theirishtimes--2020-04-24--Coronavirus: Northern Ireland death toll climbs to 276

There have been 276 Covid-19 related deaths in the North since the pandemic began , according to the latest figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency ( Nisra ) .
A statement on Friday issued by Stormont ’ s department of finance said the Nisra figures published for the week ending April 17th show that , of the 276 total deaths involving Covid-19 , 166 ( 60.1 per cent ) occurred in hospital , 93 ( 33.7 per cent ) occurred in care homes , 3 ( 1.1 per cent ) in hospices and 14 ( 5.1 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other locations .
The 96 deaths in care homes and hospices involved 44 separate establishments , the statement said .
The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Public Health Agency ( PHA ) to April 17th was 212 .
These figures are based on patients having previously tested positive for the virus , whereas Nisra figures are based on the information entered on death certificates , filled out by medical professionals .
The provisional number of total deaths registered in Northern Ireland in the week ending April 17th was 424 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but 134 more than the five-year average of 290 .
101 ( 23.8 per cent ) of these deaths mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate , bringing the total number of Covid-19 related deaths registered in the calendar year 2020 to 242 .
Over the last three weeks in total , 410 “ excess deaths ” — deaths above the average for the corresponding week in previous years — have been registered in Northern Ireland .
Males accounted for about half ( 49 per cent ) of all registered deaths in the calendar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than half ( 54.1per cent ) of the 242 Covid-19 related deaths registered over the same period .
The majority of all deaths registered this week and the year-to-date were of persons aged 75 and above .
This age group accounted for two-thirds of all deaths and almost 75 per cent of Covid-19 related deaths in the year-to-date up to April 17th .
There have been 5,245 deaths registered in the year-to-date , 30.3per cent of which ( 1,589 ) were classified as “ respiratory ” .
The number and proportion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the five-year average of 1,613 ( 31.7 per cent ) .
PHA daily figures cover the number of deaths reported to it where the deceased had a positive test for Covid-19 and died within 28 days , whether or not Covid-19 was the cause of death .
The PHA figures may not capture all deaths that occur outside hospital .
The Nisra weekly provisional death statistics , are based on death registration information collected by the General Register Office , count all deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether or not Covid-19 was the primary underlying cause of death .
The figures include cases where the doctor noted that there was suspected or probable coronavirus infection involved in the death .
As a result the weekly totals will usually be higher than the relevant daily figures — because the DoH daily updates only include those who have tested positive for the virus .

The Northern Ireland Executive has decided to lift restrictions on access to graveyards during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a press conference on Friday afternoon, First Minister Arlene Foster made the announcement, after considerable pressure from sections of the public and religious leaders. She said the North’s Chief Medical and Chief Scientific officers had said it was a “proportionate and low risk amendment”.
Comprehensive weekly figures published on Friday by the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (Nisra) indicated up to the week ending Friday, April 17th, there had been 276 Covid-19 related deaths, in hospitals, care homes and other premises in the North.
The Public Health Agency (PHA), which provides daily updates of predominantly hospital deaths, said the toll by the same date was 212.
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The PHA said on Friday that 15 further people had died since Thursday, bringing its total reported death figures up to April 24th to 278.
At the press conference, Ms Foster asked people to “heed advice” on going out in public, to respect the 2m social distancing rule, and to wash hands thoroughly.
It continues to be the case that wakes should not be held, funerals should be in private with a maximum of 10 people, and there should be no gatherings after funerals.
She described it as “a matter of life and death” and urged people to listen to funeral directors.
She further urged the public to follow all the guidelines in place at present in an effort to suppress the virus.
“We are not out of the woods,” she said. “Making a quick dash for the exit would be a mistake.”
She added that “social distancing will be with us a long time”.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the Executive was easing the restrictions after considering the mental health implications of keeping cemeteries closed and after feedback from the public and others. She said the Executive had “recognised the comfort of visiting graveyards”.
The first ministers offered their condolences to DUP politicians Jeffrey Donaldson and Edwin Poots, whose elderly fathers both died this week, and to Sinn Féin’s Oliver McMullan on the death of his 22-year-old daughter Tierna.
Ms O’Neill said Tierna was: “A beautiful wee star who would light up your day.”
She said “life as we know it has changed” for a couple of years if not beyond that. “The virus is still here and not going away any time soon,” she said.
She added that now was “not the time to talk about an exit strategy”.
A statement on Friday issued by Stormont’s department of finance said the Nisra figures published for the week ending April 17th show that, of the 276 total deaths involving Covid-19, 166 (60.1 per cent) occurred in hospital, 93 (33.7 per cent) occurred in care homes, 3 (1.1 per cent) in hospices and 14 (5.1 per cent) occurred at private addresses or other locations.
The 96 deaths in care homes and hospices involved 44 separate establishments, the statement said.
The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Public Health Agency (PHA) to April 17th was 212.
Death certificates
The PHA figures are based on patients having previously tested positive for the virus, whereas Nisra figures are based on the information entered on death certificates, filled out by medical professionals.
The provisional number of total deaths registered in Northern Ireland in the week ending April 17th was 424, 11 fewer than the week before, but 134 more than the five-year average of 290.
A total of 101 (23.8 per cent) of these deaths mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, bringing the total number of Covid-19 related deaths registered to 242.
Over the last three weeks in total, 410 “excess deaths” — deaths above the average for the corresponding week in previous years — have been registered in Northern Ireland.
Males accounted for about half (49 per cent) of all registered deaths in the calendar year 2020 to April 17th and slightly more than half (54.1per cent) of the 242 Covid-19 related deaths registered over the same period.
The majority of all deaths registered this week and the year-to-date were of persons aged 75 and above. This age group accounted for two-thirds of all deaths and almost 75 per cent of Covid-19 related deaths in the year-to-date up to April 17th.
There have been 5,245 deaths registered in the year-to-date, 30.3 per cent of which (1,589) were classified as “respiratory”.
The number and proportion of respiratory deaths is lower in the year-to-date than the five-year average of 1,613 (31.7 per cent).
Daily figures
PHA daily figures cover the number of deaths reported to it where the deceased had a positive test for Covid-19 and died within 28 days, whether or not Covid-19 was the cause of death.
The PHA figures may not capture all deaths that occur outside hospital.
The Nisra weekly provisional death statistics, are based on death registration information collected by the General Register Office, count all deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate by the doctor who certified the death, whether or not Covid-19 was the primary underlying cause of death.
The figures include cases where the doctor noted that there was suspected or probable coronavirus infection involved in the death.
As a result the weekly totals will usually be higher than the relevant daily figures — because the DoH daily updates only include those who have tested positive for the virus.


theirishtimes--2020-04-24--New study proves the green credentials of Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles ( EVs ) in circulation in Europe emit three-times less carbon dioxide on average than petrol and diesel cars once the impact of driving , power generation and battery production are factored in .
That is the conclusion of the green NGO Transport & Environment ( T & E ) in a study which took into account “ all possible criteria ” to make the comparison , including when electricity is produced or fuel is burnt , as well as raw materials used in making batteries .
Critics of EVs contend that when their full carbon footprint is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ savings compared to conventional cars .
But T & E ’ s study backs other research showing this is not the case with EVs still emerging as the much greener option even when the full carbon footprint is considered .
It has also developed a tool that compiles all the most up-to-date data on CO2 emissions linked to the use of an electric , diesel or petrol cars – including the impact of particular models .
“ We have taken into account all possible criteria such as the amount of CO2 emitted when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as the carbon impact of resource extraction for batteries or of building a power plant , ” explained T & E ’ s transport and emobility analyst Lucien Mathieu .
“ We find out that electric cars in Europe emit , on average , almost three times less CO2 than equivalent petrol/diesel cars.
” In the worst case scenario , an electric car with a battery produced in China and driven in Poland still emits 22 per cent less CO2 than diesel and 28 per cent less than petrol .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an electric car with a battery produced in Sweden and driven in Sweden can emit 80 per cent less CO2 than diesel , and 81 per cent less than petrol.
” “ We also see that electric cars will reduce CO2 emissions four-fold by 2030 thanks to an EU grid relying more and more on renewables , ” he added .
“ This tool puts to rest the myth that driving an electric car in Europe can be worse for the climate than an equivalent diesel or petrol .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ If European governments are serious about decarbonising during the crisis recovery , they must speed up the transition to EVs.
” The tool will be updated as new data is available , he confirmed .
It is accessible here .

