theirishtimes--2020-10-10--‘It is going to get worse’: A nursing home copes with new virus restrictions

“ Brutal !
” Vera Finlay exclaims when asked how the latest ban on nursing home visits , imposed by the Government with the latest coronavirus Level 3 restrictions this week , are affecting her .
The change means no more visits from her daughter or other family in the Perspex “ pod ” set up to keep the virus out of her home of three years , Droimnín Nursing Home in Stradbally , Co Laois .
Ms Finlay loves her home – “ it is a lovely , lovely nursing home ” – and the staff – “ they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions make life difficult for an 80-year-old who had a very active social life in her home community before the coronavirus pandemic changed life dramatically .
“ It is a bit like a caged-in monkey , ” she tells The Irish Times during a call on Thursday .
Before coronavirus , Ms Finlay went out every week with a friend .
She would go shopping , get her hair and nails done , stop by her daughter ’ s for tea and visit her former home to pick flowers in her garden and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All that had to stop because of the virus .
“ I haven ’ t been home .
I hate to think of my lovely flowers , ” she said .
Ms Finlay ’ s grand-daughter works in the nursing home so she stays in close contact with her family and there are regular WhatsApp , phone and video calls for all the home ’ s 70 residents .
“ It is not easy for them , ” said Liz Devoy , a senior healthcare assistant at the nursing home .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to face , even though it is in the pod .
It is hard for them but we try to explain to them that it is in their own interests to keep them safe.
” The Co Laois nursing home has managed to keep the virus out .
There are strict infection and prevention controls in force and regular deep cleans , while staff work on separate floors .
They are trained to take Covid swabs which speeds up the turnaround time for testing .
There is an isolation ward for hospital transfers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HSE staff and a liaison support team to help with fast-tracked visits to the Midlands Regional Hospital in nearby Portlaoise that avoids residents sitting for long periods of time for an X-ray or scan .
“ We are a Covid-free centre since February .
We are very thankful and grateful every day that we can say that .
We know it is not easy .
We know community transmission is up , ” said Deirdre O ’ Callaghan , the director of nursing at Droimnín , part of the Brookhaven Group .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home staff during the pandemic .
The rise in infections since the summer has meant that coronavirus cases have slowly risen among nursing home staff .
Many have been caught by the HSE ’ s fortnightly serial testing programme , aimed at preventing outbreaks among residents , the older people most vulnerable to the disease .
Susan Cliffe , deputy chief inspector at nursing home watchdog , the Health Information and Quality Authority , said the sector knows more now about the virus and its asymptomatic spread .
“ Am I confident it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March and April ?
Yes I am , absolutely .
The reality is when you look back , Covid was in nursing homes before we knew it had arrived .
That lack of knowledge is not there now , ” she said .
Ms Cliffe said that there is still a large part of the nursing home sector that has not experienced the virus “ so their contingency plans are on paper and have been untested ” .
Despite the serial testing , the increase in cases has meant the virus has crept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So far , most infected nursing home residents are asymptomatic and “ largely well ” , said Ms Cliffe .
HSE chief clinical officer Colm Henry said on Friday there were 10 outbreaks in nursing homes in the past week with 68 cases .
This compares with five outbreaks in the week to September 26th .
This week Brindley Manor Nursing Home in Co Donegal reported 30 cases , while Kilminchy Lodge , just 10km from Droimnín , reported 31 cases in its outbreak .
“ We have sent them a bunch of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , ” said Ms O ’ Callaghan .
“ Any nursing home across the country that has an outbreak , everyone within the community is getting behind them , to try to support them and to show our love to them .
It is not easy.
” Ms Finlay says she is not looking forward to the winter but has had her flu vaccine already .
“ It is going to continue to get worse as far as I can see , ” she said .
She watches the news every night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week about the new restrictions and the National Public Health Emergency Team briefing with Dr Tony Holohan .
“ We talk about Covid every day , what happened , how many got it and how many died .
We talk about it every day so they are aware of the fact , ” said Ms Devoy .
“ I think Dr Holohan is doing his best .
What more can he do ?
” added Ms Finlay .
And what about the public ?
“ Oh they could be doing more , @ @ @ @

"Brutal!" Vera Finlay exclaims when asked how the latest ban on nursing home visits, imposed by the Government with the latest coronavirus Level 3 restrictions this week, are affecting her.
The change means no more visits from her daughter or other family in the Perspex "pod" set up to keep the virus out of her home of three years, Droimnín Nursing Home in Stradbally, Co Laois.
Ms Finlay loves her home – “it is a lovely, lovely nursing home” – and the staff – “they are absolutely brilliant” – but the restrictions make life difficult for an 80-year-old who had a very active social life in her home community before the coronavirus pandemic changed life dramatically.
Hospital Report
“It is a bit like a caged-in monkey,” she tells The Irish Times during a call on Thursday.
READ MORE
Before coronavirus, Ms Finlay went out every week with a friend. She would go shopping, get her hair and nails done, stop by her daughter’s for tea and visit her former home to pick flowers in her garden and bring them back to the nursing home. All that had to stop because of the virus.
“I haven’t been home. I hate to think of my lovely flowers,” she said.
Ms Finlay’s grand-daughter works in the nursing home so she stays in close contact with her family and there are regular WhatsApp, phone and video calls for all the home’s 70 residents.
"It is not easy for them," said Liz Devoy, a senior healthcare assistant at the nursing home.
“Everyone likes to see the family face to face, even though it is in the pod. It is hard for them but we try to explain to them that it is in their own interests to keep them safe.”
The Co Laois nursing home has managed to keep the virus out. There are strict infection and prevention controls in force and regular deep cleans, while staff work on separate floors. They are trained to take Covid swabs which speeds up the turnaround time for testing.
There is an isolation ward for hospital transfers of residents, regular support from local HSE staff and a liaison support team to help with fast-tracked visits to the Midlands Regional Hospital in nearby Portlaoise that avoids residents sitting for long periods of time for an X-ray or scan.
"We are a Covid-free centre since February. We are very thankful and grateful every day that we can say that. We know it is not easy. We know community transmission is up," said Deirdre O'Callaghan, the director of nursing at Droimnín, part of the Brookhaven Group.
She is concerned about the HSE poaching nursing home staff during the pandemic.
The rise in infections since the summer has meant that coronavirus cases have slowly risen among nursing home staff. Many have been caught by the HSE’s fortnightly serial testing programme, aimed at preventing outbreaks among residents, the older people most vulnerable to the disease.
Contingency plans
Susan Cliffe, deputy chief inspector at nursing home watchdog, the Health Information and Quality Authority, said the sector knows more now about the virus and its asymptomatic spread.
“Am I confident it is in a better place than in March and April? Yes I am, absolutely. The reality is when you look back, Covid was in nursing homes before we knew it had arrived. That lack of knowledge is not there now,” she said.
Ms Cliffe said that there is still a large part of the nursing home sector that has not experienced the virus “so their contingency plans are on paper and have been untested”.
Despite the serial testing, the increase in cases has meant the virus has crept in among residents in some homes. So far, most infected nursing home residents are asymptomatic and “largely well”, said Ms Cliffe.
HSE chief clinical officer Colm Henry said on Friday there were 10 outbreaks in nursing homes in the past week with 68 cases. This compares with five outbreaks in the week to September 26th.
This week Brindley Manor Nursing Home in Co Donegal reported 30 cases, while Kilminchy Lodge, just 10km from Droimnín, reported 31 cases in its outbreak.
“We have sent them a bunch of flowers to say we are thinking of them,” said Ms O’Callaghan.
“Any nursing home across the country that has an outbreak, everyone within the community is getting behind them, to try to support them and to show our love to them. It is not easy.”
Ms Finlay says she is not looking forward to the winter but has had her flu vaccine already.
“It is going to continue to get worse as far as I can see,” she said.
She watches the news every night, including the Taoiseach's remarks this week about the new restrictions and the National Public Health Emergency Team briefing with Dr Tony Holohan.
“We talk about Covid every day, what happened, how many got it and how many died. We talk about it every day so they are aware of the fact,” said Ms Devoy.
“I think Dr Holohan is doing his best. What more can he do?” added Ms Finlay.
And what about the public?
“Oh they could be doing more,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-10-10--Concerns over numbers attending motorsport races this weekend

Motorsport racing events where more than 150 people are expected to attend are to go ahead in Mondello Park , Co Kildare , on Saturday and Sunday , despite concerns over increasing coronavirus rates across the country .
The racetrack , located outside Naas , is to host the National Car Racing Championship on Saturday , and the Irish Drift Games race series on Sunday .
Spectators are not permitted due to coronavirus restrictions , however it is estimated more than 150 people will attend both events , between drivers , crew members and organisers .
Level 3 of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prohibits sporting events , “ with the exception of professional , elite , inter-county , and senior club championship , which should all take place behind closed doors ” .
The guidelines add that horse racing may also continue behind closed doors .
A spokesman for Mondello Park said “ all activity this weekend is deemed as club championships ” , and , as such , was permitted to take place under current guidelines .
A driver due to take part in one of the races over the weekend , who did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the event was going ahead .
The individual said while social distancing was broadly adhered to during the events , small gatherings between groups inevitably took place to watch other races .
He said he was concerned drivers were travelling from all over the country for the races , which was not in the spirit of public health guidelines and nationwide travel restrictions .
Drivers who decided not to travel to take part in the races would lose out on points in the championship and fall down in its rankings , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” racing in the National Car Racing Championship on Saturday .
It is understood there will be at least 80 drivers competing in the event , each entitled to one assistant or crew member .
There would be at least 30 people involved in running the event as well , bringing the total number in attendance close to 200 people , the driver said .
The event is affiliated with Motorsport Ireland , the national governing body for four-wheeled motorsports .
In a statement , a Motorsport Ireland spokesman said “ our championship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strict Covid protocols ” , with social distancing in place .
“ Mondello Park organisers are very experienced in doing this very successfully .
It is an outdoor event , with no spectators and Motorsport Ireland has seen best in class when it comes to safety compliance , ” the spokesman said .
A second racing event is to take place on Sunday organised by the Irish Drift Series , a spokesman for Mondello Park confirmed .
The Irish Drift Series race is advertised as having more than 70 drivers expected to attend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
Drivers taking part in this race are also permitted to have one assistant or crew member attend the event , meaning more than 150 people are expected including organisers .
The drift series race on Sunday is not affiliated with Motorsport Ireland .

