hoping to spark reminiscences about times long before the threat of Covid-19. Cuimhneamh an Chláir has dipped into its extensive archive to compile an album of Christmas stories which it is distributing to every nursing home in the county. “We celebrated our tenth anniversary last year and were delighted that we got to mark it,” said Leonard McDonagh, Chairperson of Cuimhneamh. “Some people who attended our celebrations, including the late Chris Droney, are no longer with us and that’s a huge loss. We’re also conscious that many people in nursing homes have contributed their stories and memories to our archive. We wanted to give something back to them and that’s why we created the CD.” The album contains voices from all over Clare and many colourful memories of Christmases past. Among the traditions described are preparing the house, …

RESIDENTS in Ennistymon Community Hospital have received some early Christmas presents thanks to the work of students from a local national school. Last Friday, children from Ennistymon National School delivered gifts to 17 residents in Ennistymon Community Hospital, much to their delight. Director of nursing, Orla Hickey told the Clare Champion Ennistymon National School approached us to donate presents to the residents because they couldn’t do their Shoebox Appeal. “It was lovely that so many people thought of the residents,” she said. She said residents were quite busy during the lockdowns bird watching, painting stones for the Sea Wall Art Project at Clahanes and gardening. Holly McMahon, a Fourth Class student in Ennistymon National School, said the pupils made Christmas cards, crafts and decorations to wish residents a happy Christmas. Holly said the cards contained a special message wishing all the patients a safe Christmas and New Year. Other gifts that were donated from parents included hairbands, rosary beads and books. …

RYANAIR has delivered an early “Christmas present” to Shannon Airport following its decision to re-open its base with one aircraft and the recommencement of 14 routes from April 1. According to Ryanair, a new five-year deal on airport charges, which was finalised between the Shannon Group and the airline in recent days, will create more than 330 direct and indirect jobs. Ryanair will reopen its Shannon base and operate 14 routes from Shannon for summer 2021 from Shannon Airport to the following destinations in 2021: Alicante, Barcelona-Reus, Faro, Krakow, Kaunas, Lanzarote, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Malaga, Manchester, Palma, Tenerife, Warsaw and Wroclaw. Last October, Shannon Airport was dealt a hammer blow when Ryanair announced it was closing its Shannon base for the winter months. With transatlantic closed down already and the Shannon-Heathrow route also suspended, Shannon Airport only has a very small number of scheduled passenger flights per week. In an interview with the Clare Champion, chief executive officer, Mary …

A former Mayor of Kilkee has urged tourists and visitors to stay away from the West Clare holiday hotspot during the holiday period to minimise the spread of Covid-19. While Claire Haugh stressed holidaymakers are normally very welcome in Kilkee, she is concerned that any large influx of people into the town could result in the unwanted transmission of the virus. “It is a hugely difficult and dangerous time for everyone and the safety of people in Kilkee is paramount. We welcome visitors all year round but these are different and frightening times. “People in Kilkee are trying to mind ourselves and visitors should be cautious of their own health. “There will be good times ahead when the vaccine comes in and then there will be a thousand welcomes for people to come to Kilkee. “When things get better, the doors will be wide open to welcome them as usual. We love having visitors in Kilkee and it is great …

THE return of Level 5 restrictions, which will force gastropubs and restaurants to close from the afternoon of December 24, has been described as “a body blow” to the sector. Fears are growing for the future viability of the hospitality industry in Clare, with a warning that many businesses will face closure in the New Year, unless government supports are stepped up. Reaction in Clare to Tuesday’s announcement that restrictions are to be re-imposed from Christmas Eve, has ranged from resignation in the face of a third wave of Covid-19 to anger at the perceived delay in breaking the news. “This is very disappointing and word got out through a series of Chinese whispers,” said Clare Chair of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) Darragh McAllister. “The way that the details were leaked [last weekend] is shoddy, amateur and no way to run a country. There are huge problems now for the gastropubs in terms of all of the stock …

THE Ennis man at the head of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has voiced concerns over the mental and physical health of up to 200 drivers from this country who were stranded this week in Britain. Chaos ensued around several ports in the south of England when France temporarily shut its borders over fears of a new and highly infections train of Covid-19 in parts of the UK. Eugene Drennan President of the IRHA said that while it was difficult to estimate the number of drivers stranded, up to 200 could have been caught up in long queues around some of the busiest ports with mainland Europe. “If this was a war situation or a major catastrophe, you’d have the Red Cross and the United Nations (UN) coming out to help,” he said. “I’d like to know who is going to check on these drivers and ask about the physical and mental health and what their situation is like …