Electric vehicles (EVs) in circulation in Europe emit three-times less carbon dioxide on average than petrol and diesel cars once the impact of driving, power generation and battery production are factored in.
That is the conclusion of the green NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) in a study which took into account “all possible criteria” to make the comparison, including when electricity is produced or fuel is burnt, as well as raw materials used in making batteries.
Critics of EVs contend that when their full carbon footprint is taken into account they deliver negligible emissions savings compared to conventional cars. But T&E’s study backs other research showing this is not the case with EVs still emerging as the much greener option even when the full carbon footprint is considered.
It has also developed a tool that compiles all the most up-to-date data on CO2 emissions linked to the use of an electric, diesel or petrol cars – including the impact of particular models.
READ MORE
"We have taken into account all possible criteria such as the amount of CO2 emitted when electricity is produced or fuel is burnt, as well as the carbon impact of resource extraction for batteries or of building a power plant," explained T&E's transport and emobility analyst Lucien Mathieu.
“We find out that electric cars in Europe emit, on average, almost three times less CO2 than equivalent petrol/diesel cars.”
In the worst case scenario, an electric car with a battery produced in China and driven in Poland still emits 22 per cent less CO2 than diesel and 28 per cent less than petrol. "And in the best case scenario, an electric car with a battery produced in Sweden and driven in Sweden can emit 80 per cent less CO2 than diesel, and 81 per cent less than petrol."
“We also see that electric cars will reduce CO2 emissions four-fold by 2030 thanks to an EU grid relying more and more on renewables,” he added.
“This tool puts to rest the myth that driving an electric car in Europe can be worse for the climate than an equivalent diesel or petrol. It’s simply not true,” Mr Mathieu said. “If European governments are serious about decarbonising during the crisis recovery, they must speed up the transition to EVs.”
The tool will be updated as new data is available, he confirmed. It is accessible here.


theirishtimes--2020-04-24--Man due in court over alleged breach of coronavirus restrictions

A 19-year-old man has been arrested and charged in north Dublin for allegedly breaching restrictions on movement introduced to stop the spread of coronavirus .
Gardaí in Ballymun arrested and charged the man after receiving directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions ( DPP ) to charge him over four breaches of legislation to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
“ In relation to all the cases gardaí did engage , educate , encourage and as a last resort did have to enforce , ” a statement from the Garda Press Office said .
The man is due to appear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
A total of 32 people had been arrested for failing to comply with restrictions on non-essential travel and exercise more than 2km from the home , as of last Tuesday .
Another two people were also arrested last week on the instruction of a medical professional .
The emergency legislation grants gardaí the power to detain people who are infected with Covid-19 who refuse to self-isolate , if the direction comes from a health worker .
Under the new guidelines , Garda must seek permission from the Director of Public Prosecutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the emergency legislation .

A man is due in court on Friday morning over alleged breaches of coronavirus legislation. File photograph: Matt Kavanagh
A 19-year-old man has been arrested and charged in north Dublin for allegedly breaching restrictions on movement introduced to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Gardaí in Ballymun arrested and charged the man after receiving directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to charge him over four breaches of legislation to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“In relation to all the cases gardaí did engage, educate, encourage and as a last resort did have to enforce,” a statement from the Garda Press Office said.
The man is due to appear before Dublin District Court at 10.30am on Friday.
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A total of 32 people had been arrested for failing to comply with restrictions on non-essential travel and exercise more than 2km from the home, as of last Tuesday.
Another two people were also arrested last week on the instruction of a medical professional. The emergency legislation grants gardaí the power to detain people who are infected with Covid-19 who refuse to self-isolate, if the direction comes from a health worker.
Under the new guidelines, Garda must seek permission from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) before bringing charges under the emergency legislation.


theirishtimes--2020-04-24--Dublin Bus sees more passengers amid fears over greater public activity

Dublin Bus has notified the Government of an increase in passenger numbers this week as senior officials described the recent increase in public activity as a “ cause for concern ” .
At the Government ’ s morning Covid-19 briefing , assistant secretary general at the Department of Taoiseach Liz Canavan said the Government is aware of concerns that “ people are becoming complacent ” about coronavirus restrictions .
“ Dublin Bus notified us yesterday evening of an increase in passenger numbers day on day this week and all days are above levels seen in previous weeks .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to try and pinpoint more specific data on this for us .
An Garda Siochana will also keep us updated on their view.
” Gardaí will again operate a large network of checkpoints across the country this weekend and urge people to stay home and stay safe .
“ We will continue to monitor a range of indicators which allow us to understand the level of compliance with current restrictions .
While movement alone does not mean that people are breaking social distancing rules when they are out , it is certainly a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ The more we move around , the more risk we create .
Increased footfall means we are sharing spaces , using the same facilities , coming into contact with more shared surfaces , even if we are not there at the same time.
” On Thursday the Government said that there had been no notable increase in traffic on national roads on the basis of figures provided by Transport Infrastructure Ireland for earlier in the week .
Ms Canavan said work is underway to provide real time information on such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief medical officer Tony Holohan said that there is in fact evidence of increased traffic and more people on the move .
Ms Canavan defended the Government ’ s decision to release the TII figures and said that they want to provide the public with as much information as possible when such information is received .
She said at assumptions can not be made that if the public relaxes the virus will behave any differently than it has up to now .
On the Government ’ s proposed roadmap for potentially easing restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ There is a meeting of trade unions and employers today with the Taoiseach to outline our own approach to the gradual reopening on a basis that is safe for both employers and employees and it is part of a number of ongoing discussions.
” Earlier , Minister for Health Simon Harris said the Government will have greater options concerning coronavirus restrictions by May 5th if people continue to follow current measures closel .
“ I need people at home to know that these next 12 days matter , because the more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more headroom , for want of a better phrase , that we actually give ourselves in terms of options.
” On Thursday , the deaths were announced of another 28 people who had been diagnosed with Covid-19 , alongside a significant spike in diagnosed cases of 936 .
This brought the laboratory-confirmed death toll to 794 and the number of confirmed cases to 17,607 .
Ruairí Brugha , professor of epidemiology and public health medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland ( RCSI ) warned on Friday morning that “ we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and that “ we ’ re not going back to normal ” with regard to hygiene and physical distancing .
Speaking on Morning Ireland he also warned that if restrictions are eased “ in a phased way ” it is up to the public to take responsibility for their behaviour .
“ It is not enough to have four fifths of us taking responsibility .
It takes only a small number behaving in a celebratory manner … I takes only two to three per cent behaving in an irresponsible way and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of medical affairs with a company that manufactures vaccines also warned that it is difficult to put a time frame on the development of a vaccine for Covid-19 .
Jon Barbour , of GSK Ireland said developing a vaccine is a very challenging process and in some cases can take up to 10 years .
The great challenge now is to come up with an effective vaccine in a shorter time .
It was unprecedented that researchers , academics and the pharmaceutical industry around the world had come together to find a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of global cooperation was unprecedented .
“ It ’ s a complex process with many working together ” , he said .
Experts agreed that a time frame should not be put on such efforts , but “ typically it could take 12-18 months ” .

Dublin Bus has reduced capacity on its vehicles as part of efforts to suppress coronavirus. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Dublin Bus has notified the Government of an increase in passenger numbers this week as senior officials described the recent increase in public activity as a “cause for concern”.
At the Government’s morning Covid-19 briefing, assistant secretary general at the Department of Taoiseach Liz Canavan said the Government is aware of concerns that “people are becoming complacent” about coronavirus restrictions.
“Dublin Bus notified us yesterday evening of an increase in passenger numbers day on day this week and all days are above levels seen in previous weeks.
“They are engaging with the National Transport Authority to try and pinpoint more specific data on this for us. An Garda Siochana will also keep us updated on their view.”
READ MORE
Gardaí will again operate a large network of checkpoints across the country this weekend and urge people to stay home and stay safe.
“We will continue to monitor a range of indicators which allow us to understand the level of compliance with current restrictions. While movement alone does not mean that people are breaking social distancing rules when they are out, it is certainly a cause for concern,” Ms Canavan said.
Risk
“The more we move around, the more risk we create. Increased footfall means we are sharing spaces, using the same facilities, coming into contact with more shared surfaces, even if we are not there at the same time.”
On Thursday the Government said that there had been no notable increase in traffic on national roads on the basis of figures provided by Transport Infrastructure Ireland for earlier in the week.
Ms Canavan said work is underway to provide real time information on such movement. Later on Thursday evening the chief medical officer Tony Holohan said that there is in fact evidence of increased traffic and more people on the move.
Ms Canavan defended the Government’s decision to release the TII figures and said that they want to provide the public with as much information as possible when such information is received.
She said at assumptions cannot be made that if the public relaxes the virus will behave any differently than it has up to now.
On the Government’s proposed roadmap for potentially easing restrictions, Ms Canavan said work is ongoing.
“There is a meeting of trade unions and employers today with the Taoiseach to outline our own approach to the gradual reopening on a basis that is safe for both employers and employees and it is part of a number of ongoing discussions.”
Earlier, Minister for Health Simon Harris said the Government will have greater options concerning coronavirus restrictions by May 5th if people continue to follow current measures closel.
“I need people at home to know that these next 12 days matter, because the more we can suppress the virus, the more headroom, for want of a better phrase, that we actually give ourselves in terms of options.”
On Thursday, the deaths were announced of another 28 people who had been diagnosed with Covid-19, alongside a significant spike in diagnosed cases of 936. This brought the laboratory-confirmed death toll to 794 and the number of confirmed cases to 17,607.
Ruairí Brugha, professor of epidemiology and public health medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) warned on Friday morning that “we’re looking at the long haul” and that “we’re not going back to normal” with regard to hygiene and physical distancing.
Responsibility
Speaking on Morning Ireland he also warned that if restrictions are eased “in a phased way” it is up to the public to take responsibility for their behaviour.
“It is not enough to have four fifths of us taking responsibility. It takes only a small number behaving in a celebratory manner … I takes only two to three per cent behaving in an irresponsible way and the virus will jump up again.
The head of medical affairs with a company that manufactures vaccines also warned that it is difficult to put a time frame on the development of a vaccine for Covid-19.
Jon Barbour, of GSK Ireland said developing a vaccine is a very challenging process and in some cases can take up to 10 years.
The great challenge now is to come up with an effective vaccine in a shorter time. It was unprecedented that researchers, academics and the pharmaceutical industry around the world had come together to find a vaccine, he said.
This level of global cooperation was unprecedented. “It’s a complex process with many working together”, he said.
Experts agreed that a time frame should not be put on such efforts, but “typically it could take 12-18 months”.