A spokesman for Mondello Park said “all activity this weekend is deemed as club championships”, and, as such, was permitted to take place under current guidelines. Photograph: Hoch Zwei/Getty Images
Motorsport racing events where more than 150 people are expected to attend are to go ahead in Mondello Park, Co Kildare, on Saturday and Sunday, despite concerns over increasing coronavirus rates across the country.
The racetrack, located outside Naas, is to host the National Car Racing Championship on Saturday, and the Irish Drift Games race series on Sunday.
Spectators are not permitted due to coronavirus restrictions, however it is estimated more than 150 people will attend both events, between drivers, crew members and organisers.
Level 3 of the Government’s Living with Covid-19 plan prohibits sporting events, “with the exception of professional, elite, inter-county, and senior club championship, which should all take place behind closed doors”. The guidelines add that horse racing may also continue behind closed doors.
READ MORE
A spokesman for Mondello Park said “all activity this weekend is deemed as club championships”, and, as such, was permitted to take place under current guidelines.
A driver due to take part in one of the races over the weekend, who did not wish to be identified, expressed concern the event was going ahead.
Concerned
The individual said while social distancing was broadly adhered to during the events, small gatherings between groups inevitably took place to watch other races.
He said he was concerned drivers were travelling from all over the country for the races, which was not in the spirit of public health guidelines and nationwide travel restrictions. Drivers who decided not to travel to take part in the races would lose out on points in the championship and fall down in its rankings, he said.
There are 11 different “classes” racing in the National Car Racing Championship on Saturday. It is understood there will be at least 80 drivers competing in the event, each entitled to one assistant or crew member.
There would be at least 30 people involved in running the event as well, bringing the total number in attendance close to 200 people, the driver said.
The event is affiliated with Motorsport Ireland, the national governing body for four-wheeled motorsports.
In a statement, a Motorsport Ireland spokesman said “our championship is a gated event run under very strict Covid protocols”, with social distancing in place.
Safety compliance
“Mondello Park organisers are very experienced in doing this very successfully. It is an outdoor event, with no spectators and Motorsport Ireland has seen best in class when it comes to safety compliance,” the spokesman said.
A second racing event is to take place on Sunday organised by the Irish Drift Series, a spokesman for Mondello Park confirmed.
The Irish Drift Series race is advertised as having more than 70 drivers expected to attend and compete over the course of the day.
Drivers taking part in this race are also permitted to have one assistant or crew member attend the event, meaning more than 150 people are expected including organisers. The drift series race on Sunday is not affiliated with Motorsport Ireland.


theirishtimes--2020-10-09--Thinking Anew – A time to talk and a time to listen

Tomorrow marks another significant moment in history .
On October 11th , 1962 , the Second Vatican Council was formally opened by Pope John XXIII .
It lasted three years and was closed by Pope Paul VI on December 8th , 1965 .
It was summoned to address the relationship between the Catholic Church and the modern world .
It attempted to heal divisions and make the Word of God and those who serve it more accessible and more real for all people of goodwill .
During the council meetings and in the years immediately succeeding it , an atmosphere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It had many offshoots , including liberation theology , especially in the Latin American church .
That coincided with the end of the conflict in Vietnam , when the youthful enthusiasm of young idealistic people helped turn US public opinion against the war .
The end of the conflict opened up new horizons , as people could dream new dreams of propriety and goodness in international relations .
Last Saturday there were scaled-down celebrations in Potsdam to mark the 30th anniversary of German unity .
It was a low-key event because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Germany has been successful .
However , the fall of the Berlin Wall was in many ways a marker in time that points to the development of an unease in the world .
The demise of the Soviet Union and the collapse of east-west frontiers has brought about new tensions .
Right now the world seems on edge with itself .
We are all children of our own specific generation .
And from the end of the second World War until soon after the fall of the Berlin Wall , at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how depressed things were , there were always those who offered a hope and an enthusiasm that seemed attractive and possible .
In tomorrow ’ s Gospel , Matthew ( 22 : 1-14 ) tells the story of a king who throws a banquet for his son ’ s wedding .
What happens ?
No one wants to come to it and those who eventually arrive are dressed in a disrespectful way .
What seems a great occasion , an event that turns all eyes to the future , ends up in turmoil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way of the world ?
Is it the state that we find ourselves in right now ?
The Vatican Council tried to lift the church by its bootstraps into the modern world .
It was an attempt at dusting down old tawdry habits and restoring the Word of God into the exciting and compelling message that it originally contained .
As always happens , some mistakes were made .
But just like what ’ s happening right across the world , it seems right now that the church is in a tired place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views of all shapes and sizes .
Battalions of people have walked away .
In the developed world , fine young priests left ministry in the 1970s and 1980s , men who would have much wisdom to offer the church as priests today .
Listening to the rhetoric of Donald Trump and his followers , his call to make America great again , his refusal to disassociate himself from far-right white supremacist groups and how he appeals to evangelical and conservative Christians , I keep thinking that the world seems to be tired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who will carry the baton of the aspirations of the Vatican Council .
We have come such a long way from the Vatican Council .
We sorely need an impetus , a guiding star to bring us back to what the Vatican Council was attempting to do , a conversation between the church and the world .
Pope Francis is trying to get that process going .
And between the churches , there is urgent need for open and real conversation .
Right now the world needs us all to start talking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But I think we can be heartened .
In the first reading ( Isaiah 25 : 6-9 ) in tomorrow ’ s liturgy the prophet Isaiah assures us that the , “ Lord of hosts will prepare for all people a banquet of rich food , a banquet of fine wines of food rich and juicy , of fine strained wines.
” People always talk to each other at banquets .
Let ’ s all try some pleasant talking .

Pope Francis in the Vatican this week. “We sorely need an impetus, a guiding star to bring us back to what the Vatican Council was attempting to do, a conversation between the church and the world. Pope Francis is trying to get that process going.” Photograph: Filippo Monteforte/AFP via Getty Images
Tomorrow marks another significant moment in history. On October 11th, 1962, the Second Vatican Council was formally opened by Pope John XXIII. It lasted three years and was closed by Pope Paul VI on December 8th, 1965.
It was summoned to address the relationship between the Catholic Church and the modern world. It attempted to heal divisions and make the Word of God and those who serve it more accessible and more real for all people of goodwill. During the council meetings and in the years immediately succeeding it, an atmosphere of great hope and enthusiasm was evident. It had many offshoots, including liberation theology, especially in the Latin American church. That coincided with the end of the conflict in Vietnam, when the youthful enthusiasm of young idealistic people helped turn US public opinion against the war. The end of the conflict opened up new horizons, as people could dream new dreams of propriety and goodness in international relations.
Last Saturday there were scaled-down celebrations in Potsdam to mark the 30th anniversary of German unity. It was a low-key event because of Covid-19. In itself the peaceful unification of Germany has been successful. However, the fall of the Berlin Wall was in many ways a marker in time that points to the development of an unease in the world. The demise of the Soviet Union and the collapse of east-west frontiers has brought about new tensions.
Right now the world seems on edge with itself. We are all children of our own specific generation. And from the end of the second World War until soon after the fall of the Berlin Wall, at least in the developed world, no matter how depressed things were, there were always those who offered a hope and an enthusiasm that seemed attractive and possible.
READ MORE
In tomorrow’s Gospel, Matthew (22: 1-14) tells the story of a king who throws a banquet for his son’s wedding. What happens? No one wants to come to it and those who eventually arrive are dressed in a disrespectful way. What seems a great occasion, an event that turns all eyes to the future, ends up in turmoil and disarray. Is that simply the way of the world? Is it the state that we find ourselves in right now?
The Vatican Council tried to lift the church by its bootstraps into the modern world. It was an attempt at dusting down old tawdry habits and restoring the Word of God into the exciting and compelling message that it originally contained. As always happens, some mistakes were made. But just like what’s happening right across the world, it seems right now that the church is in a tired place. This affords great opportunities to fanatical views of all shapes and sizes. Battalions of people have walked away. In the developed world, fine young priests left ministry in the 1970s and 1980s, men who would have much wisdom to offer the church as priests today.
Listening to the rhetoric of Donald Trump and his followers, his call to make America great again, his refusal to disassociate himself from far-right white supremacist groups and how he appeals to evangelical and conservative Christians, I keep thinking that the world seems to be tired and there’s no one about who will carry the baton of the aspirations of the Vatican Council.
We have come such a long way from the Vatican Council. We sorely need an impetus, a guiding star to bring us back to what the Vatican Council was attempting to do, a conversation between the church and the world. Pope Francis is trying to get that process going. And between the churches, there is urgent need for open and real conversation. Right now the world needs us all to start talking to each other in love and truth.
But I think we can be heartened. In the first reading (Isaiah 25: 6-9) in tomorrow’s liturgy the prophet Isaiah assures us that the, “Lord of hosts will prepare for all people a banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines of food rich and juicy, of fine strained wines.”
People always talk to each other at banquets. Let’s all try some pleasant talking.


theirishtimes--2020-10-09--Rev Dr Sahr John Yambasu elected to lead Methodist Church

The first African-born leader of one of Ireland ’ s main churches has been elected president-designate of the Methodist Church .
Rev Dr Sahr John Yambasu ( 63 ) , a native of Sierra Leone , is currently superintendent of St Patrick ’ s Waterford Circuit , having previously served on Methodist Circuits in Wicklow , Arklow and Avoca , Galway and Ballinasloe ( United Methodist and Presbyterian ) , as well as Kilkenny and Carlow .
His wife , Clodagh , is also a Methodist minister and they have three adult children .
Dr Yambasu , who became an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the church from next June for a year .
After beginning his ministry in the Methodist Church in Sierra Leone , in the 1980s he was selected for further training at Edgehill College in Belfast .
He was awarded a scholarship to study at Cambridge University in England where he gained a PhD .
In 1992 , he returned to Sierra Leone with his wife and three children and became principal of the theological college where he had been trained and superintendent of a large Methodist Circuit in the capital , Freetown .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to the civil war , which had begun in 1991 .
He and his family were there when rebels were within 20 miles of Freetown .
A few months later , the family left for Ireland – Longford initially .
He worked as a hotel porter and in a meat-processing plant .
A few months later , he and his wife were invited to serve the Methodist Church in Ireland at congregations in Co Wicklow .
In 2001 , they were transferred to Galway .
In 2007 , Dr Yambasu took on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help fund his daughter ’ s education in Trinity College Dublin and to continue supporting family in Sierra Leone .
The only other African-born major church figure in Ireland is the Nigerian-born papal nuncio Archbishop Jude Okolo , dean of the Diplomatic Corps .

