theirishtimes--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: Huawei to send medical equipment to Ireland

Chinese technology company Huawei has said it will send a shipment of medical equipment to Ireland as part of its Covid-19 relief efforts .
Ireland will be the first European country after Italy to be sent medical equipment by the company , which has been at the centre of a geopolitical controversy in recent months over the alleged presence of spyware in its products – which the company denies .
The US government has sought to curtail companies ’ use of Huawei technology .
However , the Trump administration has delayed until May plans to put Huawei on a blacklist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The company confirmed in a statement that it intends to send personal protective equipment and technological equipment to Ireland .
“ Covid-19 knows no borders , it knows no nationality , and we are all in this together .
We have been in Ireland for over 15 years and we will do everything we can to help , as we are doing in the other European countries we operate in , ” said David Kenny , deputy general manager of Huawei Ireland .
“ Huawei will donate personal protective equipment to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ICT solutions which could help with video conferencing , or any other useful applications for those who need it , ” he said .
Huawei was encouraged to send the equipment by Web Summit chief executive Paddy Cosgrave , it is understood , who tweeted on Thursday that an unnamed Chinese company was seeking an address and a “ point person to ship medical aid from China to Ireland as a gift ” .
Mr Cosgrave has been a vocal critic of aspects of the State ’ s response to the Covid-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an Irish hospital agreed to receive the goods ; however , the exact manner in which they will be delivered into the Irish healthcare system is not known .
A Huawei spokesman said the equipment is currently being requisitioned in China , and that the company has been in touch with the HSE .
The spokesman said the exact destination of the equipment would be determined when it arrived .
The precise method of shipping the equipment , and the quantity coming , is still to be finally determined , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large number ” of items .
Mr Kenny said : “ We have teams in China and Dublin working on this .
We ’ re looking at the quickest way of getting everything here once we have it requisitioned .
It might be a combination [ of air and sea freight ] ; for example , PPE [ personal protective equipment ] might come via air .
We ’ ll use our global supply chain to get it here as soon as we can.
” Mr Cosgrave is understood to be in contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donations .
Adam Segal , a director of the US Council for Foreign Relations and a China expert , said the Huawei effort should be seen as part of a wider context .
“ They ’ re taking the lead from the Chinese government , which wants to shift the story from the virus originating in China to China playing a role in supporting global health and leading on this stage .
“ They ’ re following that , and from a corporate perspective , given the widespread campaign by the US to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a malicious actor tied to the Communist Party .
This helps them signal they are a responsible corporate actor .
”

‘Huawei will donate personal protective equipment to help those working on the frontline, and ICT solutions which could help with video conferencing,’ said David Kenny, deputy chief executive of Huawei Ireland. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images
Chinese technology company Huawei has said it will send a shipment of medical equipment to Ireland as part of its Covid-19 relief efforts.
Ireland will be the first European country after Italy to be sent medical equipment by the company, which has been at the centre of a geopolitical controversy in recent months over the alleged presence of spyware in its products – which the company denies.
The US government has sought to curtail companies’ use of Huawei technology. However, the Trump administration has delayed until May plans to put Huawei on a blacklist of firms it will not trade with.
The company confirmed in a statement that it intends to send personal protective equipment and technological equipment to Ireland.
READ MORE
"Covid-19 knows no borders, it knows no nationality, and we are all in this together. We have been in Ireland for over 15 years and we will do everything we can to help, as we are doing in the other European countries we operate in," said David Kenny, deputy general manager of Huawei Ireland.
“Huawei will donate personal protective equipment to help those working on the frontline, and ICT solutions which could help with video conferencing, or any other useful applications for those who need it,” he said.
Huawei was encouraged to send the equipment by Web Summit chief executive Paddy Cosgrave, it is understood, who tweeted on Thursday that an unnamed Chinese company was seeking an address and a "point person to ship medical aid from China to Ireland as a gift".
Vocal critic
Mr Cosgrave has been a vocal critic of aspects of the State’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is understood that a nurse in an Irish hospital agreed to receive the goods; however, the exact manner in which they will be delivered into the Irish healthcare system is not known.
A Huawei spokesman said the equipment is currently being requisitioned in China, and that the company has been in touch with the HSE. The spokesman said the exact destination of the equipment would be determined when it arrived.
The precise method of shipping the equipment, and the quantity coming, is still to be finally determined, but the company said it would be a “large number” of items.
Mr Kenny said: “We have teams in China and Dublin working on this. We’re looking at the quickest way of getting everything here once we have it requisitioned. It might be a combination [of air and sea freight]; for example, PPE [personal protective equipment] might come via air. We’ll use our global supply chain to get it here as soon as we can.”
Similar donations
Mr Cosgrave is understood to be in contact with several other Chinese companies over similar donations.
Adam Segal, a director of the US Council for Foreign Relations and a China expert, said the Huawei effort should be seen as part of a wider context.
“They’re taking the lead from the Chinese government, which wants to shift the story from the virus originating in China to China playing a role in supporting global health and leading on this stage.
"They're following that, and from a corporate perspective, given the widespread campaign by the US to portray them as an untrustworthy and as a malicious actor tied to the Communist Party. This helps them signal they are a responsible corporate actor."