theirishtimes--2020-04-24--Coronavirus: ‘If it was today we wouldn’t be lifting restrictions’, Holohan warns

Public health officials have said there is no certainty restrictions will be relaxed next month , despite a range of positive data indicating “ significant suppression ” in growth of the Covid-19 virus .
Speaking last night , chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan warned against complacency and pointed to data from mobile phones and seismic sensors that suggested an increase in activity , or a “ slippage ” in compliance .
Dr Holohan said he understood the public ’ s frustration , but “ it would take very little indeed for us to lose the good work we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may feel Ireland is on “ a pathway towards the slackening of measures on May 5th , that is not the case .
If the decision was to be made today , we wouldn ’ t be advising any of the restrictions in place be relaxed , ” he said .
“ It ’ s really important that people don ’ t anticipate that ’ s what ’ s going to happen on May 5th .
It is not a certainty that this is the position we ’ ll be in.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of another 28 people who had been diagnosed with Covid-19 , alongside a significant spike in diagnosed cases of 936 .
This brought the laboratory-confirmed death toll to 794 and the number of confirmed cases to 17,607 .
Data from the Department of Health indicates the spread of the disease has slowed across a variety of measures .
Prof Philip Nolan , chairman of the National Public Health Emergency Team ’ s ( NPHET ) epidemiological modelling group , said there had been a “ very significant suppression of the growth of Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the different indicators you might use ” .
The reproduction rate of the virus , the so-called R0 number , is somewhere between 0.5 and 0.8 , meaning that on average every infected person is passing the virus on to less than one other person .
However , discussing the potential growth of that metric if measures were relaxed , he said an R number of 1.6 would see “ a dangerous peak in cases , perhaps up to 1,000 a week ” .
Meanwhile , stricter measures are expected for passengers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be checked to ensure they would self-isolate under new measures to be announced shortly , Minister for Health Simon Harris told the Dáil on Thursday .
It would involve “ more than just taking a person at their word that they are following the isolation restrictions ” , he said .
The Dáil was also told the Leaving Cert exams would start on July 29th .
However , Minister for Education Joe McHugh said the Government was considering all contingencies , including predictive assessment .
Earlier , Opposition party leaders criticised the Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of transparency , and raised questions about who is in control of decision-making .
Labour leader Alan Kelly questioned the make-up of the NPHET , which he said had grown substantially since it was convened in January , with 11 sub-groups .
He asked if the Government had approved this : “ Who is NPHET accountable to ?
Who makes the final decisions ?
” Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said there had been “ too often a sense of a resistance to being upfront about problems until the solution has been @ @ @

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the Dáil that the easing of Covid-19 public health measures "will be gradual" and may not mirror the manner in which they were introduced. Video: Oireachtas TV
Public health officials have said there is no certainty restrictions will be relaxed next month, despite a range of positive data indicating “significant suppression” in growth of the Covid-19 virus.
Speaking last night, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan warned against complacency and pointed to data from mobile phones and seismic sensors that suggested an increase in activity, or a “slippage” in compliance.
Dr Holohan said he understood the public’s frustration, but “it would take very little indeed for us to lose the good work we have done”.
The data we received this afternoon shows an increase in patterns of driving, walking and transit among those who use Apple devices in recent days.
However, we also know from @TIITraffic that car traffic along the national road network is a fraction of what it normally is. pic.twitter.com/85T6v2QlPs — Dr Tony Holohan (@CMOIreland) April 23, 2020
He said while people may feel Ireland is on “a pathway towards the slackening of measures on May 5th, that is not the case. If the decision was to be made today, we wouldn’t be advising any of the restrictions in place be relaxed,” he said.
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“It’s really important that people don’t anticipate that’s what’s going to happen on May 5th. It is not a certainty that this is the position we’ll be in.”
He was speaking as he reported the deaths of another 28 people who had been diagnosed with Covid-19, alongside a significant spike in diagnosed cases of 936. This brought the laboratory-confirmed death toll to 794 and the number of confirmed cases to 17,607.
‘Significant suppression’
Data from the Department of Health indicates the spread of the disease has slowed across a variety of measures. Prof Philip Nolan, chairman of the National Public Health Emergency Team’s (NPHET) epidemiological modelling group, said there had been a “very significant suppression of the growth of Covid-19 . . . in Ireland monitored against all the different indicators you might use”.
The reproduction rate of the virus, the so-called R0 number, is somewhere between 0.5 and 0.8, meaning that on average every infected person is passing the virus on to less than one other person.
Valerio Calderoni, owner of an italian tipical restaurant, and his wife Martina, pose for a picture during a test for a of possible plexiglass separator between tables of restaurant ‘’Il Ciak’’, Trastevere district in Rome on Thursday. Photograph: Fabio Frustaci/EPA
However, discussing the potential growth of that metric if measures were relaxed, he said an R number of 1.6 would see “a dangerous peak in cases, perhaps up to 1,000 a week”.
Meanwhile, stricter measures are expected for passengers arriving into the State. Travellers would be checked to ensure they would self-isolate under new measures to be announced shortly, Minister for Health Simon Harris told the Dáil on Thursday. It would involve “more than just taking a person at their word that they are following the isolation restrictions”, he said.
Lack of transparency
The Dáil was also told the Leaving Cert exams would start on July 29th. However, Minister for Education Joe McHugh said the Government was considering all contingencies, including predictive assessment.
Earlier, Opposition party leaders criticised the Government over what they have claimed is a lack of transparency, and raised questions about who is in control of decision-making.
Labour leader Alan Kelly questioned the make-up of the NPHET, which he said had grown substantially since it was convened in January, with 11 sub-groups. He asked if the Government had approved this: “ Who is NPHET accountable to? Who makes the final decisions?”
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said there had been “too often a sense of a resistance to being upfront about problems until the solution has been found”.


theirishtimes--2020-04-23--Coronavirus: Nursing homes say they are not getting staff support from HSE

The vast bulk of private nursing homes have not received any staffing support from the Health Service Executive in dealing with the impact of Covid-19 following on from agreement reached last week , their representative body has maintained .
Nursing Homes Ireland said urgent staff redeployment was needed from the public health service to deal with an emerging “ huge crisis ” .
Nursing Homes Ireland said 96 per cent of nursing homes ( 227 of the 236 who responded to a survey ) said they had not received staffing support from the HSE .
Last week , the HSE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would allow existing health service personnel to volunteer to work in private nursing homes which had been affected by Covid-19 .
“ The heralded redeployment of staff is not manifesting on the ground , ” Nursing Home Ireland said .
It said “ a huge crisis is now emerging and is likely to exacerbate , arising from mass testing for Covid-19 being undertaken in nursing homes ” .
“ A snapshot survey of private and voluntary nursing homes across the country , undertaken Wednesday , April 22nd , informed there are large numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now unavailable due to Covid-19.
” It said 60 nursing homes said that overall 107 senior nurses were absent due to Covid-19 , and 102 nursing homes said of 223 nurses were absent due to Covid-19 .
Four nursing homes said more than 10 of their nursing staff were absent , and 158 nursing homes said 427 healthcare assistants were absent due to Covid-19 .
Responding to the survey at Thursday ’ s National Public Health Emergency Team briefing , Dr Colm Henry , the HSE ’ s chief clinical officer , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to nursing homes .
Dr Henry said : “ If the screening that is taking place now identifies additional staff having to go off as asymptomatic cases or contacts , we will have to look at redeploying more staff from acute hospitals .
“ We were building up the acute sector for a surge that thankfully didn ’ t happen and we may have to tap into resources.
” He pointed to examples of staff from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , the Central Remedial Clinic and the University of Limerick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That , I ’ m afraid , will have to increase because of the likelihood we ’ ll identify more positive cases in nursing homes during the screening exercise we began last Friday.
” Minister for Health Simon Harris has said the decision to prioritise testing in nursing homes would result in large numbers of staff being able to go back to work quickly .
Mr Harris was responding to concerns about the survey raised by Sinn Féin health spokeswoman Louise O ’ Reilly .
She said there was an urgent need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been given to utilising private hospitals to assist the nursing home sector when the “ taxpayer is on the hook for a minimum of €345 million ” .
She said some of their staff could be redeployed when the hospitals have 80 per cent of vacancies .
Mr Harris said one of the best ways to address the issue of staffing in nursing homes was to quickly turn around the test results for such staff .
He said there would be a broadening of the criteria for testing and they had the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was confident they were moving to this rate of testing .