The first African-born leader of one of Ireland's main churches has been elected president-designate of the Methodist Church.
Rev Dr Sahr John Yambasu (63), a native of Sierra Leone, is currently superintendent of St Patrick's Waterford Circuit, having previously served on Methodist Circuits in Wicklow, Arklow and Avoca, Galway and Ballinasloe (United Methodist and Presbyterian), as well as Kilkenny and Carlow.
His wife, Clodagh, is also a Methodist minister and they have three adult children. Dr Yambasu,who became an Irish citizen in 1989, will lead the church from next June for a year.
Cambridge scholarship
After beginning his ministry in the Methodist Church in Sierra Leone, in the 1980s he was selected for further training at Edgehill College in Belfast. He was awarded a scholarship to study at Cambridge University in England where he gained a PhD.
READ MORE
In 1992, he returned to Sierra Leone with his wife and three children and became principal of the theological college where he had been trained and superintendent of a large Methodist Circuit in the capital, Freetown.
Civil war
Life in his home country was difficult due to the civil war, which had begun in 1991. He and his family were there when rebels were within 20 miles of Freetown. A few months later, the family left for Ireland – Longford initially.
He worked as a hotel porter and in a meat-processing plant. A few months later, he and his wife were invited to serve the Methodist Church in Ireland at congregations in Co Wicklow. In 2001, they were transferred to Galway.
In 2007, Dr Yambasu took on extra work as a taxi driver to help fund his daughter's education in Trinity College Dublin and to continue supporting family in Sierra Leone.
The only other African-born major church figure in Ireland is the Nigerian-born papal nuncio Archbishop Jude Okolo, dean of the Diplomatic Corps.


theirishtimes--2020-10-09--Man arrested in connection with crash on N7 in September

Gardaí have arrested a man in his 20s in connection with a fatal crash on the N7 in Kingswood , Co Dublin last month .
The man is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act , 1984 , in Clondalkin Garda station .
During the incident on September 21st , a Volkswagen Passat which had been stopped by gardaí on suspicion of being stolen , was driven off down the N7 in the wrong direction .
It later collided with a Toyota Yaris .
The driver of the Yaris , Anatolie Butucel ( 45 ) , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after suffering what a source said were “ catastrophic ” injuries .
Another man in the car was seriously injured .
The two men who were in the Volkswagen were also injured .
Gardaí are continuing to appeal for witnesses to the crash .
Anyone who was travelling on the N7 northbound or southbound between Newlands Cross and Kingswood between the hours of 12.15am and 12.45am on Monday , September 21st , is asked to get in contact .
Gardaí are particularly keen to speak to drivers of HGVs or taxi drivers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anyone with any information can contact Clondalkin Garda Station , on 01 666 7600 , or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 .

Gardaí have arrested a man in his 20s in connection with a fatal crash on the N7 in Kingswood, Co Dublin last month.
The man is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, in Clondalkin Garda station.
During the incident on September 21st, a Volkswagen Passat which had been stopped by gardaí on suspicion of being stolen, was driven off down the N7 in the wrong direction.
It later collided with a Toyota Yaris. The driver of the Yaris, Anatolie Butucel (45), a Moldovan national, died at the scene after suffering what a source said were “catastrophic” injuries. Another man in the car was seriously injured.
READ MORE
The two men who were in the Volkswagen were also injured.
Gardaí are continuing to appeal for witnesses to the crash.
Anyone who was travelling on the N7 northbound or southbound between Newlands Cross and Kingswood between the hours of 12.15am and 12.45am on Monday, September 21st, is asked to get in contact.
Gardaí are particularly keen to speak to drivers of HGVs or taxi drivers who may have been travelling this route.
Anyone with any information can contact Clondalkin Garda Station, on 01 666 7600, or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.


theirishtimes--2020-10-09--‘I’m sorry’: Court hears of last message of dying Vietnamese migrant

A man recorded a final message to his wife and children , saying : “ I ’ m sorry .
I can not take care of you ” , as he suffocated in the back of a lorry with 38 other Vietnamese migrants , a court has heard .
Jurors in the Old Bailey trial in London of an alleged people-smuggling gang were told of attempts to raise the alarm as the 39 men , women and children ran out of air while being smuggled across the English Channel in a sealed container .
The Vietnamese nationals , aged between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the trailer for 12 hours in temperatures of up to 38.5 degrees before they were found at Purfleet in Essex on on October 23rd , 2019 .
The trial heard they may have died because “ greedy ” people smugglers attempted to do two loads in one .
Lorry driver Eamonn Harrison ( 23 ) , of Mayobridge , Co Down , and Gheorghe Nica ( 43 ) , of Basildon , Essex deny 39 counts of manslaughter .
Mr Harrison , Christopher Kennedy ( 24 ) , of Co Armagh and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Birmingham , deny being part of a wider people-smuggling operation , which Nica has admitted .
The court has previously heard that four other defendants have already admitted their part in the people-smuggling plot .
Among them are Maurice Robinson ( 26 ) from Craigavon , who found the 39 migrants dead in the container after picking it up in Purfleet , and haulier Ronan Hughes ( 41 ) , of Co Armagh , Northern Ireland , who have admitted manslaughter .
Mr Harrison allegedly dropped off the container at the ferry port @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22nd last year .
It was loaded onto the MV Clementine at 2.52pm , with the ship sailing 36 minutes late at 3.36pm .
By 6.25pm , the temperature in the trailer had risen to almost 35 degree .
The sweltering conditions were demonstrated in three selfies taken by victim Pham Thi Tra My ( 26 ) , which were shown to the court .
Just before 7pm , another victim , Nguyen Dinh Luong ( 20 ) , attempted to call Vietnamese emergency services , dialling 133 , but it did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pham Thi Tra My made repeated attempts to make calls on her mobile .
At 7.37pm , Nguyen Tho Tuan ( 25 ) , recorded a message in Vietnamese for his wife , children and family .
“ It ’ s Tuan .
I am sorry .
I can not take care of you .
I am sorry .
I am sorry .
I can not breathe , ” he said .
“ I want to come back to my family .
Have a good life.
” In a mobile phone video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ I can ’ t breathe ... .I can ’ t breathe .
I ’ m sorry .
I have to go now.
” In a second video file on the same mobile phone , recorded a minute later , the same voice repeats that he is sorry , and after a long pause adds : “ It ’ s all my fault.
” Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones told jurors that a voice could be heard in the background of one of the recordings saying : “ He ’ s dead.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had allegedly reached 38 degrees A forensic expert calculated it would have taken about nine hours for the air to turn toxic in the trailer , soon after resulting in death .
Jurors heard how Hughes had given Robinson instructions on what to do when he picked up the container at Purfleet .
In a Snapchat message , Hughes told him : “ Give them air quickly but don ’ t let them out.
” Mr Emlyn Jones told jurors : “ They were , of course , right to be concerned .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Having picked up the container , CCTV showed Robinson park up , walk to the rear of the lorry and open the door slightly .
He took a step back and stood there for 90 seconds before walking slowly back to his cab , the court heard .
Robinson did not call 999 until 1.36am , after driving around and speaking to Hughes .
Mr Emlyn Jones suggested the trip on October 23rd turned to tragedy because the smugglers simply got “ too greedy ” .
– PA

