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Senior government official Liz Canavan. PA

Compliance with restrictions urged after increase in Dublin Bus passengers

Dublin Bus notified the government of an increase in passenger numbers day-on-day this week.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS warned the danger has not passed when it comes to the spread of Covid-19 after data from Dublin Bus showed an increase in the number of journeys taken this week.

Senior Government official Liz Canavan said while the country has made good progress in slowing the spread, it is vital this work is not undone.

She said: “We need to continue to observe the restrictions in place, stay safe and stay at home.

“As we approach the weekend, the guidance remains clear. We all need to continue to play our part. We cannot be content that what we have done so far is enough.

The virus has not changed, we have. That is why the virus has improved in the general population. We cannot assume that if we relax that the virus will behave any differently than it has up to now.

“It is highly infectious to older people and people with underlying infections. We must stay the course.

“Dublin Bus notified us yesterday evening of an increase in passenger numbers day-on-day this week. All days are above levels seen in previous weeks. They are engaging with the National Transport Authority to get more specific data on this.

“An Garda Siochana will also be updating us to give us their view. They are continuing to monitor the situation in terms of traffic volumes and will continue to urge the public to abide by the measures.”

Canavan said it has been eight weeks since the first case of Covid-19 was confirmed. She said social cohesion has been key to Ireland’s response and urged people to continue to co-operate to defeat the virus.

Meanwhile a professor of epidemiology has warned the public will have to double-down on efforts around social distancing and hygiene as the coronavirus restrictions are gradually eased.

Ruairi Brugha, of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), said the country can only move to the next stage if people take responsibility for how they behave around distancing measures.

Prof Brugha warned easing restrictions is “quite complex” and said a lot of steps need to be put in place.

He told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland: “Once we reach the point of relaxation, it’s going to determine whether we are going to maintain control of this epidemic or risk a second wave epidemic down the road.

“We can’t keep things as they are and we need to recognise that as we relax certain measures, carefully in a staged way with good monitoring systems in place, we have to double-down on what we need to do around distancing and hygiene.

“The responsibility will be more now on the public than it was previously.

“We can only move into this next stage if people take responsibility for how they engage in more relaxed behaviour, whether it’s going back to work or children going back to school, and it isn’t enough to have four-fifths of us actually taking this seriously.

“It only takes a small number of people to behave in a celebratory way. We know that we Irish when we get the opportunity want to be convivial and we want to do it around alcohol and we’ve seen the big increase in alcohol sales.”

He said it only takes around 2-3% of the population to behave in an irresponsible way to risk the spread of the virus.

The professor said the government needs to outline a communications strategy as relaxation measures are put in place.

Yesterday, the number of coronavirus-linked deaths in Ireland rose to 794, with 28 further fatalities confirmed in the previous 24 hours.

There were 936 new cases of the disease confirmed, bringing the total since the outbreak began to 17,607.

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    Mute Cabe
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    Mar 31st 2015, 2:39 PM

    That’s pretty cool! Best I’ve found was a 16 year old bottle of Bushmills in my cupboard. Great find really!

    241
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    Mute Brendan Cunningham
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    Mar 31st 2015, 4:20 PM

    You’re the outright winner.

    51
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    Mute Biscuits Patinkin
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    Mar 31st 2015, 5:58 PM

    GOODness GRAcious

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    Mute Tap Solny
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    Mar 31st 2015, 3:06 PM

    Will the Spaniards be looking for their ball back?

    124
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    Mute Con Manne
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    Mar 31st 2015, 6:28 PM

    Hope not. It’s probably good enough to get a few Irish caps.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Mar 31st 2015, 6:39 PM

    Surprising that the Spanish gave the ball away in the first place really

    43
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    Mute O Swetenham
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    Mar 31st 2015, 4:04 PM

    The handy thing is that it can be reused. It’s actually still compatible with some of the cannons on current Irish navy vessels.

    115
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    Mute Biscuits Patinkin
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    Mar 31st 2015, 4:59 PM

    Ha!

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    Mute Charles McDonald
    Favourite Charles McDonald
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    Mar 31st 2015, 3:02 PM

    This is amazing. We have some pretty amazing history. There is another newgrange and Tara brooch buried out there

    67
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    Mute Tomás O'hÁidh
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    Mar 31st 2015, 8:48 PM

    If anyone is interested in any information pertaining to the Grange and Armada Development Association and our plans for the Armada wrecks at Streedagh and our vision to establish Grange as the Armada Centre for Ireland through: the protection and conservation of the Armada Wreck site at Streedagh; the development of an Armada Interpretive Centre at the Courthouse in Grange and our ongoing annual series of events commemorating the Armada story we can be located at
    http://grangeandarmada.com or on FB at Grange and Armada Development Association.
    For specific details and up to date information, please contact the association’s chairman, Armada enthuiast and local historian Mr. Eddie O’Gorman whose contact details are on the website. Thank you.

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    Mute fuve
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    Mar 31st 2015, 2:39 PM

    So local archeologists are out for a wall and cannon ball happens to be there for them. What is the chances.( I am playing the lotto this week)This is great and proper lucky. Imagine they don’t even have to dig anymore. Their jobs are getting easier!

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    Mute John Hayes
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    Mar 31st 2015, 3:36 PM

    What are you raving about?

    57
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    Mute John Reese
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    Mar 31st 2015, 4:18 PM

    Should we fire it back?

    25
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    Mute anfearbocht
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    Mar 31st 2015, 5:45 PM

    Ah when men were men. Wonder where the other one is.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Mar 31st 2015, 5:41 PM

    Iron tablets were big back then lol.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Apr 1st 2015, 3:52 AM

    At least it isn’t a gall stone?

    3
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