Sinn Féin health spokeswoman Louise O’Reilly has asked if consideration has been given to using private hospitals to assist the nursing home sector when the “taxpayer is on the hook for a minimum of €345 million”. Photograph: Alan Betson
The vast bulk of private nursing homes have not received any staffing support from the Health Service Executive in dealing with the impact of Covid-19 following on from agreement reached last week, their representative body has maintained.
Nursing Homes Ireland said urgent staff redeployment was needed from the public health service to deal with an emerging "huge crisis".
Nursing Homes Ireland said 96 per cent of nursing homes (227 of the 236 who responded to a survey) said they had not received staffing support from the HSE.
Last week, the HSE and trade unions announced an agreement which would allow existing health service personnel to volunteer to work in private nursing homes which had been affected by Covid-19.
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“The heralded redeployment of staff is not manifesting on the ground,” Nursing Home Ireland said.
It said “a huge crisis is now emerging and is likely to exacerbate, arising from mass testing for Covid-19 being undertaken in nursing homes”.
Unavailable staff
“A snapshot survey of private and voluntary nursing homes across the country, undertaken Wednesday, April 22nd, informed there are large numbers of nursing, care and other staff now unavailable due to Covid-19.”
It said 60 nursing homes said that overall 107 senior nurses were absent due to Covid-19, and 102 nursing homes said of 223 nurses were absent due to Covid-19. Four nursing homes said more than 10 of their nursing staff were absent, and 158 nursing homes said 427 healthcare assistants were absent due to Covid-19.
Responding to the survey at Thursday’s National Public Health Emergency Team briefing, Dr Colm Henry, the HSE’s chief clinical officer, said staff from acute hospitals may be redeployed to nursing homes.
Dr Henry said: “If the screening that is taking place now identifies additional staff having to go off as asymptomatic cases or contacts, we will have to look at redeploying more staff from acute hospitals.
‘Screening exercise’
“We were building up the acute sector for a surge that thankfully didn’t happen and we may have to tap into resources.” He pointed to examples of staff from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the Central Remedial Clinic and the University of Limerick Hospital Group being deployed already. “That, I’m afraid, will have to increase because of the likelihood we’ll identify more positive cases in nursing homes during the screening exercise we began last Friday.”
Minister for Health Simon Harris has said the decision to prioritise testing in nursing homes would result in large numbers of staff being able to go back to work quickly.
Mr Harris was responding to concerns about the survey raised by Sinn Féin health spokeswoman Louise O’Reilly . She said there was an urgent need to address this issue and asked if consideration had been given to utilising private hospitals to assist the nursing home sector when the “taxpayer is on the hook for a minimum of €345 million”. She said some of their staff could be redeployed when the hospitals have 80 per cent of vacancies.
Mr Harris said one of the best ways to address the issue of staffing in nursing homes was to quickly turn around the test results for such staff.
He said there would be a broadening of the criteria for testing and they had the capacity for 10,000 tests a day. He was confident they were moving to this rate of testing.


theirishtimes--2020-04-23--Coronavirus: Community spread mostly under control, but evidence of people moving about

The deaths of another 28 people who had been diagnosed with Covid-19 have been reported by the Department of Health , alongside a significant spike in diagnosed cases .
However , Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan said the 936 new cases had to be seen in the context of “ an ambitious programme of testing in nursing homes and residential facilities ” .
Some 794 people have now died in Ireland following a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of the virus .
Modelling data published by the Department of Health suggests that at the moment , the spread of the virus in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dr Holohan emphasised that significant risks were still attached to the relaxation of the measures .
Warning against complacency , he pointed to data gleaned from seismilogical sensors , as well as mobile phones , which indicated an increase in activity in the last few days .
“ This is giving us hard evidence that there is more population movement in spite of our continuing advice .
It ’ s giving us an evidential base for some of the concerns we ’ ve been expressing ” He said that while people may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pathway towards the slackening of measures on the fifth of May , that is not the case .
If the decision was to be made today , we wouldn ’ t be advising any of the restrictions in place be relaxed .
“ It ’ s really important that people don ’ t anticipate that ’ s what ’ s going to happen on the 5th of May , it is not a certainty that this is the position we ’ ll be in ” .
“ It would take very little indeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have done ; there ’ s no sense in which we have achieved something here that couldn ’ t all be undone very quickly , ” he said .
Prof Philip Nolan , chairman of the National Public Health Emergency Team ’ s epidemiological modelling group , said that the reproduction rate of the virus , the so-called R0 number , was somewhere between 0.5 and 0.8 , meaning that on average every infected person is passing the virus on to less than one other person .
However , discusssing the potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relaxed , he said an R number of 1.6 would see “ a dangerous peak in cases , perhaps up to 1,000 a week ” .
If it were to grow to 2.4 , “ we have a real difficulty , we wouldn ’ t be able to cope with that , quite frankly ” .
Prof Nolan said there had been a “ very significant supression of the growth of Covid-19 .
.
.
in Ireland monitored against all the different indicators you might use ” .
He said data showed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general population ” , but it was not clear whether it is under control in nursing homes and other long term residential facilities .
The latest data shows that 60.8 per cent of those diagnosed with the virus , some 10,004 people , have recovered , with 3,638 ( 22.1 per cent ) still unwell , and 816 ( 5 per cent ) in hospital .
The numbers of deaths per day , Prof Nolan said , has been relatively stable since the end of the first week in April , “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be under control ” .
Despite the positive trends in the data , Prof Nolan emphasised that “ while we are on track to get the level of disease down , but we ’ re certainly not there yet ” .
The Government and its public health expert team published seemingly contradictory datasets on public movement on Thursday , with the Chief Medical Officer saying sensor information showed there had been “ slippage ” in compliance with lockdown protocals .
Pointing to data gleaned from the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies ’ National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an increase in activity in recent days , Dr Tony Holohan said it was “ hard evidence that there is more population movement in spite of our continuing advice ” .
He also referred to data captured from Apple-made smartphones , which showed an increase in people walking , driving and taking public transport .
While he sympathised with the impact unprecedented restrictions are having on people , he emphasised that positive trends in recent data could easily be undone if social distancing and other measures were not observed .
Earlier in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed to data from the National Transport Authority ( NTA ) which showed the number of cars on Ireland ’ s road network had fallen by up to 70 per cent compared to the same dates in 2019 .
Liz Canavan , the assistant secretary at the Department , said that while there is “ anecdotal evidence ” in relation to more people being on the roads , TII “ undertook an analysis of the traffice figures for this week , and the volumes are in line with the previous weeks since the @ @ @ @ @

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan says that data provided by the Irish National Seismic Network - used to monitor earthquakes - shows an increase in population movement in recent days, despite continued coronavirus restrictions. Video: RTÉ
The deaths of another 28 people who had been diagnosed with Covid-19 have been reported by the Department of Health, alongside a significant spike in diagnosed cases.
However, Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan said the 936 new cases had to be seen in the context of "an ambitious programme of testing in nursing homes and residential facilities".
Some 794 people have now died in Ireland following a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of the virus.
Modelling data published by the Department of Health suggests that at the moment, the spread of the virus in the community is substantially under control. However, Dr Holohan emphasised that significant risks were still attached to the relaxation of the measures.
READ MORE
Warning against complacency, he pointed to data gleaned from seismilogical sensors, as well as mobile phones, which indicated an increase in activity in the last few days.
“This is giving us hard evidence that there is more population movement in spite of our continuing advice. It’s giving us an evidential base for some of the concerns we’ve been expressing”
He said that while people may feel that Ireland is on “a pathway towards the slackening of measures on the fifth of May, that is not the case. If the decision was to be made today, we wouldn’t be advising any of the restrictions in place be relaxed.
“It’s really important that people don’t anticipate that’s what’s going to happen on the 5th of May, it is not a certainty that this is the position we’ll be in”.
“It would take very little indeed for us to lose the good work we have done; there’s no sense in which we have achieved something here that couldn’t all be undone very quickly,” he said.
‘Significant supression’
Prof Philip Nolan, chairman of the National Public Health Emergency Team's epidemiological modelling group, said that the reproduction rate of the virus, the so-called R0 number, was somewhere between 0.5 and 0.8, meaning that on average every infected person is passing the virus on to less than one other person.
However, discusssing the potential growth of that metric if measures are relaxed, he said an R number of 1.6 would see “a dangerous peak in cases, perhaps up to 1,000 a week”. If it were to grow to 2.4, “we have a real difficulty, we wouldn’t be able to cope with that, quite frankly”.
Prof Nolan said there had been a “very significant supression of the growth of Covid-19. . . in Ireland monitored against all the different indicators you might use”. He said data showed the disease is “heavily suppressed in the general population”, but it was not clear whether it is under control in nursing homes and other long term residential facilities.
The latest data shows that 60.8 per cent of those diagnosed with the virus, some 10,004 people, have recovered, with 3,638 (22.1 per cent) still unwell, and 816 (5 per cent) in hospital. The numbers of deaths per day, Prof Nolan said, has been relatively stable since the end of the first week in April, “a final indication that the disease appears to be under control”.
Despite the positive trends in the data, Prof Nolan emphasised that “while we are on track to get the level of disease down, but we’re certainly not there yet”.
Contradictory datasets
The Government and its public health expert team published seemingly contradictory datasets on public movement on Thursday, with the Chief Medical Officer saying sensor information showed there had been “slippage” in compliance with lockdown protocals.
Pointing to data gleaned from the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies’ National Seismic Network, which appeared to show an increase in activity in recent days, Dr Tony Holohan said it was “hard evidence that there is more population movement in spite of our continuing advice”.
He also referred to data captured from Apple-made smartphones, which showed an increase in people walking, driving and taking public transport. While he sympathised with the impact unprecedented restrictions are having on people, he emphasised that positive trends in recent data could easily be undone if social distancing and other measures were not observed.
Earlier in the day, the Department of the Taoiseach pointed to data from the National Transport Authority (NTA) which showed the number of cars on Ireland's road network had fallen by up to 70 per cent compared to the same dates in 2019.
Liz Canavan, the assistant secretary at the Department, said that while there is "anecdotal evidence" in relation to more people being on the roads, TII "undertook an analysis of the traffice figures for this week, and the volumes are in line with the previous weeks since the restrictions were introduced."