A court artist sketch of Eamonn Harrison at the Old Bailey in London. Photograph: Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire
A man recorded a final message to his wife and children, saying: “I’m sorry. I cannot take care of you”, as he suffocated in the back of a lorry with 38 other Vietnamese migrants, a court has heard.
Jurors in the Old Bailey trial in London of an alleged people-smuggling gang were told of attempts to raise the alarm as the 39 men, women and children ran out of air while being smuggled across the English Channel in a sealed container.
The Vietnamese nationals, aged between 15 and 44, were allegedly trapped in the trailer for 12 hours in temperatures of up to 38.5 degrees before they were found at Purfleet in Essex on on October 23rd, 2019.
The trial heard they may have died because “greedy” people smugglers attempted to do two loads in one.
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Lorry driver Eamonn Harrison (23), of Mayobridge, Co Down, and Gheorghe Nica (43), of Basildon, Essex deny 39 counts of manslaughter.
Mr Harrison, Christopher Kennedy (24), of Co Armagh and Valentin Calota (37), of Birmingham, deny being part of a wider people-smuggling operation, which Nica has admitted.
The court has previously heard that four other defendants have already admitted their part in the people-smuggling plot.
Among them are Maurice Robinson (26) from Craigavon, who found the 39 migrants dead in the container after picking it up in Purfleet, and haulier Ronan Hughes (41), of Co Armagh, Northern Ireland, who have admitted manslaughter.
Mr Harrison allegedly dropped off the container at the ferry port at Zeebrugge just before 2pm on October 22nd last year.
It was loaded onto the MV Clementine at 2.52pm, with the ship sailing 36 minutes late at 3.36pm.
By 6.25pm, the temperature in the trailer had risen to almost 35 degree.
The sweltering conditions were demonstrated in three selfies taken by victim Pham Thi Tra My (26) , which were shown to the court.
Just before 7pm, another victim, Nguyen Dinh Luong (20), attempted to call Vietnamese emergency services, dialling 133, but it did not connect.
Over the next few minutes, Pham Thi Tra My made repeated attempts to make calls on her mobile.
At 7.37pm, Nguyen Tho Tuan (25), recorded a message in Vietnamese for his wife, children and family.
“It’s Tuan. I am sorry. I cannot take care of you. I am sorry. I am sorry. I cannot breathe,” he said. “I want to come back to my family. Have a good life.”
In a mobile phone video recorded at 8.02pm, a voice says: “I can’t breathe....I can’t breathe. I’m sorry. I have to go now.”
In a second video file on the same mobile phone, recorded a minute later, the same voice repeats that he is sorry, and after a long pause adds: “It’s all my fault.”
Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones told jurors that a voice could be heard in the background of one of the recordings saying: “He’s dead.”
By 9.02pm the temperature in the trailer had allegedly reached 38 degrees
A forensic expert calculated it would have taken about nine hours for the air to turn toxic in the trailer, soon after resulting in death.
Jurors heard how Hughes had given Robinson instructions on what to do when he picked up the container at Purfleet.
In a Snapchat message, Hughes told him: “Give them air quickly but don’t let them out.”
Mr Emlyn Jones told jurors: “They were, of course, right to be concerned. However, they were much too late.”
Having picked up the container, CCTV showed Robinson park up, walk to the rear of the lorry and open the door slightly. He took a step back and stood there for 90 seconds before walking slowly back to his cab, the court heard.
Robinson did not call 999 until 1.36am, after driving around and speaking to Hughes.
Mr Emlyn Jones suggested the trip on October 23rd turned to tragedy because the smugglers simply got “too greedy”. – PA


theirishtimes--2020-10-09--Explainer: What are the main differences in Covid restrictions north and south?

The rapid increase in coronavirus cases in Northern Ireland has brought into sharp focus the differences in public restrictions introduced to suppress the virus north and south of the Border .
The surge in cases in Derry and Strabane , Co Tyrone , mirrored by increases on the other side of the Border in Donegal , led Northern Ireland ’ s health authorities to increase restrictions in these areas , putting them broadly in line with the Level 3 restrictions in Donegal and the rest of the Republic .
In both Donegal and Derry , pubs , restaurants and cafes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , deliver or outdoor dining , no organised indoor gatherings are permitted and outdoor gatherings are limited to 15 people .
All museums and other indoor cultural venues are closed .
A major difference between the North and South is that under Level 3 in the Republic a maximum of six people from one other household can visit your home , where as in Northern Ireland people from different households are not allowed to meet inside private homes .
In the North , two households are permitted to meet in private gardens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There are exemptions to the household rule , such as for caring or childcare needs , essential maintenance , supported living arrangements or legal or medical visits .
Single-person households are also permitted to “ bubble ” with another household in Northern Ireland .
Elsewhere in Northern Ireland , outside of the Derry City and Strabane area , pubs , restaurants and cafes can all remain open with a curfew at 11pm .
In the Republic , under Level 3 , pubs , restaurants and cafes can only open for outdoor dining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you can not enjoy a pint indoors in Omeath , Co Louth , but if you drive 20 minutes north across the Border , you can drink indoors in a pub in Newry , Co Down .
Outside of Derry and Strabane in Northern Ireland , indoor gatherings of up to 15 people are permitted , in contrast to the Republic where they are prohibited under the Level 3 rules .
Unlike in the Republic , where people are told to stay in their county “ apart from work , education , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appropriate ” , in Northern Ireland people are asked to use their judgment when deciding to undertake a journey based on individual circumstances .
People in Derry and Strabane are asked to avoid all unnecessary travel .
The rules on weddings and funerals are looser in Northern Ireland , determined by the size of the venue where they are being held and whether social distancing can be observed .
In the Republic , attendance at weddings and funerals is limited to 25 people under Level 3 .
Enforcement powers are far stricter in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people can receive fines of up to €2,500 or six months in prison under the 1947 Health Act but the enforcement mostly applies to people who organise events that are in breach of the coronavirus restrictions .
In the North , people can at present receive a Covid 1 fixed penalty notice for breaching restrictions with a minimum fine of £60 ( €66 ) rising to £960 ( €1,058 ) .
A Covid 2 prohibition notice , with a potential penalty of £5,000 ( €5,500 ) upon conviction , can be issued to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrict gatherings such as house parties .
People who fail to self-isolate can be fined £1,000 ( €1,100 ) under a Covid 3 notice .
The Northern Ireland Executive this week proposed increasing the minimum fine for a Covid 1 offence to £200 ( €220 ) and introducing a fixed penalty notice of £1,000 , or up to £10,000 ( €11,000 ) on conviction , for three new offences : not closing a business as ordered , breaching closing times and failing to implement social distancing .

Gardaí performing random vehicle checks in the village of Muff, Co Donegal, on the Border with Northern Ireland. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
The rapid increase in coronavirus cases in Northern Ireland has brought into sharp focus the differences in public restrictions introduced to suppress the virus north and south of the Border.
The surge in cases in Derry and Strabane, Co Tyrone, mirrored by increases on the other side of the Border in Donegal, led Northern Ireland's health authorities to increase restrictions in these areas, putting them broadly in line with the Level 3 restrictions in Donegal and the rest of the Republic.
In both Donegal and Derry, pubs, restaurants and cafes are only permitted to open for takeaway, deliver or outdoor dining, no organised indoor gatherings are permitted and outdoor gatherings are limited to 15 people. All museums and other indoor cultural venues are closed.
Major difference
A major difference between the North and South is that under Level 3 in the Republic a maximum of six people from one other household can visit your home, where as in Northern Ireland people from different households are not allowed to meet inside private homes.
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In the North, two households are permitted to meet in private gardens, though it is limited to six people. There are exemptions to the household rule, such as for caring or childcare needs, essential maintenance, supported living arrangements or legal or medical visits. Single-person households are also permitted to “bubble” with another household in Northern Ireland.
Elsewhere in Northern Ireland, outside of the Derry City and Strabane area, pubs, restaurants and cafes can all remain open with a curfew at 11pm. In the Republic, under Level 3, pubs, restaurants and cafes can only open for outdoor dining or drinking or takeaway.
This means that you cannot enjoy a pint indoors in Omeath, Co Louth, but if you drive 20 minutes north across the Border, you can drink indoors in a pub in Newry, Co Down.
Outside of Derry and Strabane in Northern Ireland, indoor gatherings of up to 15 people are permitted, in contrast to the Republic where they are prohibited under the Level 3 rules.
Unlike in the Republic, where people are told to stay in their county “apart from work, education, medical and other essential purposes, if appropriate”, in Northern Ireland people are asked to use their judgment when deciding to undertake a journey based on individual circumstances. People in Derry and Strabane are asked to avoid all unnecessary travel.
Weddings
The rules on weddings and funerals are looser in Northern Ireland, determined by the size of the venue where they are being held and whether social distancing can be observed. In the Republic, attendance at weddings and funerals is limited to 25 people under Level 3.
Enforcement powers are far stricter in Northern Ireland. In the Republic, people can receive fines of up to €2,500 or six months in prison under the 1947 Health Act but the enforcement mostly applies to people who organise events that are in breach of the coronavirus restrictions.
In the North, people can at present receive a Covid 1 fixed penalty notice for breaching restrictions with a minimum fine of £60 (€66) rising to £960 (€1,058). A Covid 2 prohibition notice, with a potential penalty of £5,000 (€5,500) upon conviction, can be issued to a licensed premises or private household to restrict gatherings such as house parties. People who fail to self-isolate can be fined £1,000 (€1,100) under a Covid 3 notice.
The Northern Ireland Executive this week proposed increasing the minimum fine for a Covid 1 offence to £200 (€220) and introducing a fixed penalty notice of £1,000, or up to £10,000 (€11,000) on conviction, for three new offences: not closing a business as ordered, breaching closing times and failing to implement social distancing.


theirishtimes--2020-10-09--Almost 850,000 people waiting for hospital care due to Covid -19 delays

The number of people waiting for hospital care continues to climb significantly as a result of delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and there are now close to 850,000 people waiting for some form of treatment .
Fresh figures published by the National Treatment Purchase Fund ( NTPF ) on Friday evening suggest that there were 612,083 patients waiting for a first hospital outpatient consultation at the end of September .
This compares with 601,362 people on the outpatient waiting list at the end of July At the start of the year , just over 553,000 patients were on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that at the end of last month there were 75,902 patients waiting for an appointment for an inpatient or day case treatment while 34,605 people were waiting to receive an appointment for a GI Endoscopy .
In addition , the NTPF also publishes data on pre-admissions and planned procedures .
The pre-admit data shows that 19,981 people have been given a date for in-patient , daycase or endoscopy procedures while 86,773 patients are recorded in the planned procedure category with 62,716 of these patients having been given indicative dates in the future or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have already had treatment and require further treatment at a future date .
Indicative dates are determined by a clinician and treatment before these dates would not be appropriate .
As more patients are initially seen and given a follow-up appointment for ongoing treatment or surveillance the number of patients on the planned procedure list increases .
A total of 833,344 patients are on some form of waiting list monitored by the NTPF .
The Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of all non-urgent hospital work in the spring and although activities have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is reduced to about 80 per cent or less due to the requirement for infection control .
The President of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association ( IHCA ) Prof Alan Irvine said the new figures pointed to the need for “ urgent action and leadership ” .
“ Waiting lists growth is seen across specialties and the number of outpatients waiting longer than a year for an appointment has increased by over 78,000 since the start of 2020 to a total of 249,959 , ” he said .
“ To address this growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 500 vacant hospital consultant posts , ” he continued .
He said Government could “ no longer ignore the fundamental requirement that treatment is delivered by consultants and other health care professionals and that no amount of investment in services will reduce these waiting lists unless we recruit and retain the necessary number of staff to deliver care .
”