theirishtimes--2020-03-20--Employers who offer more than State's Covid-19 payment will not be refunded

Employers who temporarily lay off workers because of coronavirus will not be refunded for paying them anything over and above the new Covid-19 unemployment payment of €203 per week offered by the State .
When the new payment scheme was announced on Sunday , the Department of Social Protection said it was “ asking employers , if at all possible , to continue to pay workers during this period – at least at the jobseeker rate of €203 per week ” and they would subsequently be entitled to have the money refunded .
The department confirmed on Thursday that employers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them over this amount would not qualify for a refund .
A department spokeswoman said : “ If an employer tops up the €203 per week at all they will not qualify for any reimbursement under the scheme.
” Employers in the hardest-hit sectors say that as a result they will be forced to “ abandon staff to poverty ” as up to 140,000 people are laid off due to the impact of the virus .
In the past week 50,000 pub workers and up to 25,000 childcare workers were effectively laid off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to close .
The Licensed Vintners Association , which represents Dublin publicans , say their phones have been “ in meltdown ” since details of the Covid Employer Refund Scheme were provided on Wednesday , following its announcement on Sunday .
Early Childhood Ireland , which represents 3,800 providers , said it was “ extremely concerned ” and was “ urgently seeking clarity ” .
Director of policy Frances Byrne said “ the number one issue for members this week is paying and retaining staff ” through the crisis .
“ Hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over and above the €203 but as things stand it appears they won ’ t be able to.
” Under the new scheme employers who continue to pay their laid-off staff the equivalent of jobseeker ’ s benefit – €203 per week – will be reimbursed by the Department of Social Protection , via the Revenue Commissioners .
Groups such as the Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners ’ Federation of Ireland urged members to “ look after staff where they could ” by topping up to pay more than the basic jobseeker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Keeffe , chief executive of the LVA .
Mr O ’ Keeffe said his members have now been told if they do top up the basic rate they will not be reimbursed at all .
“ We are highly concerned about the impact this is going to have on the employers who want to look after their staff , pay them a decent amount .
They are being treated inequitably .
And it puts us in an invidious position because it looks like we have been giving out incorrect information.
” One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay his staff their full wages while he closes said : “ I ’ m lucky but there are many more of us out there who will be forced to abandon their workers to poverty if this is not sorted.
” Brian Foley , VFI spokesman , said there were a number of issues with the scheme and “ this is certainly a major one ” .
“ Overall it is a good scheme , and we want to support it , but this is the big issue for our guys today.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group RGDATA , said her members were less affected so far than publicans , with many having to reduce employees ’ hours rather than lay them off .
“ Our understanding is that this payment for laid-off workers must be the only payment being made to them and can not be topped up .
Our members are still open so we have not had a lot of queries about laying off workers yet.
” A spokeswoman for Revenue said it had “ worked closely with the department ” and pay-roll software providers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Covid Pandemic Unemployment Payment of €203 per week directly to employees who have been temporarily laid off .
”

