Tag Archives: Covid-19

The celebration of International Day of the Midwife at University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) focused on how local midwives have risen to the extraordinary challenge of Covid-19 to provide safe care to the women and infants of the Mid-West. The event—with its 2020 theme of ‘Midwives with Women: Celebrate, Demonstrate, Mobilise, Unite—Our Time Is Now’— underlined how midwives in the Mid-West along with their colleagues across the country and around the world have undergone upskilling and retraining to developed safe pathways of care in the fight to protect women and babies during the pandemic. While maternity care in the Mid-West has faced unprecedented challenges, and there will be none of the celebratory events traditionally held to mark the occasion, the International Day of the Midwife served as a prominent reminder of the importance of midwifery, and the invaluable care that midwives provide. Special birth certificates were given to the mothers of all babies born in University Maternity Hospital Limerick on …

THE festival calendar for East Clare has suffered another major blow with the cancellation of the Feakle Festival, due to the Covid-19 restrictions. Organisers said they decided to cut this year’s event – which would ordinarily attract thousands to the region at the height of the summer season – “with deep regret,” in order to minimise the risk to the general public. Already, the legendary Spancilhill Fair has been called off, with organisers deciding that they could not guarantee social distancing at the event which draws thousands annually on the now immortalised date of June 23. A number of smaller community festivals, including the Bodyke May Bank Holiday Weekend, have also been shelved, with hopes of postponing some of them as the government’s road map for the re-opening of public life begins to unfold. In Feakle, a world-class programme of traditional music had been under wraps since February and there is widespread disappointment that the hugely popular festival won’t go ahead …

CLARE anglers may fish in locations less than or equal to five kilometres from their home following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has updated its advice regarding angling to reflect the latest Government and NPHET advice following representations from Clare Independent Deputy, Michael McNamara. IFI owned fisheries are open with the exception of the Galway and Moy fisheries. ESB fisheries are now also open to angling activity. The status of private and club run fisheries is a matter for the fishery manager or committee. The move follows Deputy McNamara’s proposal to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the Dáil last Thursday that anglers be allowed to resume fishing activity. The Taoiseach subsequently committed to reviewing the proposed easing of restrictions. “Fishing is a hugely popular pastime throughout Ireland and the mental health benefits of lifting restrictions for people who have been cooped up in their homes for so long is to be very much welcomed,” stated Deputy McNamara. …

ON Wednesday evening The Health Protection Surveillance Centre confirmed that a total of 37 people additional with Covid-19 had died. Clare has 249 confirmed cases and 1.1% of the total incidences of Covid-19 in the country. There have now been a total 1,375 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of 11am on Wednesday the HPSC had been notified of 265 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 22,248 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. The latest data from the HPSC (21,908 cases), reveals: · 57% are female and 43% are male · The median age of confirmed cases is 49 years · 2,878 cases (13%) have been hospitalised · Of those hospitalised, 373 cases have been admitted to ICU · 6,393 cases are associated with healthcare workers · Dublin has the highest …

THE latest Covid-19 figures show that four additional people have been diagnosed with the virus in Clare. The total in this county is now 249. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has today been informed that a total of 23 people with COVID-19 have died.  There have now been a total 1,339 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of 11am today, the HPSC has been notified of 211 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 21,983 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Sunday May 3 (21,659 cases), reveals: · 58% are female and 42% are male · the median age of confirmed cases is 49 years · 2,879 cases (13%) have been hospitalised · Of those hospitalised, 369 cases have been admitted to ICU …

ENNISTYMON School of Art students are to present an end of year exhibition with a difference due to the Covid-19 restrictions. The school, which is run through Limerick Clare ETB from mid-September until May, offers QQI awarded PLC courses in level 5 and 6. The current students were looking forward to the annual exhibition at the Courthouse Gallery in Ennistymon, which will launch on this Friday, May 8, but the Coronavirus put paid to that and have had to think of alternative arrangements. PLC tutor Rachel Gleasure said they are now in the final process of mounting an online exhibition and hoping to reach wider audiences through social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. “We offer students a chance to improve their artistic skills and the course caters for all levels from beginners to advanced. Learners can learn new skills such as painting, sculpture and ceramics and it’s also an employment-oriented programme, which prepares students for degree courses in …

A total of 14,600 people in Clare are receiving Pandemic Unemployment Payment figures issued today (Tuesday May 5) by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection have shown. Nationally the department has issued payments valued at €209.3m to 598,000 people in respect of their application for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Around 11,000 people are receiving a payment for the first time this week. There are now over 52,000 employers who have registered with the Revenue Commissioners for the Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme. The payments are in addition to the approximate 205,000 people who were on the Live Register as of the end of March. All Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment payments issued will be in recipients’ bank accounts or at their local post office today. In total (since launch on the 16th March, 2020), and excluding duplicate claims, the Department processed applications from 694,000 people for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment or a jobseeker’s payment. As is the …

MART managers in Clare are hoping national Covid-19 guidelines will be eased to to give farmers the opportunity of buying and selling cattle in an open market. It is understood that a decision may be taken later this week to ease restrictions on marts next week while still applying strict DOA and HSE Covid-19 guidelines. Sixmilebridge Mart manager, Sean Ryan confirmed the mart was matching farmers who were selling and producers who wanted to buy cattle but acknowledged it was very hard work and very hard to manage. Mr Ryan said marts were willing to work with the Department of Agriculture to facilitate a return to live auctions under strict HSE guidelines. On March 25, about 350 cattle were sold in Sixmilebridge Mart under strict guidelines in the last sale before the national lockdown. The mart has spent almost €2,000 on the provision of hand sanitisers and infection control. “Farmers want to sell and buy cattle and the most appropriate …