The number of people waiting for hospital care continues to climb significantly as a result of delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Photograph: iStock
The number of people waiting for hospital care continues to climb significantly as a result of delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and there are now close to 850,000 people waiting for some form of treatment.
Fresh figures published by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) on Friday evening suggest that there were 612,083 patients waiting for a first hospital outpatient consultation at the end of September. This compares with 601,362 people on the outpatient waiting list at the end of July
At the start of the year, just over 553,000 patients were on the list.
The NTPF figures also show that at the end of last month there were 75,902 patients waiting for an appointment for an inpatient or day case treatment while 34,605 people were waiting to receive an appointment for a GI Endoscopy.
READ MORE
In addition, the NTPF also publishes data on pre-admissions and planned procedures.
The pre-admit data shows that 19,981 people have been given a date for in-patient, daycase or endoscopy procedures while 86,773 patients are recorded in the planned procedure category with 62,716 of these patients having been given indicative dates in the future or a scheduled appointment.
Further treatment
These are patients who have already had treatment and require further treatment at a future date. Indicative dates are determined by a clinician and treatment before these dates would not be appropriate.
As more patients are initially seen and given a follow-up appointment for ongoing treatment or surveillance the number of patients on the planned procedure list increases.
A total of 833,344 patients are on some form of waiting list monitored by the NTPF.
The Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of all non-urgent hospital work in the spring and although activities have resumed across the health service, capacity is reduced to about 80 per cent or less due to the requirement for infection control.
The President of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) Prof Alan Irvine said the new figures pointed to the need for “urgent action and leadership”.
“Waiting lists growth is seen across specialties and the number of outpatients waiting longer than a year for an appointment has increased by over 78,000 since the start of 2020 to a total of 249,959,” he said.
“To address this growing patient backlog, we must immediately fill the 500 vacant hospital consultant posts,” he continued.
He said Government could “no longer ignore the fundamental requirement that treatment is delivered by consultants and other health care professionals and that no amount of investment in services will reduce these waiting lists unless we recruit and retain the necessary number of staff to deliver care.”


theirishtimes--2020-10-09--Social welfare ‘chaos’ experienced by airline staff

Aer Lingus workers who are living in “ near poverty ” since their pay was reduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic claim they are experiencing “ chaos ” as they try to access social welfare entitlements .
They say the company is delaying sending forms which they need to claim jobseekers benefit and supports , and issuing them with errors .
These errors include stating employees worked fewer days than they did , incorrect addresses and wrong dates of employment commencement dates .
The workers also say local Intreo offices which process welfare claims are treating them inconsistently , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A Dublin-based cabin crew member , who has seen her weekly income drop from about €700 to €350 , said she had been awarded jobseekers ’ benefit for the days she is not working , but she was aware of “ organised chaos ” as colleagues had not yet received forms they needed .
She said while her Intreo office approved her claim , other colleagues using the same office had been refused .
It remains unclear whether the airline workers , whose reduced wages were subsidised by the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1st , when they moved onto the Employee Wage Subsidy Scheme ( EWSS ) , are entitled to back-payments .
Although many applied for the payment from March , they said Aer Lingus had not returned the required UP80 forms .
One Cork-based worker said : “ I ’ m still not getting forms back signed and stamped from Aer Lingus .
It ’ s a disgrace .
The stress and anxiety this is causing all the crew is completely outrageous.
” On September 17th , Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ an organisation the size of Aer Lingus , with a dedicated HR department , has had problems in interpreting the criteria around EWSS and short-term work when many small businesses throughout the country have had no such issue ” .
She said she had been assured by the company that outstanding documentation for welfare supports would be issued .
A spokeswoman said Aer Lingus had issued more than 4,000 UP80 forms to staff .
“ In most cases we understand that claims and payments arising have been processed , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constructively with the Department of Social Protection on ensuring a streamlined process and has dedicated increased resources into completing any forms received.
” The department said it was processing claims as a “ matter of urgency ” .
Senator Regina Doherty , the former minister for social protection , said there was “ mass confusion ” .
“ I have written to management in Aer Lingus to ask them to allocate current staff , whose workloads are much less than usual , into the HR department to assist in clearing the backlog of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensuring a much quicker turnaround in the future , ” she said .

One Cork-based worker said: “I’m still not getting forms back signed and stamped from Aer Lingus. It’s a disgrace.” Photograph: Cyril Byrne
Aer Lingus workers who are living in "near poverty" since their pay was reduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic claim they are experiencing "chaos" as they try to access social welfare entitlements.
They say the company is delaying sending forms which they need to claim jobseekers benefit and supports, and issuing them with errors. These errors include stating employees worked fewer days than they did, incorrect addresses and wrong dates of employment commencement dates.
The workers also say local Intreo offices which process welfare claims are treating them inconsistently, with some awarding payments and some not.
A Dublin-based cabin crew member, who has seen her weekly income drop from about €700 to €350, said she had been awarded jobseekers’ benefit for the days she is not working, but she was aware of “organised chaos” as colleagues had not yet received forms they needed.
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She said while her Intreo office approved her claim, other colleagues using the same office had been refused.
UP80 forms
It remains unclear whether the airline workers, whose reduced wages were subsidised by the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) from March until September 1st, when they moved onto the Employee Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), are entitled to back-payments. Although many applied for the payment from March, they said Aer Lingus had not returned the required UP80 forms.
One Cork-based worker said: “I’m still not getting forms back signed and stamped from Aer Lingus. It’s a disgrace. The stress and anxiety this is causing all the crew is completely outrageous.”
On September 17th, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys told the Dáil she could not understand why "an organisation the size of Aer Lingus, with a dedicated HR department, has had problems in interpreting the criteria around EWSS and short-term work when many small businesses throughout the country have had no such issue".
‘Matter of urgency’
She said she had been assured by the company that outstanding documentation for welfare supports would be issued.
A spokeswoman said Aer Lingus had issued more than 4,000 UP80 forms to staff.
"In most cases we understand that claims and payments arising have been processed," she said. "Aer Lingus continues to engage constructively with the Department of Social Protection on ensuring a streamlined process and has dedicated increased resources into completing any forms received."
The department said it was processing claims as a “matter of urgency”.
Senator Regina Doherty, the former minister for social protection, said there was "mass confusion".
“I have written to management in Aer Lingus to ask them to allocate current staff, whose workloads are much less than usual, into the HR department to assist in clearing the backlog of unsigned jobseekers’ application forms, and ensuring a much quicker turnaround in the future,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-10-09--Broadband plan can be delivered within five years unless Covid ‘wreaks havoc’

The National Broadband Plan can be delivered within five years “ if Covid-19 doesn ’ t wreak havoc ” , the chairman of the company charged with delivering the project has said .
David McCourt , chairman of National Broadband Ireland ( NBI ) , said the impact of quarantining close contacts of confirmed Covid-19 cases may cause difficulties for National Broadband Ireland , but the project remained on course to be completed ahead of time .
Mr McCourt , an Irish-American telecoms entrepreneur , said on Friday that a contractor working on the project had contracted the disease , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleagues .
“ [ It is ] not a statistical big deal for a project with 1,200 people .
However , everyone that person came in contact with has to now quarantine for two weeks .
If that repeats itself it makes things difficult.
” Mr McCourt was delivering an address as part of the 2020 Valentia Lecture organised by the Valentia Transatlantic Cable Foundation , an advocacy group which is lobbying for the inclusion of Valentia Island as a site on the Unesco World Heritage list .
The first transatlantic telegraph cable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 1850s .
The NBI chairman said the national broadband plan was originally a 10-year project , then became a seven-year project , and currently work is under way to do it in five years “ which is very , very doable if Covid-19 doesn ’ t wreak havoc ” .
He said he hoped that treatments and vaccines for coronavirus could improve the situation .
“ I think…by spring time there ’ ll be enough things known about Covid and probably some vaccines somewhere that sort of slow down the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to manage through that , ” he said .
“ Assuming that Covid doesn ’ t get any worse and cause any more problems , it should , it hopefully will be , everyone ’ s working to make it be , less than the scheduled time that we have allotted for it.
” The Government has already indicated its preference that the National Broadband Plan be fast-tracked .
Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan told the Dáil this week that his department was engaged with NBI “ to explore the feasibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
This engagement came after it emerged that the pandemic had led to delays in the project caused by contractors from Britain being unable to travel here .
“ I think we ’ ll see the first areas get built ahead of time .
We ’ ll definitely make our numbers this year , and I think we ’ ll see the communities come on faster than expected , and that pace will continue to pick up , ” Mr McCourt said on Friday .