Employers who temporarily lay off workers because of coronavirus will not be refunded for paying them anything over and above the new Covid-19 unemployment payment of €203 per week offered by the State.
When the new payment scheme was announced on Sunday, the Department of Social Protection said it was "asking employers, if at all possible, to continue to pay workers during this period – at least at the jobseeker rate of €203 per week" and they would subsequently be entitled to have the money refunded.
The department confirmed on Thursday that employers who temporarily laid staff off and paid them over this amount would not qualify for a refund.
A department spokeswoman said: “If an employer tops up the €203 per week at all they will not qualify for any reimbursement under the scheme.”
READ MORE
Employers in the hardest-hit sectors say that as a result they will be forced to “abandon staff to poverty” as up to 140,000 people are laid off due to the impact of the virus.
In the past week 50,000 pub workers and up to 25,000 childcare workers were effectively laid off overnight after pubs and creches were ordered to close.
The Licensed Vintners Association, which represents Dublin publicans, say their phones have been "in meltdown" since details of the Covid Employer Refund Scheme were provided on Wednesday, following its announcement on Sunday.
Early Childhood Ireland, which represents 3,800 providers, said it was "extremely concerned" and was "urgently seeking clarity". Director of policy Frances Byrne said "the number one issue for members this week is paying and retaining staff" through the crisis.
“Hundreds of members would like to pay their workers over and above the €203 but as things stand it appears they won’t be able to.”
Under the new scheme employers who continue to pay their laid-off staff the equivalent of jobseeker’s benefit – €203 per week – will be reimbursed by the Department of Social Protection, via the Revenue Commissioners.
‘Invidious position’
Groups such as the Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland urged members to “look after staff where they could” by topping up to pay more than the basic jobseeker’s rate, says Donal O’Keeffe, chief executive of the LVA.
Mr O’Keeffe said his members have now been told if they do top up the basic rate they will not be reimbursed at all.
“We are highly concerned about the impact this is going to have on the employers who want to look after their staff, pay them a decent amount. They are being treated inequitably. And it puts us in an invidious position because it looks like we have been giving out incorrect information.”
One Dublin pub owner who can afford to pay his staff their full wages while he closes said: “I’m lucky but there are many more of us out there who will be forced to abandon their workers to poverty if this is not sorted.”
Brian Foley, VFI spokesman, said there were a number of issues with the scheme and "this is certainly a major one".
“Overall it is a good scheme, and we want to support it, but this is the big issue for our guys today.”
Tara Buckley, director of retail lobby group RGDATA, said her members were less affected so far than publicans, with many having to reduce employees' hours rather than lay them off.
“Our understanding is that this payment for laid-off workers must be the only payment being made to them and cannot be topped up. Our members are still open so we have not had a lot of queries about laying off workers yet.”
A spokeswoman for Revenue said it had “worked closely with the department” and pay-roll software providers.
“The scheme reimburses employers who pay the Covid Pandemic Unemployment Payment of €203 per week directly to employees who have been temporarily laid off.”


theirishtimes--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: Garda numbers at record level as hundreds of recruits sworn in

The number of Garda members in the Republic has surged to a record level of 14,750 as hundreds of recruits are on Friday sworn in in an emergency measure due to the Covid19 crisis .
It has also emerged that some 200 prisoners have been released from jails in recent days as the Irish Prison Service positions itself to manage any outbreak in the prison system .
The number of prisoners freed on temporary release , all non-violent offenders , had increased to 492 yesterday , up from 305 at the start of the month with total numbers in custody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Garda force , excluding civilian Garda staff , has increased by 500 members since the start of the year .
It is now larger , by about 200 gardai , than the previous record reached in 2009 when numbers peaked just months after the economic downturn .
Hundreds of recruits training in the Garda College , Templemore , Co Tipperary , have been given a crash course in arrests , using a baton and public order policing and have been sworn in over the past week .
Some had only commenced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are fears the Garda could be hit hard by Covid-19 , a decision was made to allow them skip their training and be sworn in immediately with full policing powers .
There have been a small number of positive tests for Covid-19 among Garda members in recent days .
Some senior officers and frontline members have gone into isolation pending test results as they were in contact with an infected colleague , though disruption has been minimal to date .
Garda sources told The Irish Times there had been no signs of civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by people taking advantage of the current phase of self-isolation and businesses closing .
There have been a number of robberies in closed pubs in Dublin and during which shop staff have been threatened and money stolen .
However , Garda sources said there was nothing to suggest these crimes had arisen because of Covid19 .
Anecdotal evidence has begun to emerge of illicit drugs being delivered to users ’ homes after orders were placed over the phone .
However , sources stressed it would take time to assess the impact of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their price , which they believed would increase .
Some Garda members who spoke to The Irish Times said they were concerned domestic violence would increase .
They were fearful this would happen in the days and weeks to come when what they termed “ cabin fever ” or “ Christmas Day syndrome ” set in as people spent more time in close company in their homes and gardai have been told to be vigilant .
Senior officers said there was a “ record low ” number of arrests and recorded crimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Day when a spike in crime , mostly thefts and drink-related offences , normally occurred .
However , as pubs were closed and events cancelled this year , the rate of that offending plummeted .