theirishtimes--2020-04-23--An Post and The Irish Times team up to deliver news to your home

A Co Meath family yesterday were among the first in Ireland to receive a copy of The Irish Times from their local postman as part of a new system designed to keep newspapers flowing to homes around the country .
The Mooneys , who are cocooning in their home near Trim , were one of more than 200 households who had newspapers delivered on Thursday by An Post as part of a new service .
The service is designed to help readers of the print edition of The Irish Times throughout the State keep up to date with the news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes because of the Covid-19 restrictions .
“ This partnership with An Post came about because of the challenges of the pandemic , and we are very pleased to now offer every person in the country access to their preferred newspaper when they want it , delivered safely to their home , ” said Liam Kavanagh , managing director of The Irish Times .
“ It ’ s a great demonstration of how business can respond in the face of adversity.
” In the coming weeks , the new service is expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ households .
It is not the only initiative operated by An Post to respond to the public health emergency – earlier this month , the company said it would provide staff to check on older and more vulnerable members of society cut off from their relatives and friends as a result of movement restrictions .
Orders for newspaper delivery can be placed through the News Delivery service , owned and operated by The Irish Times , by visiting newsdelivery.ie Separately , An Post offers a facility where families can register for a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge .
If someone has a specific need for groceries or prescriptions , the postal worker will provide them with details of Alone – the national charity ensuring personal support to older and vulnerable people during the crisis .

A Co Meath family yesterday were among the first in Ireland to receive a copy of The Irish Times from their local postman as part of a new system designed to keep newspapers flowing to homes around the country.
The Mooneys, who are cocooning in their home near Trim, were one of more than 200 households who had newspapers delivered on Thursday by An Post as part of a new service.
The service is designed to help readers of the print edition of The Irish Times throughout the State keep up to date with the news, particularly those who arecocooned in their homes because of the Covid-19 restrictions.
Anne Mooney takes delivery of The Irish Times from the postman. Photograph: Michael Mooney
"This partnership with An Post came about because of the challenges of the pandemic, and we are very pleased to now offer every person in the country access to their preferred newspaper when they want it, delivered safely to their home," said Liam Kavanagh, managing director of The Irish Times. "It's a great demonstration of how business can respond in the face of adversity."
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In the coming weeks, the new service is expected to grow quickly to reach more than 2,000 households.
It is not the only initiative operated by An Post to respond to the public health emergency – earlier this month, the company said it would provide staff to check on older and more vulnerable members of society cut off from their relatives and friends as a result of movement restrictions.
Orders for newspaper delivery can be placed through the News Delivery service, owned and operated by The Irish Times, by visiting newsdelivery.ie
Separately, An Post offers a facility where families can register for a “request a check-in” service free of charge.
If someone has a specific need for groceries or prescriptions, the postal worker will provide them with details of Alone – the national charity ensuring personal support to older and vulnerable people during the crisis.


theirishtimes--2020-04-25--‘An angel at the door’: One family’s experience of Night Nurse

Carmel Costello was “ a very young ” 73-year-old when she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2016 .
It marked the beginning of a long interaction with the health system .
When it became clear the illness was terminal , Carmel ’ s daughter Caroline explains , her only wish was to stay and die in her own home .
That was not a surprise to the family given their mother had lived in her Artane house in north Dublin for 49 years .
She declined hospice care and so Caroline and her sister Charmaine all but moved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her .
“ She was never on her own , ” Caroline says , looking back .
“ As she got worse it got to the point where the two of us needed to be there together .
One of us would go to bed and the other would stay up with mum.
” Things took a turn after one particularly challenging weekend .
The palliative team pointed her family towards the Irish Cancer Society ’ s Night Nurse service .
The nurse , who was called Deirdre , arrived and took over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can only describe it that an angel came to the door , ” says Caroline .
“ I can ’ t express how much of a difference it made to all of us as a family .
It meant that we were actually able to go to bed but knowing that someone was going to be able to provide her with the care that we were able to give her during the day.
” The family felt cared for , too , such was the level of quiet support .
They had the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woken in the middle of the night if there was any deterioration in Carmel ’ s health .
She died on a December afternoon in 2017 .
“ She stayed in her own home until the day she died .
She brought us into the world and we were there when she left it , ” Caroline says .
“ We were able to do that because we got that support at the critical time .
You don ’ t get it for ever but they seem to know when you need it @ @

Caroline Costello: ‘You don’t get [the support] for ever but they seem to know when you need it.’ Photograph: Tom O’Hanlon
Carmel Costello was "a very young" 73-year-old when she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2016. It marked the beginning of a long interaction with the health system. When it became clear the illness was terminal, Carmel's daughter Caroline explains, her only wish was to stay and die in her own home.
That was not a surprise to the family given their mother had lived in her Artane house in north Dublin for 49 years. She declined hospice care and so Caroline and her sister Charmaine all but moved in permanently, taking turns to care for her.
“She was never on her own,” Caroline says, looking back. “As she got worse it got to the point where the two of us needed to be there together. One of us would go to bed and the other would stay up with mum.”
Things took a turn after one particularly challenging weekend. The palliative team pointed her family towards the Irish Cancer Society’s Night Nurse service. The nurse, who was called Deirdre, arrived and took over from 11pm to 7am.
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They had the comfort of knowing that they would be woken in the middle of the night if there was any deterioration in Carmel's health
“I can only describe it that an angel came to the door,” says Caroline.
“I can’t express how much of a difference it made to all of us as a family. It meant that we were actually able to go to bed but knowing that someone was going to be able to provide her with the care that we were able to give her during the day.”
The family felt cared for, too, such was the level of quiet support. They had the comfort of knowing that they would be woken in the middle of the night if there was any deterioration in Carmel’s health.
She died on a December afternoon in 2017. “She stayed in her own home until the day she died. She brought us into the world and we were there when she left it,” Caroline says.
“We were able to do that because we got that support at the critical time. You don’t get it for ever but they seem to know when you need it.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-25--Tipperary farmer joins class action against ski resort over Covid-19 infection

A Co Tipperary farmer has joined a class action lawsuit against the Austrian ski resort of Ischgl after he and four friends contracted Covid-19 during their week-long stay last month .
At least 5,000 people , hailing from Iceland to Israel , have registered interest with an Austrian lawyer who suspects the village , local businesses and the region of Tyrol ignored health warnings about Ischgl being a Covid-19 hotspot .
“ This isn ’ t about monetary gain , someone has to be answerable because there was wrong done , ” said Brendan Bourke ( 53 ) , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four friends flew out from Dublin on February 29th for a week ’ s holidays in Ischgl .
They had four good days of skiing and spent their evenings in village bars , where there were occasional coronavirus jokes but no real concerns .
He said the bars were “ always jam-packed with people ” and that “ from a certain time of the evening staff have to blow whistles to get through with their glasses ” .
On March 6th , a day before they left , one of Mr Bourke ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they first heard about Covid-19 cases in Iceland among people returning from Ischgl .
A day earlier Icelandic health officials warned their Austrian counterparts of 14 skiers having returned from the village with Covid-19 .
The Austrians suggested they could have picked up the virus on the plane back .
Similar clusters were soon reported among Ischgl returnees in Sweden , Germany and Denmark .
Norway believes 40 per cent of its Covid-19 cases can be traced to the Alpine village .
Mr Bourke says he fell ill three days after returning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pain , shortness of breath and pressure in his chest .
Between returning and falling ill , he attended two rugby events , visited a meat factory and at least one farm and did two school runs .
He had tea with his neighbour but told his 91-year-old mother , who lives next door , to keep her distance .
Once diagnosed , Mr Bourke self-isolated and neither his wife nor children have developed symptoms , nor have those with whom he had contact on his return .
All four of his friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms ; one infected his wife and 10-month-old baby as well as four people in his office .
While sick at home on around March 12th , Mr Bourke logged on to the Ischgl website and , via a webcam , was amazed to see skiers still on the slopes .
Days later , Ischgl made world headlines as a super-spreader Covid-19 “ catapult village ” .
Austrian lawyer Peter Kolba , organiser of the class action suit , says he is aware of 11 Covid-19 deaths to date of people with direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 500 people have already given him power of attorney in his suit , seeking answers on the eight-day gap between the Icelandic warning and the Ischgl shut-down .
“ Our main focus is on the authorities who , we suspect , acted too slowly with massive pressure from the tourism industry and powerful ski lift companies , ” said Dr Kolba .
Local mayor Werner Kurz has hit back at international criticism , saying the village acted in line with official advice as quickly as possible .
“ No one knew this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for all , ” he said .
Apart from a persistent cough , Mr Bourke says he has recovered from Covid-19 but has mixed feelings now .
“ There ’ s a sign in the main street in Ischgl , the first thing you see , that reads ‘ Relax if you can ’ , ” he said .
“ I can ’ t relax because of what happened there .
I just hope there ’ s no longer-term health damage .
”