David McCourt: he said the broadband plan could be delivered within five years unless Covid has an unforeseen impact. Photograph: Julien Behal
The National Broadband Plan can be delivered within five years “if Covid-19 doesn’t wreak havoc”, the chairman of the company charged with delivering the project has said.
David McCourt, chairman of National Broadband Ireland (NBI), said the impact of quarantining close contacts of confirmed Covid-19 cases may cause difficulties for National Broadband Ireland, but the project remained on course to be completed ahead of time.
Mr McCourt, an Irish-American telecoms entrepreneur, said on Friday that a contractor working on the project had contracted the disease, which had had a knock-on impact on colleagues. “[It is] not a statistical big deal for a project with 1,200 people. However, everyone that person came in contact with has to now quarantine for two weeks. If that repeats itself it makes things difficult.”
Mr McCourt was delivering an address as part of the 2020 Valentia Lecture organised by the Valentia Transatlantic Cable Foundation, an advocacy group which is lobbying for the inclusion of Valentia Island as a site on the Unesco World Heritage list. The first transatlantic telegraph cable was laid between the island and Canada in the 1850s.
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The NBI chairman said the national broadband plan was originally a 10-year project, then became a seven-year project, and currently work is under way to do it in five years “which is very, very doable if Covid-19 doesn’t wreak havoc”.
Treatments and vaccines
He said he hoped that treatments and vaccines for coronavirus could improve the situation.
“I think…by spring time there’ll be enough things known about Covid and probably some vaccines somewhere that sort of slow down the spread, so I think we’ll be able to manage through that,” he said.
“Assuming that Covid doesn’t get any worse and cause any more problems, it should, it hopefully will be, everyone’s working to make it be, less than the scheduled time that we have allotted for it.”
The Government has already indicated its preference that the National Broadband Plan be fast-tracked. Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan told the Dáil this week that his department was engaged with NBI "to explore the feasibility of accelerating aspects of the planned roll-out".
This engagement came after it emerged that the pandemic had led to delays in the project caused by contractors from Britain being unable to travel here.
“I think we’ll see the first areas get built ahead of time. We’ll definitely make our numbers this year, and I think we’ll see the communities come on faster than expected, and that pace will continue to pick up,” Mr McCourt said on Friday.


theirishtimes--2020-10-09--Fixation on daily tally of Covid cases distracts from what must be done

To properly assess the current stage of the pandemic , it is more useful to start with the most serious outcome – death – than with case numbers .
In mid-September an average of one person a day with Covid-19 was dying ; now , that figure is two a day .
While it would be better if no deaths were recorded , the figure hardly leaps off the page .
Mortality is much lower than it was in spring because those becoming infected now are on average much younger .
Earlier intervention and better treatment are also making a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates tend to lag behind other indicators by some weeks , so these figures will increase as an inevitable consequence of more hospitalisations .
But given case numbers have been rising now since August , it is encouraging that the graph for deaths remains low .
Two-thirds of those dying with the virus are aged 80 or over , and 95 per cent have underlying conditions , according to the Central Statistics Office .
Covid-19 is a brutal disease for some , and the most severe cases may end up in intensive care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in ICU ; today , that number is 25 .
With such relatively small numbers , it is difficult to make confident predictions , but inevitably the trend is upwards for the coming weeks .
Here , then , is the first pinch point .
On Thursday evening , according to the HSE , 244 critical care beds were occupied , 27 of them with Covid-19 patients , and 34 remained free .
It isn ’ t hard to see this supply being used up quickly on the basis of current trends .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dealing with surges in demand each winter during flu season , and each hospital has a plan for expanding capacity when this happens .
The HSE reckons it can scale up to 350 ICU beds to meet a surge in demand – that ’ s about 100 more than are currently occupied .
When asked this week , officials declined to specify how many weeks ’ ICU supply is in the system based on current trends .
Seventeen ICU patients were on ventilators on Thursday .
With more than 1,000 ventilators available , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an issue .
The second looming pinch point is the supply of hospital beds .
The rate at which patients are hospitalised in September was one-third of what it was last March .
But according to National Public Health Emergency Team official Prof Philip Nolan , hospitalisations of Covid-19 patients are growing exponentially , and within a month ’ s time , we could have up to 450 in hospital .
Demand for hospital beds always starts rising at this time of year as respiratory complaints spread .
As of Thursday there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so this is obviously a problem should current trends continue .
One of the challenges is that Covid-19 patients need to be treated for much longer than , say , flu patients – Nphet said this week the average length of stay of a Covid-19 patient is 20 days in hospital and 14 days in ICU .
The health service is likely to react by cancelling elective work to make way for a surge in virus patients , something it does every year during flu season .
And given that it struggles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same is likely to happen over the coming weeks .
The last indicator to consider , and the most uninformative , is the number of new cases each day .
This is actually a count of the number of positive PCR tests , a figure that includes false positives and people who are not infective at the time of the test ( though they may have been so in the recent past and could become so in the days that follow ) .
Case numbers are a useful indicator of the level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to pay particular heed to levels among older people , among healthcare workers and cases transmitted within health facilities , but the daily announcement of new cases does not deserve its status as a national obsession .
It is true figures are rising exponentially but fixating on this seems to be getting in the way of tackling problems that are nearly as old as the pandemic – dealing with the Border ; enforcing rules we have agreed on ; providing more ICU beds ; speeding up testing ; scaling up contact tracing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ built around quarantine and testing options .
As this week has gone on , pressure has grown to reimpose a lockdown .
Extended closures of schools after midterm seem to be on the cards , despite the lack of scientific evidence and the fact this is not envisaged at any level of the Government ’ s framework plan .
Yet we still haven ’ t seen a proper cost-benefit analysis of the impact of lockdown on a struggling economy and on non-Covid health .
Neither have officials made clear what the strategy would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to lock down for months , or would restrictions be lifted , possibly sparking yet another surge ?
Surely this would have to be answered before the country was shut down again .
Some scientists say we should seek to eliminate the virus , though it hard to see how this could be achieved in such a trade- and travel-dependent country as Ireland .
Other scientists espouse shielding of the vulnerable while opening up society .
But given the lack of firm evidence for herd immunity , and the very large number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too big a risk for many to take .
It may be that “ muddling through ” , perhaps with a little less melodrama than was seen this week , remains our best option .
There is a value to keeping schools and businesses open , and morale up , that is not caught in the epidemiologist ’ s graph , while the risks are managed within the levels of the Government ’ s framework plan .

To properly assess the current stage of the pandemic, it is more useful to start with the most serious outcome – death – than with case numbers.
In mid-September an average of one person a day with Covid-19 was dying; now, that figure is two a day.
While it would be better if no deaths were recorded, the figure hardly leaps off the page.
Mortality is much lower than it was in spring because those becoming infected now are on average much younger. Earlier intervention and better treatment are also making a difference.
READ MORE
One major caveat: death rates tend to lag behind other indicators by some weeks, so these figures will increase as an inevitable consequence of more hospitalisations. But given case numbers have been rising now since August, it is encouraging that the graph for deaths remains low.
Two-thirds of those dying with the virus are aged 80 or over, and 95 per cent have underlying conditions, according to the Central Statistics Office.
Covid-19 is a brutal disease for some, and the most severe cases may end up in intensive care. In mid-September there were nine cases in ICU; today, that number is 25. With such relatively small numbers, it is difficult to make confident predictions, but inevitably the trend is upwards for the coming weeks.
Here, then, is the first pinch point. On Thursday evening, according to the HSE, 244 critical care beds were occupied, 27 of them with Covid-19 patients, and 34 remained free. It isn’t hard to see this supply being used up quickly on the basis of current trends.
But the health service is used to dealing with surges in demand each winter during flu season, and each hospital has a plan for expanding capacity when this happens. The HSE reckons it can scale up to 350 ICU beds to meet a surge in demand – that’s about 100 more than are currently occupied. When asked this week, officials declined to specify how many weeks’ ICU supply is in the system based on current trends.
Seventeen ICU patients were on ventilators on Thursday. With more than 1,000 ventilators available, supply here does not seem to be an issue.
Demand for beds
The second looming pinch point is the supply of hospital beds. The rate at which patients are hospitalised in September was one-third of what it was last March. But according to National Public Health Emergency Team official Prof Philip Nolan, hospitalisations of Covid-19 patients are growing exponentially, and within a month's time, we could have up to 450 in hospital.
Demand for hospital beds always starts rising at this time of year as respiratory complaints spread. As of Thursday there were 254 free beds in the hospital system, so this is obviously a problem should current trends continue. One of the challenges is that Covid-19 patients need to be treated for much longer than, say, flu patients – Nphet said this week the average length of stay of a Covid-19 patient is 20 days in hospital and 14 days in ICU.
The health service is likely to react by cancelling elective work to make way for a surge in virus patients, something it does every year during flu season. And given that it struggles to cope during bad flu winters, the same is likely to happen over the coming weeks.
The last indicator to consider, and the most uninformative, is the number of new cases each day. This is actually a count of the number of positive PCR tests, a figure that includes false positives and people who are not infective at the time of the test (though they may have been so in the recent past and could become so in the days that follow).
Case numbers are a useful indicator of the level of transmission of the virus. We need to pay particular heed to levels among older people, among healthcare workers and cases transmitted within health facilities, but the daily announcement of new cases does not deserve its status as a national obsession.
Fruitless fixation
It is true figures are rising exponentially but fixating on this seems to be getting in the way of tackling problems that are nearly as old as the pandemic – dealing with the Border; enforcing rules we have agreed on; providing more ICU beds; speeding up testing; scaling up contact tracing; and providing a framework for travel built around quarantine and testing options.
As this week has gone on, pressure has grown to reimpose a lockdown. Extended closures of schools after midterm seem to be on the cards, despite the lack of scientific evidence and the fact this is not envisaged at any level of the Government’s framework plan. Yet we still haven’t seen a proper cost-benefit analysis of the impact of lockdown on a struggling economy and on non-Covid health.
Neither have officials made clear what the strategy would be after a lockdown. Do we continue to lock down for months, or would restrictions be lifted, possibly sparking yet another surge? Surely this would have to be answered before the country was shut down again.
Some scientists say we should seek to eliminate the virus, though it hard to see how this could be achieved in such a trade- and travel-dependent country as Ireland.
Other scientists espouse shielding of the vulnerable while opening up society. But given the lack of firm evidence for herd immunity, and the very large number in the vulnerable category, this is too big a risk for many to take.
It may be that “muddling through”, perhaps with a little less melodrama than was seen this week, remains our best option. There is a value to keeping schools and businesses open, and morale up, that is not caught in the epidemiologist’s graph, while the risks are managed within the levels of the Government’s framework plan.


theirishtimes--2020-10-09--Man allegedly exposed to toxic chemicals had ‘dreadful-looking’ larnyx, court hears