The number of Garda members in the Republic has surged to a record level of 14,750 as hundreds of recruits are on Friday sworn in in an emergency measure due to the Covid19 crisis.
It has also emerged that some 200 prisoners have been released from jails in recent days as the Irish Prison Service positions itself to manage any outbreak in the prison system.
The number of prisoners freed on temporary release, all non-violent offenders, had increased to 492 yesterday, up from 305 at the start of the month with total numbers in custody now down to 4,026.
The size of the Garda force, excluding civilian Garda staff, has increased by 500 members since the start of the year. It is now larger, by about 200 gardai, than the previous record reached in 2009 when numbers peaked just months after the economic downturn.
READ MORE
Hundreds of recruits training in the Garda College, Templemore, Co Tipperary, have been given a crash course in arrests, using a baton and public order policing and have been sworn in over the past week.
Some had only commenced their training this year but because there are fears the Garda could be hit hard by Covid-19, a decision was made to allow them skip their training and be sworn in immediately with full policing powers.
There have been a small number of positive tests for Covid-19 among Garda members in recent days. Some senior officers and frontline members have gone into isolation pending test results as they were in contact with an infected colleague, though disruption has been minimal to date.
Garda sources told The Irish Times there had been no signs of civil unrest, looting or other crimes committed by people taking advantage of the current phase of self-isolation and businesses closing.
There have been a number of robberies in closed pubs in Dublin and during which shop staff have been threatened and money stolen. However, Garda sources said there was nothing to suggest these crimes had arisen because of Covid19.
Anecdotal evidence has begun to emerge of illicit drugs being delivered to users’ homes after orders were placed over the phone. However, sources stressed it would take time to assess the impact of the lockdown measures on the availability of drugs and their price, which they believed would increase.
Some Garda members who spoke to The Irish Times said they were concerned domestic violence would increase. They were fearful this would happen in the days and weeks to come when what they termed “cabin fever” or “Christmas Day syndrome” set in as people spent more time in close company in their homes and gardai have been told to be vigilant.
Senior officers said there was a “record low” number of arrests and recorded crimes in recent days, including St Patrick’s Day when a spike in crime, mostly thefts and drink-related offences, normally occurred. However, as pubs were closed and events cancelled this year, the rate of that offending plummeted.


theirishtimes--2020-03-20--‘If they close down the mart there’s going to be a build-up of cattle’