A Co Tipperary farmer has joined a class action lawsuit against the Austrian ski resort of Ischgl after he and four friends contracted Covid-19 during their week-long stay last month.
At least 5,000 people, hailing from Iceland to Israel, have registered interest with an Austrian lawyer who suspects the village, local businesses and the region of Tyrol ignored health warnings about Ischgl being a Covid-19 hotspot.
“This isn’t about monetary gain, someone has to be answerable because there was wrong done,” said Brendan Bourke (53), from Killea near Templemore.
Mr Bourke and four friends flew out from Dublin on February 29th for a week’s holidays in Ischgl. They had four good days of skiing and spent their evenings in village bars, where there were occasional coronavirus jokes but no real concerns.
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He said the bars were “always jam-packed with people” and that “from a certain time of the evening staff have to blow whistles to get through with their glasses”.
On March 6th, a day before they left, one of Mr Bourke’s group developed a cough just as they first heard about Covid-19 cases in Iceland among people returning from Ischgl.
A day earlier Icelandic health officials warned their Austrian counterparts of 14 skiers having returned from the village with Covid-19. The Austrians suggested they could have picked up the virus on the plane back.
Ischgl, a tourism hotspot in Austria, where many visitors say they contracted coronavirus. Photograph: Johann Groder/AFP via Getty
Similar clusters were soon reported among Ischgl returnees in Sweden, Germany and Denmark. Norway believes 40 per cent of its Covid-19 cases can be traced to the Alpine village.
Mr Bourke says he fell ill three days after returning, experiencing a cough, back and neck pain, shortness of breath and pressure in his chest.
Between returning and falling ill, he attended two rugby events, visited a meat factory and at least one farm and did two school runs. He had tea with his neighbour but told his 91-year-old mother, who lives next door, to keep her distance.
Super-spreader
Once diagnosed, Mr Bourke self-isolated and neither his wife nor children have developed symptoms, nor have those with whom he had contact on his return.
All four of his friends tested positive after returning and had mild symptoms; one infected his wife and 10-month-old baby as well as four people in his office.
While sick at home on around March 12th, Mr Bourke logged on to the Ischgl website and, via a webcam, was amazed to see skiers still on the slopes. Days later, Ischgl made world headlines as a super-spreader Covid-19 “catapult village”.
Austrian lawyer Peter Kolba, organiser of the class action suit, says he is aware of 11 Covid-19 deaths to date of people with direct or indirect links to Ischgl.
More than 500 people have already given him power of attorney in his suit, seeking answers on the eight-day gap between the Icelandic warning and the Ischgl shut-down.
“Our main focus is on the authorities who, we suspect, acted too slowly with massive pressure from the tourism industry and powerful ski lift companies,” said Dr Kolba.
Local mayor Werner Kurz has hit back at international criticism, saying the village acted in line with official advice as quickly as possible.
“No one knew this virus, it was a new situation for all,” he said.
Apart from a persistent cough, Mr Bourke says he has recovered from Covid-19 but has mixed feelings now.
“There’s a sign in the main street in Ischgl, the first thing you see, that reads ‘Relax if you can’,” he said. “I can’t relax because of what happened there. I just hope there’s no longer-term health damage.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-25--HSE takes issue with coronavirus testing expansion plans

The HSE has expressed concern over the recent announcement that testing for Covid-19 is to be significantly expanded to cover 100,000 suspected cases a week .
HSE chairman Ciarán Devane wrote to Minister for Health Simon Harris in recent days , it is understood , while HSE chief executive Paul Reid wrote to the department ’ s secretary general , Jim Breslin .
On Friday last week the National Public Health Emergency Team , which is chaired by Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan , decided the level of testing for Covid-19 should be increased to assess 100,000 people a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for a minimum of six months .
Within the HSE there is understood to have been worries about capacity and concern at the process that led to the announcement of the move , as well as what was seen as a lack of consultation .
Both the HSE and the Department of Health declined to answer specific questions about the letters on Friday .
Government sources said the Minister had received two letters from Mr Devane in April and that neither mentioned the commitment to increase testing for Covid-19 .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were about the process that led to the announcement of the 100,000 tests per week on Friday of last week .
Labour leader Alan Kelly , who raised issues around accountability in the emergency team in the Dáil on Thursday , called for the letters to be released .
“ I asked the Taoiseach in the Dáil if there was any correspondence from the HSE to the Government regarding governance issues .
Now we know that there are , and I am calling on the Taoiseach to publish these letters and address all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them , ” Mr Kelly said .
Separately , the Department of Health has been notified of a further 37 deaths of people diagnosed with Covid-19 .
The number of people who have died with confirmed or probable coronavirus in the State has exceeded 1,000 .
The number of additional confirmed cases of the virus is 577 , bringing the total number of cases in the State to 18,184 .
Adjusted testing criteria , to be introduced early next week , will lead to increased referrals for testing from GPs .
Dr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be able to do that within the existing capacity that the HSE has in place now , both in terms of the capacity to take the sample , and to test it in the laboratory.
” Health officials also confirmed that five healthcare workers had died from the disease as of last Saturday evening .
Some 3,830 healthcare workers had tested positive , 159 of whom had been hospitalised , and 24 were placed in intensive care .
Dr Holohan reiterated concerns about complacency creeping in , and said that were the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ we would be sticking with the restrictions that are in place as they are ” .
However , Government officials are considering extending the 2km travel limit on households to 5km or possibly 10km as part of a potential future easing of restrictions .
The State may also change its advice to over-70s who are “ cocooning ” at home so they can go outside for walks and possibly shop in supermarkets during restricted hours .
They may be asked to wear masks outside their homes .
Further relaxations being discussed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with other family members .
Outdoor , non-contact sports such as golf and tennis , which involve natural physical distancing , could also be permitted when restrictions start to lift .
The partial reopening of primary schools with limits on class sizes and secondary schools only to Leaving Cert students ahead of exams starting on July 29th could also be permitted .
No decisions have yet been finalised .

HSE chairman Ciarán Devane wrote to Minister for Health Simon Harris, above, in recent days, it is understood. Photograph: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland/PA Wire
The HSE has expressed concern over the recent announcement that testing for Covid-19 is to be significantly expanded to cover 100,000 suspected cases a week.
HSE chairman Ciarán Devane wrote to Minister for Health Simon Harris in recent days, it is understood, while HSE chief executive Paul Reid wrote to the department’s secretary general, Jim Breslin.
On Friday last week the National Public Health Emergency Team, which is chaired by Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, decided the level of testing for Covid-19 should be increased to assess 100,000 people a week, operating on a seven-day-a-week basis, for a minimum of six months.
Within the HSE there is understood to have been worries about capacity and concern at the process that led to the announcement of the move, as well as what was seen as a lack of consultation.
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Both the HSE and the Department of Health declined to answer specific questions about the letters on Friday.
Government sources said the Minister had received two letters from Mr Devane in April and that neither mentioned the commitment to increase testing for Covid-19.
However, other highly placed sources said the concerns were about the process that led to the announcement of the 100,000 tests per week on Friday of last week.
Labour leader Alan Kelly, who raised issues around accountability in the emergency team in the Dáil on Thursday, called for the letters to be released.
“I asked the Taoiseach in the Dáil if there was any correspondence from the HSE to the Government regarding governance issues. Now we know that there are, and I am calling on the Taoiseach to publish these letters and address all the issues that arise as a result of them,” Mr Kelly said.
Over 1,000 deaths
Separately, the Department of Health has been notified of a further 37 deaths of people diagnosed with Covid-19. The number of people who have died with confirmed or probable coronavirus in the State has exceeded 1,000.
The number of additional confirmed cases of the virus is 577, bringing the total number of cases in the State to 18,184. Adjusted testing criteria, to be introduced early next week, will lead to increased referrals for testing from GPs. Dr Holohan said: “We think we should be able to do that within the existing capacity that the HSE has in place now, both in terms of the capacity to take the sample, and to test it in the laboratory.”
Health officials also confirmed that five healthcare workers had died from the disease as of last Saturday evening. Some 3,830 healthcare workers had tested positive, 159 of whom had been hospitalised, and 24 were placed in intensive care.
Dr Holohan reiterated concerns about complacency creeping in, and said that were the decision to be taken at the moment, “we would be sticking with the restrictions that are in place as they are”.
However, Government officials are considering extending the 2km travel limit on households to 5km or possibly 10km as part of a potential future easing of restrictions. The State may also change its advice to over-70s who are “cocooning” at home so they can go outside for walks and possibly shop in supermarkets during restricted hours. They may be asked to wear masks outside their homes.
Further relaxations being discussed include allowing older people to interact more with other family members.
Outdoor, non-contact sports such as golf and tennis, which involve natural physical distancing, could also be permitted when restrictions start to lift.
The partial reopening of primary schools with limits on class sizes and secondary schools only to Leaving Cert students ahead of exams starting on July 29th could also be permitted. No decisions have yet been finalised.


