Tag Archives: Health Protection Surveillance Centre

SOME patient-facing health care workers employed in the UL Hospitals’ Group still haven’t received the first dose of the vaccine against Covid-19 earlier this week. That’s according to assistant director of industrial relations, Mary Fogarty, who told The Clare Champion some health care staff are pleading with their managers to get the vaccine. “This is a huge priority issue to protect people. It is a matter of concern for our members that they have not been prioritised and other employees have received the vaccine who are not patient-facing.” She said there is now a HSE portal that should be able to prioritise patient-facing employees. In a recent memo to public representatives, group chief executive officer, Professor Colette Cowan stated the group continue to issue as much vaccine as possible, in line with national guidance and based on availability of vaccines and clinical prioritisation. “The group recognise the anxiety experienced by unvaccinated staff during the current surge in Covid-19 activity, and …

TESCO Ireland has confirmed a number of its retail staff at its Coonagh store have tested positive for Covid-19. A lot of residents in South-East Clare use this Coonagh store regularly to complete their weekly and daily shopping. Responding to Clare Champion queries, Tesco confirmed a number of their employees at their Coonagh store were confirmed cases but declined to disclose a specific number. A Tesco spokesperson said the safety of its colleagues and customers is their number one priority. “Tesco can confirm that a number of our colleagues at our Coonagh store have tested positive for Covid-19. We are fully engaged with the HSE and have followed all appropriate public health advice. “We have made face coverings available to our colleagues, and continue to emphasise that physical distancing, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene are the most important actions to protect everyone against the spread of COVID-19. We have extensive measures across all of our stores to help keep everyone …

Deputy Michael McNamara has asked Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to provide a greater level of transparency concerning the number of Irish people who died from and with Covid-19. His call coincided with the publication of figures on Tuesday of 18 additional deaths related to Covid-19, one death occurred in October, 15 deaths in November and two are under investigation. Deputy McNamara has asked Minister Donnelly for a breakdown of patients who died primarily from Covid-19, those who died with Covid-19 but primarily from other causes and those who died from the virus, having acquired it in hospital. The Independent Deputy was told this is a matter for the HSE and was assured he will receive a reply in due course. He expects to receive a typical vague response from the HSE. The 14-day incidence rate of the virus continues to fall and remain relatively low in Clare. This rate, which had rocketed about 70% from September 17 to September 30, …

NEW figures reveal that Clare had the highest rate in Munster of Covid-19 cases in nursing homes, during the first wave of the pandemic. Data presented in the final report of the Nursing Homes Expert Panel show that this county had more than twice as many cases linked to care home clusters as Limerick. This is despite the fact that County Limerick had a far higher number of cases in the population as a whole (581) than Clare (371), in the period from March to June. Reacting to the figures, the Clare-based Chair of the Dáil Committee on Covid-19 Response confirmed that it will consider calling for a public inquiry into the fate of nursing home residents between March and May. Deputy Michael McNamara confirmed that the committee has invited members of the Expert Panel to appear before it on September 16, alongside representatives of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). “I don’t want to prejudge these hearings,” Deputy …

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that two people with Covid-19 in Ireland have died while there have been 54 confirmed additional cases, including some in Clare. Before today’s announcement, 439 persons have tested positive for the virus in the county. Officials have been notified of the 54 cases in the past 24 hours and the break-down of these new cases is -Dublin (19), Kildare (8) and Tipperary (5) with the remaining 22 in Clare, Carlow, Donegal, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Waterford and Wexford. There has now been a total of 1,775 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland while the total number of confirmed cases has risen to 27,547. Of the cases notified today 24 are men / 29 are women, 67% are under 45 years of age, 27 are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case and eight cases have been identified as community transmission Acting …

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has been notified of 36 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. However there have been no new confirmed cases in Clare. The figure still stands at 369. There is now a total of 25,802 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. There were no new deaths announced at Tuesday’s briefing. There has been a total of 1,753 COVID-19 related deaths nationwide. The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “Together, we have achieved so much in our ongoing effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, making it possible to take steps to reopen society and the economy. “Today I am asking everyone to stay the course on the public health measures needed to suppress COVID-19, such as covering coughs, hand washing, use of face …

Clare has gone 27 days without a positive Covid-19 case. The total number of positive cases in the county remains at 368. Nationwide there was no new Covid-19 deaths reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre but the total number of people to have lost their lives from the virus stands at 1,738. As of midnight Tuesday, the HPSC has been notified of 11 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 25,542 confirmed cases in Ireland. Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “A key element of our response to COVID-19 is ensuring that any person experiencing symptoms such ascough, shortness of breath, fever, loss of sense of smell or taste comes forward for testing. Please do not adopt a ‘wait-and-see’ approach, instead isolate yourself and contact your GP without delay.” The National Public Health Emergency Team meets again Thursday to continue its review of Ireland’s response and preparedness to Covidd-19.”

It has been almost four weeks since the last positive case of Covid-19 was diagnosed in Clare. However over the last five months, 32 people have died from virus in the county while a total of 368 people have tested positive. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that 1 person with Covid-19 has died. There has now been a total of 1,742 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight last Monday, the HPSC has been notified of 24 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 25,538 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Dr. Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “As of 5pm this evening, the Covid Tracker App had approximately 545,000 downloads. This is one more example of the solidarity and collective spirit that has characterised the Irish public’s response to Covid-19 to date. “The app is an important tool to support our contact tracing systems. It has the …