The Department of Health has confirmed 1,427 new cases of Covid-19, today in the Irish Republic. There are 164 patients in our hospitals with the virus and 26 of these are in ICU’s.
In Northern Ireland the Department of Health also reported 1,177 positive cases of Covid-19, with, sadly, 8 further related deaths within the last 24 hours.
Same brings to 2607 the number of Covid_19 new confirmed cases on the island of Ireland in the past 24 hours.
Chief executive of the HSE Mr Paul Reid and Taoiseach Mr Michaél Martin have both hailed the massive uptake of vaccines, as long queues form at walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centres that are currently operating over this bank holiday weekend in Ireland. These centres are open to anyone aged 16 and over who has yet to receive their first dose.
Run courtesy of the HSE, they have opened in a range of locations right across the republic of Ireland with those attending receiving the Pfizer jab. An Taoiseach Mr Michaél Martin remarked, that it was great to see the walk-in Covid19 vaccine clinics up and running and the already positive uptake of the vaccine.
Health officials are reasonably confident that children aged 12-16 will be offered a vaccination in August.
Meanwhile abroad, China is racing to contain its worst coronavirus outbreak in months, as health officials blame the new highly infectious Delta variant for a surge in infections, spanning 14 of its provinces.
In the British Isles, their health authorities have urged more pregnant women to get vaccinated after a national study has shown that the Delta variant appeared to increase their risk of severe symptoms.
Australia’s third-largest city of Brisbane and other parts of the state of Queensland will enter a snap Covid-19 lockdown as and from today, as authorities race to contain an emerging outbreak of the same Delta strain.
Meanwhile at home, the Bishops of Clogher and Waterford and Lismore have decided to go-ahead with Communions and Confirmations; same to take place in late August, despite some parents casting doubts on the church’s advice. Their decision has already received a warning from Taoiseach Mr Michaél Martin, against any unilateral breaching of regulations. Mr Martin said that the sole motivation behind all restrictions was to protect lives.
The government’s worry perhaps, is about public health guidance in relation to unwelcome social interactions, following the conveyance of such Church Sacrament celebrations, which are seen as being unnecessarily encouraged by medically unqualified, elderly Church officials.
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