The Department of Health has confirmed 4,181 new cases of Covid-19 in the Irish Republic, within the past 24 hours.
There remain 668 patients in the Republic’s hospitals affected with the virus, same figure up 28 on the same time yesterday and of these, 125 patients are being treated in various hospital ICUs, an increase of a further 4 in number, on yesterday’s reported figures.
In Northern Ireland a further 1,406 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed today, down from 1,846 on yesterday’s figures.
Sadly, 7 further Covid-19-related deaths have also been confirmed in Northern Ireland today; bringing the total number of deaths linked to Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic is 2,840.
Here in the Irish Republic, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has once again issued a fresh appeal to the Irish public to take the necessary actions to help reduce the level of transmission in the country. He has repeatedly urged the public to take the following five actions: –
If you have symptoms of a cold or flu, isolate immediately and get a PCR test, not an Antigen test
Strictly, prioritise who you need to meet.
Meet others outdoors and open windows when indoors
Wear a mask.
Use the right test and understand what the test result means.
He also reiterated that people with symptoms should not rely on Antigen tests, but instead should immediately book a ‘polymerase chain reaction‘ (PCR) test, before immediately isolating.
How do you reserve a PCR test for Covid-19 Virus?
We watched with great amusement “The Week In Politics” programme (RTE 1) this afternoon, as opposition politicians anxious for power, continuing to attempt to sound intelligent, showing themselves more interested in criticising current government pandemic efforts, rather than attempting to find solutions to our serious pandemic woes; while also misleading the public.
Getting a PCR test couldn’t be easier. You can get a free PCR test in two ways: –
1.Ring your GP and get them to refer you for a Covid test. OR 2. Refer yourself through the dedicated HSE website, [SEE LINKHERE].
To book your own PCR test online, simply follow the above stated link; select your county; preferred test location and time; enter your name, date of birth, telephone number, and a six digit code will be sent to your phone to verify that you entered the correct telephone number. Here, in Co. Tipperary, there are two test centres, one in Nenagh and one in Clonmel. Both test centres are drive-through, so you don’t even have to get out of your car and thus remain, for the most part, in your own safety bubble.
On arrival, you’ll be asked to confirm your details and then a tester will quickly swab your throat and the inside of your nose. The whole experience lasts only a couple of minutes and for the benefit of whinging, Sinn Féin’s Ms Louise O’ Reilly, (Minister for Nothing), in Dublin Fingal, you even get a free box of 50 disposable masks. Testers are patient and friendly and happy to answer any questions you may have. You’ll get your results in 24-48 hours via a text message to your personal phone and you’ll have peace of mind that you have had an accurate test result.
Depending on your circumstances you may need a second PCR test to confirm you are not infected with Covid-19. For information on what to do while you are awaiting a PCR test result, it’s worth consulting your GP and the latest HSE HPSC quick isolation guides.
For children and adults aged 13 years and over, – CLICKHERE. For children aged 13 years and under, – CLICKHERE.
Continue to listen to science – Not to Teachtaí Dálawho areunqualified, nest feathering members of the Labour Party, Sinn Féin, Independent & other minor opposition parties.
Newstalk presenter, Mr Pat Kenny took a proper verbal ‘walloping’ this morning, when he decided to engage in a heated radio debate with one of Ireland’s leading and knowledgeable doctors, over the slow use of Antigen Tests here in Ireland.
Associate Professor of General Practice at UCD, Dr Ray Walley, when being interviewed highlighted the dangers of people using antigen tests instead of PCR tests, but Mr Kenny, displaying his misconceived medical knowledge, set about bemoaning the lack of Antigen Test usage in Ireland.
Here on local radio Tipp FM, (Latter the pulpit for exaggerating, bone idle, Tipperary politicians) was interviewing ‘know-it-all AK47’, (latter lesser known as Deputy Alan Kelly, leader of a tiny annihilated Labour Party), who like Mr Pat Kenny was also busy holding up to ridicule the (and let’s be honest) trojan work being currently undertaken and being accomplished to date, by our present coalition government, with regards to managing a country beset by a killer pandemic.