Mart manager Richie Kirwan stands in front of a screen displaying live feeds from up to a dozen CCTV cameras that show the happenings in pens at the co-operative-run mart in New Ross , Co Wexford .
Usually , hundreds attend ; though everything is being done to comply with social distancing rules , including the 100-person limit now laid down in the battle against coronavirus .
Following talks between the marts ’ umbrella body , the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society ( Icos ) and the Department of Agriculture , marts will stay open as long as they comply with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and others have repeatedly reassured the public that there is no need for panic-buying .
For shelves to be refilled , says Kirwan , the country ’ s marts need to keep rolling on .
Many of the animals sold in New Ross are bought by processing plants : “ We ’ re lucky we ’ re left open , ” Kirwan says .
“ If you ’ re on the outside looking in , you ’ d think this would have to be shut down .
But this is a vital cog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s business as usual , just not as normal , ” says Kirwan , as he rolls through recent sales figures .
Last Saturday , New Ross saw 900 calves for sale , 180 cows , 60 pens of heifers and 80 pens of bullocks .
Closure would risk a “ backlog ” of animals , causing a knock-on effect on the supply chain towards shops , as well as causing animal welfare issues , the New Ross mart manager says .
Farmers have a major role to play in the days ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Golden , but the safety rules will have to be followed , including a ban on those not directly involved in the sales of animals .
Icos livestock and environment executive Ray Doyle says the decision to remain open or close will , for the moment , remain for each mart , but the crowds attending in the last week have been a fraction of their usual number .
“ It ’ s just the buyers who ’ re in there and the sellers seem to be staying out , so the message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he says of last Saturday ’ s sales , adding that social visitors , children and “ vulnerable people ” are barred until further notice .
The new rules are doable for New Ross , which has two rings in separate buildings that are classed as separate gatherings , but tighter restrictions could follow , depending on the scale of the spread of Covid-19 .
While numbers are down , some farmers still huddled together : “ Strictly speaking everyone should be over a metre apart , ” Saturday ’ s announcer at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ You ’ re all over 18 anyway.
” Tighter restrictions on numbers may be announced soon , which could see the mart using a rotation system where only a small number of farmers are allowed at ringside for each sale .
Older farmers are hard to keep away , though : “ Some of the older fellas are very hard to talk to , they don ’ t want to listen about staying away .
The pubs are going to be closed now , so it ’ s one less place to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But then the creamery is gone , the local post office is gone .
The mart is probably one of the last old pillars of rural society still going .
But the elderly are the danger group , so it ’ s for their own good that we ’ re trying this .
If everyone uses common sense , we ’ ll get through “ I ’ ve an 89-year-old father who ’ s at home .
All I can do is disinfect myself as best I can and follow the guidelines .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s living on his own and he needs social interaction as well , you can ’ t just close the door.
” While panic buying has affected supermarkets , there have also been signs of panic selling at marts , says Kirwan .
Several sellers agree , including James Nolan , who farms in Butlerstown outside Waterford city .
The coming days will be the killer , he says : “ It ’ s okay up to now but it ’ s from the next few days that the trouble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close down the mart there ’ s going to be a build-up of cattle .
You ’ re going into the peak of cattle sales now.
” Icos is talking to the Department of Agriculture about spreading out its usual peak spring sales over the coming weeks in a bid to spread the risk , but also guarantee continuity of supply .
Mossy Cheasty ( 52 ) and daughter Yvonne ( 24 ) from Dunhill , Co Waterford , have both noticed a higher number of animals for sale : “ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
“ We ’ ve nine calves here today but there ’ s a lot more calves here.
” “ It looks like fellas are trying to get out before the whole thing blows .
You can be stuck with cattle that you know the dates are coming up on and you can ’ t turn over animals as well as before , ” Yvonne admits .
Meanwhile , mart staff are sanitising everything they come across , “ from door handles , to cattle cards , up to and including the @ @ @ @ @ @

Mart manager Richie Kirwan stands in front of a screen displaying live feeds from up to a dozen CCTV cameras that show the happenings in pens at the co-operative-run mart in New Ross, Co Wexford.
Usually, hundreds attend; though everything is being done to comply with social distancing rules, including the 100-person limit now laid down in the battle against coronavirus.
Following talks between the marts’ umbrella body, the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (Icos) and the Department of Agriculture, marts will stay open as long as they comply with the rules.
Mossie and Yvonne Cheasty from Kill, Co Waterford. Photograph: Patrick Browne
New Ross mart manager Richard Kirwan with disinfectant sprays. ‘Mart staff are sanitising everything they come across.’ Photograph: Patrick Browne
The Government, supermarkets and others have repeatedly reassured the public that there is no need for panic-buying. For shelves to be refilled, says Kirwan, the country’s marts need to keep rolling on.
READ MORE
Many of the animals sold in New Ross are bought by processing plants: “We’re lucky we’re left open,” Kirwan says. “If you’re on the outside looking in, you’d think this would have to be shut down. But this is a vital cog in it all.”
“It’s business as usual, just not as normal,” says Kirwan, as he rolls through recent sales figures. Last Saturday, New Ross saw 900 calves for sale, 180 cows, 60 pens of heifers and 80 pens of bullocks.
Closure would risk a “backlog” of animals, causing a knock-on effect on the supply chain towards shops, as well as causing animal welfare issues, the New Ross mart manager says.
Farmers have a major role to play in the days ahead, says IFA National Livestock chairman Brendan Golden, but the safety rules will have to be followed, including a ban on those not directly involved in the sales of animals.
Icos livestock and environment executive Ray Doyle says the decision to remain open or close will, for the moment, remain for each mart, but the crowds attending in the last week have been a fraction of their usual number.
“It’s just the buyers who’re in there and the sellers seem to be staying out, so the message seems to be getting across,” he says of last Saturday’s sales, adding that social visitors, children and “vulnerable people” are barred until further notice.
The new rules are doable for New Ross, which has two rings in separate buildings that are classed as separate gatherings, but tighter restrictions could follow, depending on the scale of the spread of Covid-19.
While numbers are down, some farmers still huddled together: “Strictly speaking everyone should be over a metre apart,” Saturday’s announcer at the calf ring told those gathered. “You’re all over 18 anyway.”
Tighter restrictions on numbers may be announced soon, which could see the mart using a rotation system where only a small number of farmers are allowed at ringside for each sale.
Older farmers are hard to keep away, though: “Some of the older fellas are very hard to talk to, they don’t want to listen about staying away. The pubs are going to be closed now, so it’s one less place to go,” says Kirwan.
“But then the creamery is gone, the local post office is gone. The mart is probably one of the last old pillars of rural society still going. But the elderly are the danger group, so it’s for their own good that we’re trying this. If everyone uses common sense, we’ll get through
“I’ve an 89-year-old father who’s at home. All I can do is disinfect myself as best I can and follow the guidelines. Life still has to go on too. He’s living on his own and he needs social interaction as well, you can’t just close the door.”
Panic selling
While panic buying has affected supermarkets, there have also been signs of panic selling at marts, says Kirwan. Several sellers agree, including James Nolan, who farms in Butlerstown outside Waterford city.
The coming days will be the killer, he says: “It’s okay up to now but it’s from the next few days that the trouble is going to start. If they close down the mart there’s going to be a build-up of cattle. You’re going into the peak of cattle sales now.”
Icos is talking to the Department of Agriculture about spreading out its usual peak spring sales over the coming weeks in a bid to spread the risk, but also guarantee continuity of supply.
Mossy Cheasty (52) and daughter Yvonne (24) from Dunhill, Co Waterford, have both noticed a higher number of animals for sale: "It's getting serious now," Mossy says. "We've nine calves here today but there's a lot more calves here."
“It looks like fellas are trying to get out before the whole thing blows. You can be stuck with cattle that you know the dates are coming up on and you can’t turn over animals as well as before,” Yvonne admits.
Meanwhile, mart staff are sanitising everything they come across, “from door handles, to cattle cards, up to and including the teats of every cow”.