A consultant respiratory physician has told the High Court a man who claims he was exposed to fumes and toxic chemicals had a “ dreadful looking ” larynx when he was examined .
Professor Conor Burke said Patrick Duffy had one of the “ most irritated ” voice boxes he had ever seen and it was raw-looking .
He was giving evidence on the third day of the action by Mr Duffy , ( 45 ) Meenderryowen , Annagry , Co Donegal .
Mr Duffy has sued Brendan McGee , trading as McGee Insulation Services , Largenreach , Downings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ installation and application of spray foam insulation at his family home on February 18th , 2016 .
The case is also against GMS Insulations Ltd , Legga , Moyne , Co Longford which imports and supplies spray foam insulation material .
It is claimed the spray foam insulation was imported from outside the EU by GMS Insulations who supplied it to McGee Insulation .
Mr McGee , it is claimed , reassured Mr Duffy it was safe to remain in his home during the course of the installation process and immediately afterwards .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ informed the product was entirely safe and did not give off any fumes .
The claims are denied by both defendants .
Mr McGee also pleads contributory negligence on the part of Mr Duffy .
It is claimed Mr Duffy was advised to stay away from the house during the installation .
GMS Insulations contends that if Mr Duffy suffered injuries , it bears no liability in law .
In his evidence , Mr Duffy has told the court he had to move his family out of the dream home he had built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insulation was put in his main attic and sunroom .
Mr Duffy , his wife Anita and their daughter now live in a mobile home .
Mr Duffy claims he suffered damage to the airway tract , coughs constantly and all three in the family became incredibly sensitised since to certain products .
On Friday , Professor Burke said he first examined Mr Duffy in September 2017 , more than a year after the insulation was installed in his home .
It was such a “ dramatic ” story that he remembered it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he carried out a fibreoptic bronchoscopy to examine Mr Duffy ’ s upper respiratory tract .
There was no question but that Mr Duffy inhaled something which caused an acute inflammatory response , he said .
He had carried out a second fibreoptic bronchoscopy in March 2018 and the picture was worse than the first time .
It was only too obvious that Mr Duffy was not getting better , he said .
“ I said there is nothing more that can be done .
I was honest with him , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how that situation will change in the future , he added .
The case will continue next week before Mr Justice Kevin Cross .

Professor Conor Burke said Patrick Duffy had one of the ‘most irritated’ voice boxes he had ever seen and it was raw-looking. Photograph: Collins Courts.
A consultant respiratory physician has told the High Court a man who claims he was exposed to fumes and toxic chemicals had a "dreadful looking" larynx when he was examined.
Professor Conor Burke said Patrick Duffy had one of the "most irritated" voice boxes he had ever seen and it was raw-looking.
He was giving evidence on the third day of the action by Mr Duffy, (45) Meenderryowen, Annagry, Co Donegal.
Mr Duffy has sued Brendan McGee, trading as McGee Insulation Services, Largenreach, Downings, Letterkenny, who was responsible for the installation and application of spray foam insulation at his family home on February 18th, 2016.
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The case is also against GMS Insulations Ltd, Legga, Moyne, Co Longford which imports and supplies spray foam insulation material.
It is claimed the spray foam insulation was imported from outside the EU by GMS Insulations who supplied it to McGee Insulation.
Mr McGee, it is claimed, reassured Mr Duffy it was safe to remain in his home during the course of the installation process and immediately afterwards.
It is further claimed Mr Duffy was informed the product was entirely safe and did not give off any fumes.
The claims are denied by both defendants.
Mr McGee also pleads contributory negligence on the part of Mr Duffy. It is claimed Mr Duffy was advised to stay away from the house during the installation.
GMS Insulations contends that if Mr Duffy suffered injuries, it bears no liability in law.
In his evidence, Mr Duffy has told the court he had to move his family out of the dream home he had built by the sea in Donegal after the insulation was put in his main attic and sunroom.
Mr Duffy, his wife Anita and their daughter now live in a mobile home.
Mr Duffy claims he suffered damage to the airway tract, coughs constantly and all three in the family became incredibly sensitised since to certain products.
On Friday, Professor Burke said he first examined Mr Duffy in September 2017, more than a year after the insulation was installed in his home. It was such a “dramatic” story that he remembered it very well, he said.
He said he carried out a fibreoptic bronchoscopy to examine Mr Duffy’s upper respiratory tract.
There was no question but that Mr Duffy inhaled something which caused an acute inflammatory response, he said.
He had carried out a second fibreoptic bronchoscopy in March 2018 and the picture was worse than the first time. It was only too obvious that Mr Duffy was not getting better, he said.
“I said there is nothing more that can be done. I was honest with him,” he said. He did not see how that situation will change in the future, he added.
The case will continue next week before Mr Justice Kevin Cross.


theirishtimes--2020-10-09--Fat Freddie Thompson to appeal his conviction for murder

Dublin criminal Fat Freddie Thompson is to appeal his conviction for the murder of David ‘ Daithí ’ Douglas , @ @ @ @ @ yesterday ( Friday ) .
Thompson ( 39 ) of Loreto Road , Maryland , @ @ @ @ @ not guilty to involvement in murder but was jailed for life at the the Special @ @ @ @ @ 2018 .
Mr Douglas was shot six times as he lunched at the counter in @ @ @ @ @ , Shoestown on Bridgefoot Street , Dublin 8 , on July 1st , 2016 .
@ @ @ @ @ for Thompson said that they were coming on record to represent him in his conviction @ @ @ @ @ lodge grounds of appeal with the court in order to receive transcripts .
The three-judge @ @ @ @ @ Solicitors will come on record for Thompson , who originally gave his notice of appeal @ @ @ @ @ Free legal aid was granted to Michael Finucane Solicitor in the matter , which will @ @ @ @ @ date once grounds for appeal have been submitted .

The three-judge court heard that Michael Finucane Solicitors will come on record for Freddie Thompson, who originally gave his notice of appeal by himself from prison. File photograph: The Irish Times
Dublin criminal Fat Freddie Thompson is to appeal his conviction for the murder of David ‘Daithí’ Douglas, the Court of Appeal heard yesterday ( Friday).
Thompson (39) of Loreto Road, Maryland, Dublin 8, had pleaded not guilty to involvement in murder but was jailed for life at the the Special Criminal Court in August of 2018.
Mr Douglas was shot six times as he lunched at the counter in his partner’s shop, Shoestown on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8, on July 1st, 2016.
At the court, lawyers for Thompson said that they were coming on record to represent him in his conviction appeal but had yet to lodge grounds of appeal with the court in order to receive transcripts.
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The three-judge court heard that Michael Finucane Solicitors will come on record for Thompson, who originally gave his notice of appeal by himself from prison.
Free legal aid was granted to Michael Finucane Solicitor in the matter, which will be listed to fix a date once grounds for appeal have been submitted.


theirishtimes--2020-10-09--Man used panic button to get help after brother stabbed, trial hears

A man who used a panic button to get help when he suffered epileptic fits has told a murder trial he activated it after his sister-in-law stabbed his brother .
Rita O ’ Driscoll of Bridge Street , Bandon , Co Cork is charged with the murder of Timmy Foley ( 44 ) and with assault causing serious harm to his brother , Jason Foley , on October 8th , 2018 at Dan Corkery Place in Macroom , Co Cork .
She denies both charges .
Her trial at the Central Criminal Court in Cork , presided over by Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foley was found with 28 stab wounds .
Jason Foley told the court on Friday that Ms O ’ Driscoll came to his home at Dan Corkery Place with alcohol on the evening in question .
He said his brother had been staying with him for a week or two prior to the incident .
He said he became concerned when she started raising her voice because he was worried about disturbing his elderly and frail neighbour next door .
Mr Foley said Ms O ’ Driscoll then started “ pucking ” Timmy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pucking him in the stomach .
I said ‘ this is my house , what are you doing ?
’ My brother said ‘ Jason I ’ m goosed ’ and he started roaring .
“ Rita was standing over Timmy , pucking him in the stomach and his stomach was bleeding .
He stood up and there was blood on his hand , ” he said .
“ She had a bloody knife in her hand.
” He said his brother was “ staggering around the place ” and he told him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gardaí .
He said at this stage , Ms O ’ Driscoll was in a corner “ talking to herself.
” Mr Foley said he pushed his panic button , which was located above his fridge , to get assistance .
A recording of his conversation with the operator was played and he identified his own voice .
He also said the voices of Ms O ’ Driscoll and his brother were on the recording .
Mr Foley also claimed Ms O ’ Driscoll stabbed him in the back and he “ felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday before a jury of five men and seven women .

A man who used a panic button to get help when he suffered epileptic fits has told a murder trial he activated it after his sister-in-law stabbed his brother.
Rita O'Driscoll of Bridge Street, Bandon, Co Cork is charged with the murder of Timmy Foley (44) and with assault causing serious harm to his brother, Jason Foley, on October 8th, 2018 at Dan Corkery Place in Macroom, Co Cork. She denies both charges.
Her trial at the Central Criminal Court in Cork, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, previously heard Timmy Foley was found with 28 stab wounds.
Jason Foley told the court on Friday that Ms O’Driscoll came to his home at Dan Corkery Place with alcohol on the evening in question. He said his brother had been staying with him for a week or two prior to the incident.
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He said he became concerned when she started raising her voice because he was worried about disturbing his elderly and frail neighbour next door.
Mr Foley said Ms O’Driscoll then started “pucking” Timmy in the stomach.
“She started pucking him in the stomach. I said ‘this is my house, what are you doing?’ My brother said ‘Jason I’m goosed’ and he started roaring.
“Rita was standing over Timmy, pucking him in the stomach and his stomach was bleeding. He stood up and there was blood on his hand,” he said. “She had a bloody knife in her hand.”
He said his brother was “staggering around the place” and he told him he would get an ambulance and call gardaí. He said at this stage, Ms O’Driscoll was in a corner “talking to herself.”
Mr Foley said he pushed his panic button, which was located above his fridge, to get assistance.
A recording of his conversation with the operator was played and he identified his own voice. He also said the voices of Ms O’Driscoll and his brother were on the recording.
Mr Foley also claimed Ms O’Driscoll stabbed him in the back and he “felt weak” afterwards.
The trial continues on Monday before a jury of five men and seven women.


theirishtimes--2020-10-10--Coronavirus: Number of people in hospital and ICU with Covid-19 surges over last month