theirishtimes--2020-04-25--Questions raised over transparency of public health team

Labour Party leader Alan Kelly has written to the Department of the Taoiseach raising a series of questions about governance and transparency at the State ’ s public health team following a week in which similar issues were raised in the Dáil .
The National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) is the body of medical experts and health service chiefs which has been overseeing the response to Covid-19 and advising the Government on steps it should take to navigate through the current coronavirus pandemic .
Its chairman is the State ’ s chief medical officer , Dr Tony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem that all is seamless with the NPHET making recommendations which are then endorsed by Ministers and put into operation by line Government departments and agencies .
However , in reality , there have been tensions in this relationship which have been building since the group ’ s inception in January .
During a special sitting of the Dáil on Thursday , serious questions were raised about the transparency of the NPHET process and the subsequent political decision-making that has had profound effects on the lives of everyone in the country .
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes of the team ’ s meetings had been published since the end of March .
“ Future generations will want to know , and deserve to know , where people stood on decisions , but this is not transparent.
” “ The group meets twice weekly , but there are no minutes .
We can not see how decisions are being taken .
This is not acceptable , ” he said , while also pointing out that there are no available minutes for the group ’ s 11 subcommittees .
On testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Executive was in agreement with plans to ramp up testing to 100,000 swabs a week .
Crucially , Mr Kelly also asked if the HSE or its board had communicated in any way with the Taoiseach , the Government , the Minister for Health or the Department of Health regarding its concerns about overall governance of decision-making in this crisis .
The Irish Times understands that early this week concerns were raised at the top level in the HSE over the decision announced on Friday of last week to significantly expand testing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the HSE , Ciarán Devane , raised concerns in representations at the highest levels in the Department of Health about the process that had led to this announcement .
A separate letter regarding the testing issue was sent by HSE chief executive Paul Reid to the department ’ s secretary-general , Jim Breslin .
The Irish Times asked the department about such correspondence from the HSE , and if it would publish the information .
In a statement late on Thursday , the department did not answer specifically whether it had received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ management .
The department said there were “ ongoing communications between the department and the HSE and between senior HSE leadership and the HSE board in relation to the management of the Covid-19 outbreak , including issues being considered by NPHET ” .
“ A number of steps have been taken over the period to ensure very good two-way exchange of information with the HSE board .
This includes regular briefing of the HSE board by a senior HSE representative on NPHET , direct briefing of the HSE board of HSE board members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NPHET guidance and the output of the modelling of Covid-19 by a NPHET subgroup.
” Weekly meetings between the Minister and the HSE board chair have also been set up , supported by department and HSE officials .
The HSE said in a statement on Friday that it “ engages with the Department of Health on a regular basis and on a wide range of matters including matters relating to Covid 19 and NPHET ” .
In a tweet on Friday , Minister for Health Simon Harris praised NPHET , which he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe .

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, has warned that failure to adhere to Covid-19 restrictions could see Ireland "lose a lot of the progress" that the country has made in tackling the coronavirus pandemic. Video: RTÉ
Labour Party leader Alan Kelly has written to the Department of the Taoiseach raising a series of questions about governance and transparency at the State’s public health team following a week in which similar issues were raised in the Dáil.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is the body of medical experts and health service chiefs which has been overseeing the response to Covid-19 and advising the Government on steps it should take to navigate through the current coronavirus pandemic. Its chairman is the State’s chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan.
On the surface it may seem that all is seamless with the NPHET making recommendations which are then endorsed by Ministers and put into operation by line Government departments and agencies. However, in reality, there have been tensions in this relationship which have been building since the group’s inception in January.
During a special sitting of the Dáil on Thursday, serious questions were raised about the transparency of the NPHET process and the subsequent political decision-making that has had profound effects on the lives of everyone in the country.
READ MORE
Mr Kelly firstly asked why no notes or minutes of the team’s meetings had been published since the end of March. “Future generations will want to know, and deserve to know, where people stood on decisions, but this is not transparent.”
“The group meets twice weekly, but there are no minutes. We cannot see how decisions are being taken. This is not acceptable,” he said, while also pointing out that there are no available minutes for the group’s 11 subcommittees. On testing, he asked if the Health Service Executive was in agreement with plans to ramp up testing to 100,000 swabs a week.
Crucially, Mr Kelly also asked if the HSE or its board had communicated in any way with the Taoiseach, the Government, the Minister for Health or the Department of Health regarding its concerns about overall governance of decision-making in this crisis.
The Irish Times understands that early this week concerns were raised at the top level in the HSE over the decision announced on Friday of last week to significantly expand testing for Covid-19.
Highly-placed sources said the chairman of the HSE, Ciarán Devane, raised concerns in representations at the highest levels in the Department of Health about the process that had led to this announcement.
A separate letter regarding the testing issue was sent by HSE chief executive Paul Reid to the department’s secretary-general, Jim Breslin.
The Irish Times asked the department about such correspondence from the HSE, and if it would publish the information.
In a statement late on Thursday, the department did not answer specifically whether it had received any correspondence from the HSE board or management.
‘Ongoing communications’
The department said there were “ongoing communications between the department and the HSE and between senior HSE leadership and the HSE board in relation to the management of the Covid-19 outbreak, including issues being considered by NPHET”.
“A number of steps have been taken over the period to ensure very good two-way exchange of information with the HSE board. This includes regular briefing of the HSE board by a senior HSE representative on NPHET, direct briefing of the HSE board of HSE board members by relevant department officials on both particular NPHET guidance and the output of the modelling of Covid-19 by a NPHET subgroup.”
Weekly meetings between the Minister and the HSE board chair have also been set up, supported by department and HSE officials.
The HSE said in a statement on Friday that it “engages with the Department of Health on a regular basis and on a wide range of matters including matters relating to Covid 19 and NPHET”.
In a tweet on Friday, Minister for Health Simon Harris praised NPHET, which he said was continuing to work to keep Ireland safe.


theirishtimes--2020-04-25--Coronavirus: Rise in calls by older people having suicidal thoughts

A helpline for older people has seen a “ significant increase ” in suicidal ideation among callers in the past 10 days , the charity behind the service has said .
Seán Moynihan , chief executive of Alone , said its national Covid-19 helpline had been receiving about “ two to three calls a week from callers expressing suicidal ideation , that is now at three or four a day ” .
“ It is a significant increase , ” he said .
The helpline has received more than 14,000 calls since it opened last month , and staff and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older people .
About 70 per cent of calls concern people living alone and almost two-thirds involve people aged over 70 .
While in the first few weeks the majority of calls were about practicalities , including how to ensure a supply of groceries and medication , Mr Moynihan said “ a second phase ” , around serious mental health issues , has now emerged .
“ About 62 per cent of calls are [ ostensibly ] about practical things , but when you actually get into the call it ’ s really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a definite relationship to depression , ” he said .
“ In one case last week we were lucky .
We were checking in on a man who had just been – quite correctly , as he was physically well – discharged from hospital .
But when we talked to him he was contemplating acting on his thoughts , shall we say .
We got him back into hospital .
“ There are huge levels of anxiety around the isolation which can be very disempowering .
People can stop looking after themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like housing , health , isolation haven ’ t gone away .
They are only exacerbated during this crisis.
” All staff and volunteers on the helpline are trained social care workers and have applied suicide intervention skills training , he said .
Alone is also working with Samaritans where necessary .
Among supports for older people self-isolating is a befriending scheme that operates across the State , where individuals or groups can provide company and support .
It operates under the auspices of Befriending Network Ireland , and details are available from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The national Covid-19 helpline for older people , run by Alone , the HSE and local authorities , can be reached on 0818-222024 , 8am-8pm , seven days a week .
The 2016 census found there were almost 640,000 people aged over 64 in the State , some 156,000 ( 27 per cent ) of whom were living alone .