Back on Newstalk, Professor Walley pointed out that antigen tests do have a role to play in certain controlled environments, but also argued that a problem exists when the general public use them, instead of visiting a PCR test centre or their GP, when they are displaying possible symptoms.
In response, a badly researched Mr Pat Kenny stated that he was amused by the idea of blaming antigen tests and then asked why if they have been used so extensively and successfully in other countries; such as Denmark and Germany, that they cannot work here in Ireland? Mr Kenny stated that he has been talking on his programme for a year about how to use antigen tests and in what circumstances they are appropriate and they have been rubbished by Professor Nolan, and by Dr Tony Holohan, the latter turning his face against them utterly. Many in the GP area were not enthusiastic about them either and they have their place. But there has been a lack of information coming from the medical establishment as to exactly what that place is. The public are depending on people like him to give them information and that was not acceptable, Mr Kenny argued.
Dr Walley said the World Health Organisations (WHO) advice has always been to “emphasis, isolate, test and contact” and this advice is based on the PCR system which he called a substantially more accurate test. He stated that the difficulty is that these are complex messages and the public have not been able to take that in. When you have gotten a sick, stressed patient they will grab at anything to help themselves and that is 100% understandable. Where the antigen tests have a specific utility is where the State is about to introduce them; in high prevalence areas such as in school settings. Dr Walley added that even if a person returns a negative PCR test in symptomatic cases, they must still isolate for two days, whether they are vaccinated or not.
The Dublin-based GP, who is also Vice President of the Standing Committee of European Doctors, explained that, many of those countries which have excellent healthcare systems and that used antigen tests, are now going into lock-down. He stated, “We have Holland which closed a major hospital three weeks ago, because basically they ran out of ICU facilities and they have used antigen tests. You have France which has used antigen tests whereby they’re extending the use of digital certs for shops and other things,” he went on to explain.
He argued Ireland must now focus on introducing what he called ‘more mitigation measures’ such as reviewing why masks aren’t worn by children aged six years and older.
A badly bruised Mr Kenny continued to argue that public health officials were too slow in advising the Irish public to wear masks early on and called into question the errancy of some of the country’s leading doctors.
Professor Walley stated that the nature of medicine and science means things change over time, as a greater understanding of a particular issue continues to developed.
As previously published, on November 12th last, the 14 Day incidence of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Local Electoral Areas (LEAs) here in Co. Tipperary, between October 26th 2021 and November 8th, 2021 were reasonably low, but obviously on the rise.
Note Also: the figures then shown in redrepresented the previous 14 day incidence rate, between the period October 19th, 2021 and November 1st, 2021, in same local electoral areas (LEAs). In each of the Tipperary LEAs the incidence rates had substantially increased and in the case of the Thurles LEA confirmed figures; same had doubled in just seven days, noticeably over the Halloween holiday festival period.
These figures published on November 12th last then read: –
The 14 Day incidence of confirmed COVID-19 cases by same local electoral areas (LEAs), in Tipperary, between November 2nd 2021 and November 15th 2021, now demonstrate the need for Tipperary residents to listen to the wisdom of the National Public Health Emergency Team(NPHET) and the Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health, Dr Tony Holohan.
Read the true facts and compare the major increases in the new incidence rates published in the 14 days between November 2nd 2021 and November 15th 2021, shown hereunder: –
As people can see, the Thurles LEA incident rate, in November to date has increased from being the lowest in the county, with just 54 cases; to being the second highest in Co. Tipperary, with 215 cases.
Same increases were greatly assisted by Halloween festivities/activities and the fully opening up of the hospitality sector.
A survey from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), confirmed in early November, that the number of people not having Covid passes checked in pubs, and nightclubs, as was then requested, had shot up from 21% to 37%, thus greatly contributing to the pandemic increases we are experiencing countrywide today.
Minster for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, and Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Mr James Browne TD, have welcomed the allocation of funding, from the Dormant Accounts Fund, to a number of Department of Justice projects and initiatives.
