Tag Archives: Covid-19

CLARE GAA chairman Joe Cooney is very disappointed that attendances at hurling and football games must be restricted to 200 for the foreseeable future but accepts the Covid-19 guidelines must be adhered to protect everybody in the grounds. “I, like everybody else involved in team sports, would love to see numbers go up to 500 but we must accept the delay on this, as part of not advancing to Phase 4 of reopening the country. We must go along with the Government’s decision in the best interest of our players, officials, groundsmen and fans. We must look after everybody from a health and safety point of view. “I’m not in favour of games being played behind closed doors but that’s how it is. The atmosphere is not there; there’s nobody there to cheer the lads on,” he said. The 200-person limit includes players, backroom teams, media, officials, stewards and the rest of the volunteers that assemble to stage matches – …

SEVEN new cases of Covid-19 have been reported today (Monday) in Clare, according to the Department of Health. The news will raise concerns over spikes in recent days in the county, with 11 cases confirmed last Thursday. There have been no new deaths reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre today, for the fourth day in a row. There has now been a total of 1,763 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight Sunday, August 2, the HPSC has been notified of 46 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 26,208 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today; 27 are men / 19 are women 85% are under 45 years of age 32 are associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case 5 cases have been identified as community transmission 15 cases are located in Kildare, 8 in Laois, 7 in Clare, 5 in Offaly and the remaining 11 …

A SHANNON medical manufacturing company has provided an information night for schools with practical advice on Covid-19 safety measures for the return of students and staff at the end of August. To support the safe reopening of local primary schools, Zimmer Biomet Ireland hosted an information and discussion event for principals, featuring practical advice and safety resources in compliance with current Irish Government guidelines recently. Consistent with Zimmer Biomet’s focus on best practice sharing, 12 principals attended an overview slide presentation, delivered by staff, before touring the company’s Shannon manufacturing plant to see first-hand the comprehensive range of preventative measures in place. They were then briefed as to how these measures might be adapted and implemented within the school environment and provided with a Back to School COVID-19 Safety Pack, containing hand sanitiser dispensers, safety stickers, signage, gloves and disinfectant wipes. The daughter of a Zimmer Biomet employee, 11-year old, Sadhbh O’Donovan from Crusheen N.S. designed the child-friendly signage, which …

FIVE Clare towns and villages have received just under €115,000 as part of a new Government scheme to help them adapt to the Covid-19 pandemic. They are among 106 towns and villages across the country that will benefit immediately from €2.8 million in funding under the enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The local areas that will benefit from the initial tranche of €114,274 in funding are: Tulla: Social distancing community meeting space (€13.050) Tuamgraney: Improvements to East Clare Memorial Park, including footpaths, seating and boundary wall (€25,000) Kilkee: Reconfiguration of playground layout to allow for social distancing (€22,295) Carrigaholt: Provision of outdoor tables and seating with temporary awnings (€24,229) Killaloe: Provision of measures to promote social distancing in main pedestrian areas (€29,700) Welcoming the funding, Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey said the money will help communities to shop, socialise and work safely as they adapt to the post-Covid reality. “It is vitally important that we see an increase in …

  A TOTAL of 53 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been reported today (Sunday) to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. There are no new confirmed cases in Clare. No additional deaths have been notified nationally. According to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET)  has now been a total of 1,763 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight Saturday, August 1, there is a total of 26,162 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today; 27 are men / 26 are women 80% are under 45 years of age 45 are associated with outbreaks or close contacts of a confirmed case 4 cases have been identified as community transmission 25 cases are located in Dublin, 19 in Laois, 6 in Kildare and the remaining 3 are spread across two other counties. The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. …

APPEALS have been made for more responsible behaviour amid concerns about large gatherings in Kilkee on Saturday night (August 1). Footage has emerged appearing to show large numbers of younger people socialising in Kilkee in a manner that breaches public health guidelines on Covid-19 control. The video clips, which are circulating widely on social media, have prompted Clare County Council to appeal to all members of the public to act responsibly this August bank holiday weekend. Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling, said: “Young people must remember that anyone can contract the virus. Furthermore, anyone not adhering to the guidelines risks transmitting the virus to more vulnerable members of their families and communities, for whom the consequences may be dire. There must be no repeat occurrence of the scenes shown on social media, in Kilkee or anywhere else in County Clare.” Meanwhile, in a social media post, Councillor Cillian Murphy who lives in the town appealed to parents …

THERE have been no new deaths reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre on Saturday (August 1), and no new cases diagnosed in Clare. Nationally, there have now been 1,763 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight Friday July 31, the HPSC has been notified of 45 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 26,109 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. The number of confirmed infections in this county remains at 391. Details of the cases notified is as follows: • 23 are men / 22 are women • 77% are under 45 years of age (50% aged 25- 44 years) • 9 cases are located in Limerick, 8 in Kildare, 7 in Mayo, 6 in Cavan, 4 in Dublin with the remainder spread across 5 other counties. • 18 are associated with outbreaks or close contacts of a confirmed case • 12 cases have been identified as community transmission The HSE is working to identify …

THE new coalition government has come under fire from a local deputy for failing to support a childcare motion that would cut fees by 66% reduction over the lifetime of the administration. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne has described the defeat of a Sinn Féin childcare motion in the Dáil last week as “hugely disappointing” and an example of the “same old politics”. If the Sinn Féin Childcare motion had passed, Deputy Wynne outlined the proposals would have seen weekly childcare fees reduced by 13% over the course of the first year and by 66% over the course of the lifetime of the government. The current average weekly cost for one child in full time childcare is €184.36, therefore a reduction of 13% would be to €160.39 per week and by 66% would be to €62.68 per week. The Sinn Féin Deputy said their motion presented the government with a chance to be ambitious to respond to the cries from childcare providers, …