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THE IRISH NURSES and Midwives Organisation has said that early intervention is necessary to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in hospitals. A new, more transmissible variant, Eris, was detected in the country last week.
“Mask wearing and community intervention would hopefully prevent more drastic restrictions which must follow if we have a surge,” INMO General Secretary Edward Matthews told The Journal.
“We need forensic monitoring of the impact on hospitals so that necessary measures are taken in a timely manner.
“Timely and graduated actions now are appropriate, instead of waiting for a surge which will result in much more drastic and unwelcome actions to protect our ability to care for our patients”
Ireland’s Covid-19 vaccination programme was suspended for the summer in June. The programme will resume in the autumn, under different guidelines.
Under these new guidelines, a seasonal booster will be available to those who are aged 50 or older, aged five or older with a weak immune system, aged five to 49 with a condition that puts them at serious risk of illness from Covid-19, or a healthcare worker.
The programme in the UK has also been stopped for the summer, with a resumption scheduled for the autumn.
Those eligible for the autumn booster are similarly those at serious risk from Covid-19, and frontline healthcare workers.
Various experts in the UK have argued that booster jabs should be made available on the private market to those who do not fall under these criteria, it was reported in The Guardian.
The UK Department of Health said that the provision of boosters privately is permitted and is at the discretion of vaccine producers.
The Irish Department of Health said that vaccines are procured for the state by the European Commission, and are administered as part of the national vaccine programme.
There is no suggestion that boosters will be available for private purchase.
However, if those who do not fall under the criteria eligible for a booster come autumn wish to receive one, the HSE told The Journal, they should contact their GP or pharmacist.
Ireland is seeing a steady increase in confirmed cases of Covid-19, numbers from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre confirm.
For the week starting 6 August, there were 732 new confirmed cases, an increase on the previous week of 13.7%. This brings the total number of confirmed cases for 2023 to 22,741.
The greatest number of cases – 176 – were recorded in those aged 75-84. They accounted for 24% of cases.
Only one death was reported that week.
A spokesperson for the Irish Patients’ Association said that “Covid-19 has become just another contagious disease that needs constant vigilance.
“It is advisable for individuals to keep getting booster shots to protect ourselves and others.
“Nevertheless, it is essential for the HSE to reissue up-to-date guidelines, as important information may have faded from the public consciousness.”
Hospital groups are currently monitoring the new variant and taking action on a case by case basis. There is no plan at present to impose general restrictions across hospital groups.
However some hospitals have had to impose restrictions on wards as a result of Covid outbreaks.
St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, and Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan have suspended hospital visiting except for those visiting in exceptional circumstances, as a result of increased infection control measures required for Covid-19.
Visiting at St John’s Hospital, Limerick has been restricted except on compassionate grounds at the ward manager’s discretion.
Visiting at University Hospital Limerick, which has confirmed 35 Covid-positive patients, is under daily review.
However, UHL Group has had no lab confirmation of the Eris variant at either or its hospitals to date.
Saolta University Healthcare Group, which manages seven hospitals in the west of Ireland and Donegal, said that visiting to wards will be restricted in the event of a Covid-19 outbreak, but that there are no wider visiting restrictions in place to date.
They advise visitors to be mindful of public health guidelines and to not visit a hospital if you present symptoms.
Outside of hospitals, Nursing Homes Ireland said that they are following current HSE guidance, which calls for visiting restrictions in the event of an outbreak.
However, they say that residential care facilities must also “strike a balance between the need to manage the risk of introduction of Covid-19 and their responsibility for ensuring the right of residents to meaningful contact is respected”.
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Oh please give me a break
If these ” Asylum seekers ” really were in fear for their lives they would have claimed Asylum at the first port of Safety ,not spend thousands travelling through dozens of countries to get to our little Island.
They are not Asylum seekers
They are social welfare seekers
Cut and paste asset column – cut and paste well done
Wrong story chief….
My asset, a one way ticket from Ethiopia to Ireland costs about 600 euros, direct flights from Addis Ababa to Istanbul and on to Dublin, first port of call in a European country Ireland, this is just one route, please back up your statement or do not make one, asylum seekers are human and children are children, another institution Ireland and the government want to hide until a scandal breaks which will cost the tax payer much more in the long term.
