The Department of Health has confirmed 1,314 new cases of the Covid-19 virus in the Irish Republic. There are 187 in our hospital’s currently being treated of whom 30 are in ICU.
In Northern Ireland, an additional 1,040 cases of the virus have been confirmed with, sadly, one further death. Here there are 226 people in hospital with Covid-19, 38 of whom remain in intensive care.
These figures bring to 2,354 the number of new Covid-19 cases on the island of Ireland in the past 24 hours.
Following huge demand over the recent Bank Holiday weekend, a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination clinic will again open in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary on Thursday and Friday (August 5th & 6th).
Persons aged 16 years and over, seeking their first vaccine, can attend at the Clonmel Park Hotel between 1:00pm & 4:00pm tomorrow Thursday, or the following day Friday between 9:00am & 1:00pm and 2:00pm & 5:00pm. No appointments are necessary, but people must attend with their PPS number and a photo ID in order to register. For further information visit: https://vaccine.hse.ie/
Nationally, people with Covid-19 symptoms are being urged to stay at home, even if they are vaccinated, as they could still spread the virus. Doctors around the country are reporting that outbreaks are being notified to them, which have originated in symptomatic people attending places of work, eating out or social gatherings. Going to work or meeting friends, while experiencing Covid symptoms could be the link that sets off a further chain of transmission leading to more serious outbreaks in local communities.
The announcement that Holy Communions and Confirmations will go ahead in some areas of the Irish Republic is of major concern.
Some bishops within the church feel that Communions and Confirmation ceremonies; taken as part of current weekly Mass events, can be conducted in compliance with public health measures. While this may indeed be the case, church authorities cannot control and implement public health measures at inevitable communion and confirmation parties following these ceremonies.
It is these after event celebrations that are being seen by our government and health authorities as potential “super spreader events” and the rationale behind their decision to ask that communions and confirmations, be postponed for the time being.
The bishops’ decision has consequences for society as a whole, and in particular schools. Has anyone actually considered the impact this decision will have on same educational facilities? Teachers in Roman Catholic primary schools play a huge role in preparing pupils for their communion and confirmation. Before announcing that communions and confirmations were to go ahead, what, if any, consultation has taken place with schools? Will teachers and schools co-operate with this decision? With schools due to open at the end of this month, surely communions and confirmations could be postponed for a little while longer? Schools have an enormous task on their hands in respect of opening up schools and keeping pupils safe. The last thing they need is to have to deal with the potential fallout of the bishops’ decision, namely, parties which risk the spread of more cases among unvaccinated children and in turn result in class and school closures.
Meanwhile, hopefully some good news; the European Commission has approved a supply contract with US firm Novavax to buy up to 200 million doses of its potential Covid-19 vaccine, the Commission has said. The move is part of the EU’s strategy to diversify its vaccine portfolio. Novavax has confirmed the deal in a statement; confirming that it was working to complete the submission of vaccine data to the EU drugs regulator in the third quarter of this year, with delivery of initial doses expected to begin after their approval.
Laois County Council has refused to grant a music licence to Electric Picnic festival organizers, latter event due to take place from 24th to 26th of September at Stradbally Hall Estate, Co Laois. The local authority said the decision was made following the most up-to-date public health advice available to the council from the Health Service Executive.
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