A helpline for older people has seen a “significant increase” in suicidal ideation among callers in the past 10 days, the charity behind the service has said.
Seán Moynihan, chief executive of Alone, said its national Covid-19 helpline had been receiving about “two to three calls a week from callers expressing suicidal ideation, that is now at three or four a day”.
“It is a significant increase,” he said.
The helpline has received more than 14,000 calls since it opened last month, and staff and volunteers have made some 36,000 calls to older people. About 70 per cent of calls concern people living alone and almost two-thirds involve people aged over 70.
READ MORE
While in the first few weeks the majority of calls were about practicalities, including how to ensure a supply of groceries and medication, Mr Moynihan said “a second phase”, around serious mental health issues, has now emerged.
“About 62 per cent of calls are [ostensibly] about practical things, but when you actually get into the call it’s really about isolation and loneliness, and loneliness has a definite relationship to depression,” he said.
“In one case last week we were lucky. We were checking in on a man who had just been – quite correctly, as he was physically well – discharged from hospital. But when we talked to him he was contemplating acting on his thoughts, shall we say. We got him back into hospital.
“There are huge levels of anxiety around the isolation which can be very disempowering. People can stop looking after themselves, and of course all the issues like housing, health, isolation haven’t gone away. They are only exacerbated during this crisis.”
Suicide intervention
All staff and volunteers on the helpline are trained social care workers and have applied suicide intervention skills training, he said. Alone is also working with Samaritans where necessary.
Among supports for older people self-isolating is a befriending scheme that operates across the State, where individuals or groups can provide company and support. It operates under the auspices of Befriending Network Ireland, and details are available from Alone on 01-6790132 or enquiries@alone.ie.
The national Covid-19 helpline for older people, run by Alone, the HSE and local authorities, can be reached on 0818-222024, 8am-8pm, seven days a week.
The 2016 census found there were almost 640,000 people aged over 64 in the State, some 156,000 (27 per cent) of whom were living alone.


theirishtimes--2020-04-25--Grave picture emerging of coronavirus impact on nursing home sector

Fifty days after nursing homes closed to visitors – with management acting themselves and not at the State ’ s direction – health officials are only now getting a handle on the scale of the devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic among the country ’ s most vulnerable citizens .
That decision by nursing homes to close their doors to visitors on March 6th was criticised at the time by Dr Tony Holohan , the most senior health official leading the State ’ s emergency response to the disease that has killed more than 1,000 people , almost half of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , following the belated decision to mass-test residents and staff , and to examine in detail deaths in nursing homes , a grave picture has begun to emerge of the impact on the sector , just six weeks after Ireland ’ s first death from Covid-19 .
On Friday , new figures showed that almost half – 48.1 per cent – of probable and confirmed Covid-19 deaths in the State , 488 out of a total of 1,014 , were nursing home residents .
There were 2,500 confirmed coronavirus cases in the sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff .
By this week , there were outbreaks of Covid-19 infections in 198 nursing homes , more than one in every three of the 420 private homes and the 120 homes run by the Health Service Executive .
The response of the Government , the HSE and public health officials to the crisis in the sector has been criticised as lacking urgency .
The Health Information and Quality Authority ( HIQA ) , the regulator for the nursing home sector , has been criticised too for , at this stage in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out a 21-page questionnaire on Tuesday to assess preparedness levels .
HIQA is also going to be carrying out inspections of nursing homes .
“ HIQA talks about preparedness on April 21st ?
We were surprised that they were issuing documents on preparedness at this stage , ” said Tadhg Daly , chief executive of Nursing Homes Ireland ( NHI ) , the group representing owners of private nursing homes .
Dr Jack Lambert , specialist in infectious disease at the Mater hospital , Dublin , said nursing homes could not wait two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed GPs and nurses to be redeployed from community assessment hubs , most of which , he said , were “ superfluous ” given how the virus has been suppressed in the community .
“ We have to urgently deploy all available staff to the [ Covid-19 ] clusters in the nursing homes .
It can not wait two weeks for HIQA to carry out inspections .
That will be a postmortem inspection , ” he said .
“ If somebody dropped a bomb in Dublin today , would you go out in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You would form a war cabinet and have a response at the end of the day to fight the war.
” The doctor , who has been treating nursing home residents on his wards , said Government and health officials had got the nursing home problem “ terribly wrong ” .
The solution required is not the €72 million promised to the sector by Government , he said , but “ boots on the ground ” in the form of medical staff and expertise .
“ This has not been dealt with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of good-meaning people in the Government but they are acting too slow or are too disorganised or they just don ’ t know what to do .
They have lost the plot on what to do with the nursing homes and none of the strategies they come up with to fix the nursing homes are viable options.
” The deepening crisis in nursing homes was overlooked because the focus was on preparing the acute hospital system for an overwhelming surge in cases that has not materialised .
“ The nursing homes got hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals , ” he said .
One midlands nursing home has been waiting 28 days for a test result for a suspected Covid-19 resident .
Dr Lambert said agency nurses working in multiple homes contributed to infection rates among residents and staff of different homes .
A NHI survey released on Thursday found that more than 100 nursing homes were missing hundreds of essential nursing and healthcare staff due to Covid-19 .
Some 96 per cent of nursing homes ( 227 out of 236 surveyed ) said staff had not been available or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health ’ s National Public Health Emergency Team briefing heard on Friday that 120 staff had been redirected from HSE community teams to work in nursing homes .
A HIQA spokesman said staff issues were a matter for the HSE .

Entrance to St Mary’s Hospital, Phoenix Park where between April 2nd and 17th, 11 residents died, with 10 testing positive for Covid-19 and the 11th person a suspected case. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
Fifty days after nursing homes closed to visitors – with management acting themselves and not at the State’s direction – health officials are only now getting a handle on the scale of the devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic among the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
That decision by nursing homes to close their doors to visitors on March 6th was criticised at the time by Dr Tony Holohan, the most senior health official leading the State’s emergency response to the disease that has killed more than 1,000 people, almost half of them nursing home residents.
This week, following the belated decision to mass-test residents and staff, and to examine in detail deaths in nursing homes, a grave picture has begun to emerge of the impact on the sector, just six weeks after Ireland’s first death from Covid-19.
On Friday, new figures showed that almost half – 48.1 per cent – of probable and confirmed Covid-19 deaths in the State, 488 out of a total of 1,014, were nursing home residents.
READ MORE
There were 2,500 confirmed coronavirus cases in the sector, which has 28,000 residents and 30,000 staff. By this week, there were outbreaks of Covid-19 infections in 198 nursing homes, more than one in every three of the 420 private homes and the 120 homes run by the Health Service Executive.
The response of the Government, the HSE and public health officials to the crisis in the sector has been criticised as lacking urgency.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), the regulator for the nursing home sector, has been criticised too for, at this stage in the pandemic, asking nursing homes to fill out a 21-page questionnaire on Tuesday to assess preparedness levels. HIQA is also going to be carrying out inspections of nursing homes.
"HIQA talks about preparedness on April 21st? We were surprised that they were issuing documents on preparedness at this stage," said Tadhg Daly, chief executive of Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), the group representing owners of private nursing homes.
Redeployed
Dr Jack Lambert, specialist in infectious disease at the Mater hospital, Dublin, said nursing homes could not wait two weeks for HIQA inspections; they urgently needed GPs and nurses to be redeployed from community assessment hubs, most of which, he said, were "superfluous" given how the virus has been suppressed in the community.
“We have to urgently deploy all available staff to the [Covid-19] clusters in the nursing homes. It cannot wait two weeks for HIQA to carry out inspections. That will be a postmortem inspection,” he said.
“If somebody dropped a bomb in Dublin today, would you go out in two weeks and count the dead? You would form a war cabinet and have a response at the end of the day to fight the war.”
The doctor, who has been treating nursing home residents on his wards, said Government and health officials had got the nursing home problem “terribly wrong”. The solution required is not the €72 million promised to the sector by Government, he said, but “boots on the ground” in the form of medical staff and expertise.
“This has not been dealt with the urgency it needs. There are lots of good-meaning people in the Government but they are acting too slow or are too disorganised or they just don’t know what to do. They have lost the plot on what to do with the nursing homes and none of the strategies they come up with to fix the nursing homes are viable options.”
The deepening crisis in nursing homes was overlooked because the focus was on preparing the acute hospital system for an overwhelming surge in cases that has not materialised.
“The nursing homes got hit when our eyes were on the acute-care hospitals,” he said. One midlands nursing home has been waiting 28 days for a test result for a suspected Covid-19 resident. Dr Lambert said agency nurses working in multiple homes contributed to infection rates among residents and staff of different homes.
A NHI survey released on Thursday found that more than 100 nursing homes were missing hundreds of essential nursing and healthcare staff due to Covid-19. Some 96 per cent of nursing homes (227 out of 236 surveyed) said staff had not been available or had been redeployed.
The Department of Health’s National Public Health Emergency Team briefing heard on Friday that 120 staff had been redirected from HSE community teams to work in nursing homes. A HIQA spokesman said staff issues were a matter for the HSE.