theirishtimes--2020-03-20--Testing for coronavirus vaccine could start next month

Trials of a coronavirus vaccine could begin within the next month , the British government ’ s health agency has said , as it prepares to start evaluating a drug developed by Oxford University .
Scientists at Public Health England ( PHE ) could sanction human testing well ahead of the usual time frame for drug development .
The health agency is only due to start preliminary evaluation of the vaccine on animals next week .
PHE researchers have collaborated with teams at Liverpool and Bristol universities to create an exact replica of Covid-19 for use in the testing process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given permission to commence human trials before animal tests are complete , according to the Guardian newspaper , in an attempt to accelerate the development process .
Permission was granted after similar vaccines developed for other diseases were proved safe in human trials .
“ We are conscious that a vaccine is needed as soon as possible and certainly by June-July when we expect a big peak in mortality , ” said Prof Adrian Hill , head of the Jenner Institute at Oxford .
“ This is not a normal situation .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but as soon as we have a vaccine that ’ s working we anticipate there will be an accelerated pathway to get it deployed to save lives.
” Prof Hill added that the sooner the vaccine could be provided , the better .
The team at the institute only began work on the drug on January 10th this year .
Earlier this month , Anthony Fauci , director of the US ’ s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said he expected it would be at least 12 to 18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widely .
The Jenner institute said it had based the drug on an “ adenovirus vaccine vector ” based on an adenovirus isolated from a chimpanzee .
An adenovirus is a group of viruses that typically infect membranes of the eyes , respiratory tract , urinary tract , intestines and nervous system .
“ Chimpanzee adenoviral vectors are a very well studied vaccine type , having been used safely in thousands of subjects , from one week to 90 years of age , in vaccines targeting over 10 different diseases , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its advantages is that it can “ generate a strong immune response from one dose ” and is safe to use on people with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes .
PHE has been awarded almost £500,000 by the US Food and Drug Administration to help finance its role in evaluating the vaccine .
The grant is part of the US government ’ s plans to help bolster the global response to the pandemic , according to Public Health England .
The funding follows a request from international foundation the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different vaccines under development around the world .
Prof Miles Carroll , deputy director of the National Infection Service at PHE , said : “ We look forward to continuing to work with world-leading academic and pharmaceutical partners to accelerate progress towards safe and effective interventions to limit the impact of this new infection as rapidly as possible.
” British prime minister Boris Johnson revealed on Thursday that the first British patient had been put in a randomised trial for a treatment for coronavirus .
Mr Johnson also described the government ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive scale to detect if someone has had the disease as “ a game changer ” .
– PA