Jeez David, better watch out, they don’t like actual facts on Asylum comments. They usual far right crowd will be along after Jeremy Kyle with their red thumbing.
Istanbul in Turkey? Turkey which is in Europe? The same country which is politically European and made an application to join the EU in 1987? Is that the Istanbul you say you can get a connecting flight to Dublin “their first port of call” in Europe?
The majority are coming in through Italy, but then again you know that don’t you.
@Yaya – yes, because Turkey is in the EU and is, therefore covered by the Dublin Regulation – which, by the way, everyone misquotes.
But, like I said, no one likes facts here so carry on …
@Dara, Turkey isnt actually in the EU, it is however in Europe
Only 5% of Turkey is in Europe 95% is in Asia.
@Yaya – get that sarcasm detector looked at
3% actually, but politically it is European, which is what we are talking about, it is also not part of the Dublin Regulation
Jesus yaya – do you still not get the sarcasm? Ok I’ll explain it to you – as Turkey is not in the EU it is, therefore not subject to the Dublin Regulation, therefore, your comment re Istanbul being in Europe had absolutely no relevance whatsoever to the one that you tried to undermine.
I used sarcasm to try to point this out to you but it seems it was a bit too highbrow for you.
I’ll stick to Daily Mail formatting in future.
That comment wasn’t in response to yours at all Dara
Upon their 18th birthday, return them to their country of origin as they are now no longer children.
Why?
How does a minor get on a plane in the first place? Surely the airlines have a responsibility in this as I fail to see how a 14 y.o child can arrive up to a check in desk with a one way ticket to Ireland without raising suspicion.
Because they come by land. My guess would be that their families get the funds together for the people smugglers and then when their kid is set up, they follow them over or at least have a source of funds from Europe going forward. Also, having no ID on them they can lie about their ages etc. We all know that the majority want to live in countries like the UK and Germany, Ireland has just become a one stop shop for a European passport. Its just a big con game run by people smuggling cartels that promise these people the moon and stars for a few thousand dolors.
At the end of the day its the tax payer that suffers and it puts pressure on the social welfare system etc.
Fair point Damien. I do remember watching a few programmes where people were claiming that they were under-age in order to claim asylum but I never thought of it the other way around.
So, where are those missing children?
Faded into the background (if nothing sinister has happened). I know a family who fostered an afghani boy for 12yrs – his parents were dead. As soon as he turned 18, he was sent to a DP Centre.
The family fought to keep him but we’re told no. He’s studying now whilst waiting on the outcome of an application – the family were advised not to stay in contact and were warned that they cannot give him any financial support.
The ‘missing children’ are possibly now living illegally in Ireland.
Well said! The old ‘first port of call’ and ‘ship them back brigade’ still alive and kicking I see. Just as well the U.S. doesn’t have the same attitude to irish undocumented, sticking them in direct provision centres for example. But then, I guess most Irish who abuse the American immigration system are our ‘own’ grand fellas, not like these dark types coming over here to our fair Isle. Hypocrisy, the worst Irish trait, and not a word of concern for the children who have gone missing on our watch.
Agreed Joanne
Actually if found they are deported. First they are taken to a prison, processed, and then shipped out. What is your point. The same thing happens to white people and white asylum seekers. Continue with your Irish bashing all you want, its obvious who the racist is in this case.
Can you tell me how many Irish citizens claimed asylum in the US in the last 50 years ?
There is no comparison at all.
Illegal Irish people in the US are (by and large) economic migrants who have chosen to enter (and remain) illegal. If found they should be arrested and deported – just like all ‘illegals’ the world over.
What a crying shame for this country that you never need to emigrate Larry….. Well there’s always hope.
Racist? Please, the only racists around here are those who see one rule for certain ethnicities and different ones for others. As for your assertion that they face deportation ‘if found’ etc that may happen on occasion, and that is the risk you run when you break the law, but where are they sent back to? Ireland… hardly a war zone or the most dangerous place to be if you’re a woman/homosexual/religious minority and so on. And still not a word on the missing children.
This was meant in response and support to David Hughes’ comment above
How can you blame these young vulnerable persons for not wanting to go through the direct provision system ?!
I have great admiration for these ‘now’ brave young men.. Let’s pray that they are safe and secure and that they also have a wonderful future (wherever that maybe)
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