Tag Archives: Covid-19

PUBLICANS received bad news last week when the return of indoor dining and drinking was put on hold, and that has been compounded since, with wet and miserable weather deterring people who might have been content to socialise outdoors. Speaking on Tuesday, Ennis publican and Ennis Chamber President, Darragh McAllister said the change in weather brought a big change in business. “Oh completely, it’s down by over half. We kind of knew it was coming as well, with people unsure about the weather they wouldn’t head out into it. It had a massive effect, it was always going to do.” While there are a number of pubs open again, he says few are profitable due to the restrictions and increased obligations on publicans. “The few places that can do it are still limited, there are only so many people you can have anyway. In reality the whole thing isn’t viable without the supports that are in place, it’s not viable …

AN Ennis pharmacist has described the demand for the Covid-19 vaccine from 18 to 34 year olds as “phenomenal”. From Monday a number of pharmacies in Clare started administering Covid-19 vaccines to the 18-34 year old cohort as part of the national programme. According to pharmacist Brendan Rochford of Rochford’s Pharmacies in Ennis and Corofin, “The announcement on Friday morning caught us completely by surprise. The phones started ringing non-stop from 9am last Friday. “Our staff have been fantastic dealing with such a huge volume of enquiries.” Rochford’s had already been administering vaccines to the over 50s age group but, according to Brendan the numbers were much smaller compared to the volume of enquiries they have received for the 18-34 yr old age group.  “We have an online vaccine booking system on our website www.rochfordspharmacy.ie which is very efficient but we had to get this set up for the 18-34 year old age group so it was late on Friday before we got …

MORE than 24,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine were administered by the UL Hospitals’ Group last week, as the incidence of the virus remains low in Clare. In the week to close of business on Sunday, July 4, a total of 24,081 doses of Covid-19 vaccine were administered across the group’s three area vaccination centres in Limerick Racecourse, Treacy’s West County Hotel, Ennis, and the Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh. This brings to 216,762 the total vaccines administered under the UL Hospitals’ Group programme since it began on January 4, and includes healthcare workers, residents and staff of nursing homes, and patients in the various cohorts and age groups. This figure does not include the vaccination work undertaken by their colleagues in Mid-West Community Healthcare, the National Ambulance Service, General Practitioners and pharmacists. The regional total for the group’s Covid-19 vaccination programme last week was composed of 14,086 vaccines administered in Limerick Racecourse; 4,746 in the West County, Ennis; and 5,249 in …

CLARE pharmacists are struggling to meet the “phenomenal” demand for Covid-19 vaccines for the 18 to 34-year-old cohort, with a lack of supply leaving young people facing waiting times. Last Friday’s unexpected announcement from Health Minister Stephen Donnelly confirming pharmacies would be administering the vaccine to this young cohort resulted in a huge volumes of calls for appointments, which resulted in regular patients experiencing difficulties getting through on phone lines to order medication. There was a huge surge in Kilkee where Sean Hurst of Hurst Pharmacy, estimated he had 4,500 enquiries due the huge influx of holidaymakers in the popular West Clare resort since the minister’s announcement. He said Kilkee has the capacity to take 25,000 holidaymakers and daytrippers over the weekend, who would all happily walk into his pharmacy for the vaccine following media reports vaccines would be made available last weekend. “It was phenomenal. People were ringing us from Ennis to get a vaccine. I am the only …

A FEAST of entertainment fit for a king will be offered online and outdoor for locals and visitors during the 28th annual Féile Brian Ború, which runs from July 7 to July 11. Last year, people were disappointed with the cancellation of the festival due to Covid-19. However, it goes ahead this year, albeit with some changes in line with Covid-19 restrictions. Earlier in this year, Arlene White of Féile Brian Ború, recalled the organising committee weren’t sure if the festival would go ahead and were fortunate to apply for, and be granted funding. “I think it could be very hard to come back and organise a festival next year, if we took this year off, presuming next July should be okay concerning Covid-19. “There is a buzz of excitement about the festival this year. While we don’t have events organised for Sunday, July 11, we are hoping people will download one of the new apps and explore the sites …

THE Clare chair of the Vintner’s Federation of Ireland (VFI) has described the government’s plans to restrict indoor hospitality to vaccinated people only as “a total smokescreen”. Charlie O’Meara characterised the mood of the county’s 160 VFI members as one of “annoyance, anger and frustration” at news that indoor hospitality will not now resume until July 19, at the earliest, and that unvaccinated people may be banned. The Ennis publican said he now fears for what faces the trade this winter when government supports come to an end and vintners try to restart their businesses, without the benefit of the normal summer takings. “There has been absolutely terrible treatment of our members,” he told The Champion. “There’s been no respect whatsoever and the government would have been happy enough, once again, to leave this issue to the eleventh hour, but for the fact that the VFI in Dublin put pressure on them to make a decision. It’s just not good …

HEALTH Minister Stephen Donnelly has announced an update to the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme. In light of the increasing prevalence of the Delta variant and the risks associated with it, the National Immunisation Advisroy Committee have recommended that those aged 18-49 years can opt for an adenoviral vector vaccine (AstraZeneca and Janssen) in order to gain earlier protection. Younger age-groups who do not wish to receive an adenoviral vaccine will be offered an mRNA vaccination in due course. Consent mechanisms will be put in place by the HSE to ensure that anyone under 35 years of age wishing to avail of earlier access to vaccination through the administration of an AstraZeneca or Janssen vaccine is appropriately informed of the rare side-effects associated with the adenoviral vector vaccines. People in this group will also be advised about the probable timing of the availability of mRNA vaccine for their age group when considering this accelerated option. People in Ireland aged 18 – 34 …

IN A week when the government extended the ban on indoor dining for non-residents of hotels and restaurants, the UL Hospitals’ Group has confirmed there was just one Covid-19 positive patient in University Hospital Limerick on Wednesday. In the week to close of business on Sunday, June 27, a total of 28,979 doses of Covid-19 vaccine were administered across the group’s three area vaccination centres in Limerick Racecourse, the West County Hotel, Ennis, and the Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh. This brings to 192,332 the total vaccines administered in the region since the vaccination programme began on January 4th. However, the group notes the concern nationally and internationally about the Delta variant, which is 40-60% more transmissible than the Alpha strain of the virus. The European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) estimates that by the end of August, the Delta variant will account for 90% of all Covid-19 variants in the European Union. ECDC research suggests that the Delta variant will …