We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER Dr. Tony Holohan has said that now is not the time to end the cocooning of over 70s to protect them from Covid-19.
Holohan said this evening that he is aware that it is a “challenging” request to make but that the virus has a “greater impact” on elderly people, regardless of their level of fitness.
Since the government’s stay-at-home order was issued on 27 March, people aged over 70 have been asked to stay at home at all times and avoiding face-to-face contact in a bid to prevent them contracting the virus.
Relatives and friends of those who are cocooned are permitted and encouraged to shop on their behalf.
With these restrictions now extended until at least 5 May, there have been some calls for the cocooning restrictions to be lifted for over 70s, allowing them exercise in the same way that those under 70s are specifically allowed.
But speaking this evening, Holohan said cocooning is not about suggesting that people over 70 are necessarily unfit or have medical conditions.
“I can understand how challenging that is and how frustrating it is, many people over the age of 70 are fit and healthy and probably had a pre-existing lifestyle of active exercise, active participation in society so it’s particularly challenging for people in those age groups and those circumstances,” he said.
The reality is, we know that the risk of infection having a greater impact on an individual is greater, by virtue of your age, almost independent of whether you have an underlying medical condition or not. So somebody who’s older has a greater risk of having a more complicated experience with this infection if they pick it up. And we think that we can’t give advice to people that it’s appropriate for them to come back out and come to an end of the period of cocooning until we think that we have sufficient control in the community generally in relation to this disease, we don’t think we’re at that point yet.
“And while we think we’re making continued progress in that direction, we think we’re not there just a moment in time,” he added.
Holohan said Professor Philip Nolan of the National Public Health Emergency Team will tomorrow provide a more detailed briefing of where the group believes the progress of Covid-19 is in Ireland.
He added, however, it’s not yet at the point where the cocooning advice can be lifted.
“We won’t want to continue an arrangement like this, or a recommendation like this, given how challenging it is for people any the longer than we think that we think is necessary. But we think we’re not at that point yet,” he said.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
That’s a shame…. Middle East royalty share Andrews values towards women and victims, I would have said it was the perfect destination
@Tony Henry: Good point. He could Marry four or five 14 year olds over there and they wouldn’t blink an eye!
@Tony Henry: he could just join the Church of the Latter Day Saints and do it here. No need to travel or change religion. Plus you get more wives.
@Tony Henry: Have people forgotten what Prince Phillips rumours were as well?
When you have everything, but it’s not enough.
@Hippocampus: he is a nasty piece of work, not particularly bright staying in a child traffickers house for 4 days after telling him their friendship was over.
Why hasn’t he been arrested?
@Darren Davitt: Diplomatic Immunity…
@Ryan Maher: That old chestnut!
@Darren Davitt: not even allowed to investigate never mind arrest. Completely outside the law.
@Cormac Ó Braonáin: As far as I know, only Charles and William and his eldest son have immunity.
He be right at home there
I’d avoid going down any tunnels in a fast car for a while old bean…….amazing how a nasty accident happens to a royal who doesn’t meet the standards and upsets lizzie. Be a terrible thing to happen again
He’s cancelled the trip as he realizes he should stay away from places with trafficked girls for a while.
@Steve O’Shea: The Saudis are famous for raping their Indian house staff / slaves and when they fall pregnant then dump them back into India as fast as possible…
Financially supported by his mother? Classic. I’m always dumbfounded that the brits put up with this craic and the blood line going back to Germany, which I might have accidentally read before? As I wouldn’t be investigating such things, as I couldn’t give a @€(& but think the google machine once showed me in passing.
@devvrox: I will never understand it either. They give out about welfare scroungers over there. The Royal Family are the biggest of the lot. Plus as you say they are German so they are welfare scrounging immigrants! I think that was one of the reasons for the Brexit argument?!?
@devvrox: She will rubber stamp him lol.
Given ME proclivities, I would have thought he’d well received over there.
The randy old Duke of York
He liked his school girls young
His best friend Epstein was the source
for all his party fun
It took a forensic journalist
With intricate interview skill
To bring down this predator prince
To public horror and thrill
But don’t forget his victims
They have been to Hell
They deserve justice now
It’s time HRH did tell.
He really is extremely, intellectually challenged. Perhaps lucky for him is that he doesn’t know how much trouble he is in. And as for that harridan of an ex wife, a more disgusting piece of work is rarely found. And he takes advice from her.
Two words sounds like ‘dying stunt’
@Patrick Fitzgibbon: crying grunt?
@Joey Navinski: nope try again
From my brother:
Oh the Grand Old Duke of York
He told 10,000 lies
He abused a bunch of teenage girls
And would not apologise.
And the lies he told were crap.
He grimaced like a clown.
And when on the BBC last night
They hung him upside down…
Apparently he’s heading to Paris for a weekend breakaway from all the hubbub he’s caused.
Mothers suggestion.
Is he still going to Thailand these days???
have your say