Confirmed cases of Covid-19 have surged almost fourfold in Irish hospitals over the past month , latest figures reveal .
Over the same period , there has been an even greater increase in the number of patients admitted to intensive care units ( ICU ) with coronavirus .
Official figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre released on Saturday show 194 confirmed cases in hospitals , up from 51 at the same time in September .
Some 31 of the hospitalised cases are being treated in ICU - up from seven at the same time last month .
The figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned rates of infection are escalating “ really , really quickly ” and are going to get worse over the coming weeks .
General practitioner Dr Ronan Boland said “ the picture has changed pretty dramatically in the space of three or four weeks.
” “ We ’ ve gone from a situation when the schools reopened in early September , when there was a huge demand for testing and the vast majority of those tests were negative.. ( to ) now , what we are actually seeing , a much higher positivity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Health on Friday night reported five additional deaths related to Covid-19 and 617 confirmed further cases of the disease , including 123 in Dublin and 107 in Cork .
This brings the number of deaths from the disease in the State to 1,821 with a total of 40,703 of cases since the start of the pandemic .
Fewer than one in five of the new cases ( 123 out of 617 ) were in Dublin , the smallest proportion in recent months .
There were also 107 cases in Cork , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 35 in Galway with the remaining 274 cases located across 21 counties .
Of the new cases , some 73 per cent are under 45 years of age , while 33 per cent are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case .
The 617 cases reported on Friday is , by a slight margin , the highest daily number since late April .
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said on Friday that the profile of the disease continued to deteriorate .
“ We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily cases .
It is vital that we interrupt the transmission of the virus now , ” he warned .
Earlier , the chair of Nphet ’ s Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group said there has been “ exponential growth ” of Covid-19 infection in Ireland along with “ rapid increases ” in the number of people being admitted to hospital and ICU .
Prof Philip Nolan said at the worst of the pandemic there were 60-80 admissions to hospital and 10-15 admissions to ICU per day over a period of four weeks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way to those admission rates .
We must change course now , ” he said on Twitter .
“ The number of people in hospitals is now growing exponentially.
” Prof Nolan said there are very few counties where the incidence rate is not increasing and “ no county where the incidence is not a cause for concern ” .
The exponential growth of transmission should “ make each and every one of us stop , think and resolve again to do our part to suppress the virus , now and quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call to action is the same as it has been for weeks , but much more urgent now : radically limit our discretionary social contacts , maintain physical distance and safe practices when we do meet , self-isolate and call for help with any symptoms of Covid-19 , ” he said .
CorkDr Boland said Covid hubs set up by the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) towards the end of the first wave of the pandemic , which were “ almost not needed ” at that stage , are now operating at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turning up at the hubs are testing positive for the disease and “ most of them ( are ) quite sick ” while some are being admitted by ambulance directly from the hub to hospital , he told RTÉ Radio One .
Dr Boland said GPs looking to refer patients to hubs can not get an appointment “ because it was over capacity on the day.
” “ It happened really , really quickly , ” he said .
Most GPs in Cork city have had several patients testing positive , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals “ are pretty much at full capacity ” .
Some 50 people were waiting for hospital beds in the city yesterday and there are only two vacant ICU beds , he said .
“ What we are seeing in terms of actual cases reflects infections that happened seven to 14 days ago , so even if level three ( of the government restrictions to stem the spread of the virus ) worked today , what you can say with certainty is that things are going to get worse over the next two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Dr Boland added .
The “ fervent hope ” is that the level three restrictions will work in reducing the rate of increase of infection and illness as it “ has grown very , very rapidly and the capacity simply isn ’ t there to deal with a big increase in very sick patients over the next few weeks.
” Dr Boland said he didn ’ t believe plans to introduce fines for breaching restrictions would work , adding that the majority of people are very compliant and that “ active @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results ” .
But public health advice on face coverings needs to change , he said .
“ It is very clear at this stage that shields and visors do not work .
That is not clearly enough understood , ” he added .
“ Staff working in the hospitality sector and shops and so on are not protecting themselves or not protecting others .
“ I think the HSE can do better there in terms of giving clear guidance , because I think people are doing what they think is the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear that it is not the right thing in terms of appropriate use of face coverings in congregated settings .

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has asked the public to change their behaviours so “we can make Level 3 work, protect lives and livelihoods” and stop Covid-19 spreading.
Mr Martin said in a statement on Sunday the move to Level 3 involved tightening coronavirus restrictions on people and society, which particularly affected the hospitality sector.
“Covid-19 is challenging countries across Europe and throughout the world,” he said.
Hospital Report
I am very worried about the numbers we are seeing and how quickly they are deteriorating.
All of today’s 1,012 cases were notified to @hpscireland over a period of 24 hours up to midnight.
All of the important indicators of the disease are deteriorating...
(1/3) https://t.co/b9bij8DRE4 — Dr Tony Holohan (@CMOIreland) October 10, 2020
“The coming weeks will be challenging but working with Nphet, we will respond firmly and appropriately. We have the capacity and resources to come through this and we will.
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“An unprecedented level of resources have been allocated to the health services, both in the Winter Plan and throughout the entirety of 2021.”
Mr Martin said these resources would enable the health service to cope with Covid-19, and ensure better health service for the future.
Earlier, public health officials have issued stark warnings about the spread of Covid-19 after a further three people died and record number of new cases were recorded.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) said on Saturday a further 1,012 new cases of the disease were reported. It is the highest number of cases in a single day since the height of the pandemic on April 15th, when 1,068 were recorded. It is only the third time daily case numbers have risen above 1,000.
On Sunday HSE chief Paul Reid said the disease was “worsening at pace”. In a Tweet he added: “We all need to get real & play our part to protect patients & our healthcare workers.Increased hospital cases leads to more people in ICU & cancelling heart, cancer & other care.Let’s turn this around quickly by doing the right thing today.”
Saturday's figures bring to 1,824 the number of people who have died of the disease in the Republic of Ireland with a total of 41,714 cases confirmed in the State since the start of the pandemic.
Of Saturday's cases, 511 are men and 496 are women, 71 per cent are under 45 years of age while the median age of those diagnosed is 30 years old. A total of 241 of the cases are in Dublin, 112 in Cork, 80 in Cavan, 72 in Meath, 66 in Galway, and the remaining 441 cases are spread across 21 other counties.
As of 8am on Sunday there were 201 Covid-19 patients hospitalised, of which 30 are in ICU. At 8pm on Saturday night there were 198 confirmed cases in Irish hospitals, 103 suspected cases. According to the HSE's daily operations update, of the confirmed cases the highest number (22) was in Cavan, followed by Beaumont (21), Tallaght (18) and Cork University Hospital (15).
There were 39 adult and three paediatric intensive care beds available in Ireland last night.
Confirmed cases of Covid-19 have risen almost fourfold in Irish hospitals over the past month, the figures show. Over the same period, there has been an even greater increase in the number of patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) with coronavirus.
The high and rising number of cases and hospitalisations will prompt a further examination of the Government’s strategy to contain the spread of coronavirus having rejected advice from Nphet last weekend to move the State to the most severe Level 5. Instead it moved the country to Level 3 on the five-level alert system.
CMO Dr Tony Holohan pictured at a media briefing on Wednesday. Photograph: Colin Keegan, Collins
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, said on Saturday night: "I am very worried about the numbers we are seeing and how quickly they are deteriorating.
“All of today’s 1,012 cases were notified to the HPSC over a period of 24 hours up to midnight.
“The 14-day incidence rate has increased from 108 per 100,000 last Sunday to 150 per 100,000 today, which represents a 39 per cent increase.
“All of the important indicators of the disease are deteriorating. For example, there has been a consistent increase in test positivity over the past week. The test positivity rate up to midnight Friday October 9th was 6.2 per cent, which has more than doubled in less than a fortnight.
“Case numbers are growing across all age groups and throughout the country.”
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said on Saturday: “In the past 24 hours, there have been 35 new admissions of laboratory confirmed cases to hospital and 4 new admissions to ICU. There are now 199 people in hospital and 31 in ICU. Every age group, location and household needs to act now, limit your contacts and stop the disease in its tracks.”
Northern Ireland
In the North, another 902 people tested positive for Covid-19 but no new deaths were reported on Saturday.
The figures come as a family doctor in Cork warned rates of infection are escalating “really, really quickly” and are going to get worse over the coming weeks.
General practitioner Dr Ronan Boland said "the picture has changed pretty dramatically in the space of three or four weeks."
“We’ve gone from a situation when the schools reopened in early September, when there was a huge demand for testing and the vast majority of those tests were negative.. (to) now, what we are actually seeing, a much higher positivity rate,” he said.
Dr Boland said Covid hubs set up by the Health Service Executive (HSE) towards the end of the first wave of the pandemic, which were "almost not needed" at that stage, are now operating at full capacity.
A Covid patient is transferred along a corridor in St Vincents University Hospital, Dublin in April. Photograph: Alan Betson
The majority of patients turning up at the hubs are testing positive for the disease and "most of them (are) quite sick" while some are being admitted by ambulance directly from the hub to hospital, he told RTÉ Radio One.
Dr Boland said GPs looking to refer patients to hubs can not get an appointment “because it was over capacity on the day.”
“It happened really, really quickly,” he said.
Most GPs in Cork city have had several patients testing positive, he said, adding that the city’s hospitals “are pretty much at full capacity”.
Some 50 people were waiting for hospital beds in the city yesterday and there are only two vacant ICU beds, he said.
“What we are seeing in terms of actual cases reflects infections that happened seven to 14 days ago, so even if level three (of the Government restrictions to stem the spread of the virus) worked today, what you can say with certainty is that things are going to get worse over the next two or three weeks before they get better,” Dr Boland added.
The “fervent hope” is that the level three restrictions will work in reducing the rate of increase of infection and illness as it “has grown very, very rapidly and the capacity simply isn’t there to deal with a big increase in very sick patients over the next few weeks.”