Earlier today, the Department of Rural and Community Development announced that a total of €55.5 million has been allocated from the Dormant Accounts Fund to address disadvantage right across the country.
In total, approximately €10 million has been allocated to Department of Justice related projects and initiatives.
Welcoming this additional funding, Minister McEntee said,
“The funding we have been allocated will greatly assist us in the work we are doing to combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, roll out our Community Safety Partnerships, support victims of crime and support vulnerable young people. The allocation of €250,000 for the implementation of targeted crime prevention and harm-reduction recommendations contained in the Drogheda Community Safety & Wellbeing Scoping Report will support, amongst others, The Red Door project for the provision of drugs outreach work, counselling, family support, client progression pathways, Court-related and prisoner support and additional harm reduction services in the Drogheda area.”
Welcoming the substantial allocation of €5,000,000 for Youth and Community Justice services, Minister Browne said,
“I very much welcome the Dormant Accounts Fund allocation for Youth Justice services. Together with the additional €6.7m extra Exchequer funding I obtained in Budget 2022, this allows us to make a very substantial start to the implementation of the Youth Justice Strategy. The additional funding will allow us to ensure the Youth Diversion Project service is available throughout the State by end 2022 or early in 2023. It will also fund additional work in the areas of early intervention with children at risk, family support and outreach work with harder-to-engage young people in particular. This work is vital to help divert young people from crime and anti-social behaviour and to protect victims by reducing future offending.”
Professor Vincent Cunnane was addressing the 1,570 graduates at the TUS Conferring Ceremonies held in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
More than 4,500 people gathered in the purpose-built outdoor arena in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
More than 1,500 graduates of the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (TUS) made history today Tuesday and and will again tomorrow, Wednesday (November 9th & 10th, 2021) by becoming the inaugural graduates of Ireland’s newest Technological University.
The Class of 2021, including six PhDs graduates, from across the university’s Moylish, LSAD, Thurles, Clonmel and Ennis campuses came together at TUS Gaelic Grounds to receive their parchment, with a further cohort graduating from the Athlone campus, two weeks previous.
Over 4,500 people in total gathered at the four ceremonies in the purpose-built outdoor arena in the TUS Gaelic Grounds to celebrate the momentous occasion.
At the conferring ceremony in Limerick, the Chair of the TUS Governing Body Mrs Josephine Fehily acknowledged the unprecedented challenges the class of 2021 faced during the last 18 months.
“The Class of 2021 are, and always will be, the first ever to receive an award from TUS. As the first graduates of TUS, I hope you will remain fiercely proud of your alma mater and work with us to collectively advance the Midlands and Midwest regions for all who live and work here, as we move towards a post-pandemic life – a life which feels as if it will be different somehow.”
In his address President of TUS Professor Vincent Cunanne asked graduates to stand independent and strong against pandemic disinformation by drawing on their education and their experience over the last year and a half.
“The latter part of your journey through college saw you face challenges which were unknown until their emergence. Your graduation is a further mark of your achievement and your resilience, something that my colleagues and I wish to recognise and congratulate.
“But of course, with experience comes responsibility. You, the Class of 2021, with your unique experience, bear a particular responsibility to apply your knowledge and resilience to better your world.
“In recent times, we have seen the emergence of what is sometimes referred to as the pandemic of disinformation – the ignoring of fact and the dismissal of those with expertise. This is played out in many aspects of life and fuelled by the ubiquity of online engagement.
“Your responsibility is to stand independent and strong against this pandemic of disinformation. Just as you have prevailed through the Covid-19 pandemic, so you will prevail in this one, because you have been taught to think critically, you have been taught to use facts and you have been taught to apply logic. You have proved your ability in this regard, and you have succeeded in adversity.“
Vice President Academic Affairs and Registrar Ms Marian Duggan also paid tribute to the graduates’ resilience and congratulated them on being the inaugural graduates of TUS.
“The conferring of academic awards is the highlight of the academic calendar and a special occasion for our community, but this year is unique and you, the class of 2021 will always occupy a particularly special place in the unfolding story of TUS,” she said.
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