Public Health England is due to start preliminary evaluation of the vaccine on animals next week. Photograph: EPA
Trials of a coronavirus vaccine could begin within the next month, the British government’s health agency has said, as it prepares to start evaluating a drug developed by Oxford University.
Scientists at Public Health England (PHE) could sanction human testing well ahead of the usual time frame for drug development.
The health agency is only due to start preliminary evaluation of the vaccine on animals next week.
PHE researchers have collaborated with teams at Liverpool and Bristol universities to create an exact replica of Covid-19 for use in the testing process.
READ MORE
Those behind the vaccine have been given permission to commence human trials before animal tests are complete, according to the Guardian newspaper, in an attempt to accelerate the development process.
Permission was granted after similar vaccines developed for other diseases were proved safe in human trials.
“We are conscious that a vaccine is needed as soon as possible and certainly by June-July when we expect a big peak in mortality,” said Prof Adrian Hill, head of the Jenner Institute at Oxford. “This is not a normal situation. We will follow all standard trial safety requirements, but as soon as we have a vaccine that’s working we anticipate there will be an accelerated pathway to get it deployed to save lives.”
Prof Hill added that the sooner the vaccine could be provided, the better.
The team at the institute only began work on the drug on January 10th this year.
Earlier this month, Anthony Fauci, director of the US’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he expected it would be at least 12 to 18 months before a coronavirus vaccine is available widely.
The Jenner institute said it had based the drug on an “adenovirus vaccine vector” based on an adenovirus isolated from a chimpanzee.
An adenovirus is a group of viruses that typically infect membranes of the eyes, respiratory tract, urinary tract, intestines and nervous system.
“Chimpanzee adenoviral vectors are a very well studied vaccine type, having been used safely in thousands of subjects, from one week to 90 years of age, in vaccines targeting over 10 different diseases,” said the Jenner Institute.
It said among its advantages is that it can “generate a strong immune response from one dose” and is safe to use on people with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes.
PHE has been awarded almost £500,000 by the US Food and Drug Administration to help finance its role in evaluating the vaccine. The grant is part of the US government’s plans to help bolster the global response to the pandemic, according to Public Health England.
The funding follows a request from international foundation the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations for PHE to assist in evaluating different vaccines under development around the world.
Prof Miles Carroll, deputy director of the National Infection Service at PHE, said: “We look forward to continuing to work with world-leading academic and pharmaceutical partners to accelerate progress towards safe and effective interventions to limit the impact of this new infection as rapidly as possible.”
British prime minister Boris Johnson revealed on Thursday that the first British patient had been put in a randomised trial for a treatment for coronavirus.
Mr Johnson also described the government’s plans to purchase antibody tests on a massive scale to detect if someone has had the disease as “a game changer”. – PA


theirishtimes--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: Ireland warned ‘tens of thousands’ could die if advice is ignored

The Covid-19 virus could kills tens of thousands of people if the public does not follow advice to keep apart from others , the Government has warned , as it passed draconian legislation that could restrict the public ’ s movements .
The State recorded its third death from the virus yesterday , while the first fatality in the North was also announced .
It was a day of stark warnings , both north and south of the Border , with a Government Minister in Dublin saying that almost one in five of the working population may lose their jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has spread across the globe and killed almost 10,000 people .
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told Fine Gael TDs that school closures could be extended to April or May and later discussed the crisis in a telephone call with the British prime minister Boris Johnson .
Despite significant differences in the approach taken in the Republic and the UK , the two men agreed to “ align their actions , in so far as possible ” .
• Employers unable to top up State payment to laid-off staff • Full Irish and international coverage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced that it would introduce a rent freeze , and a temporary ban on evictions for the duration of the crisis – measures which will need further emergency legislation .
The number of new cases in the Republic jumped to 191 from 74 a day earlier , marking a daily record for a sixth day in a row .
The number of confirmed cases in the Republic has risen to 557 in the 20 days since the first known case was diagnosed in the country on February 29th .
In Northern Ireland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bringing to 634 the total number of known cases on the island of Ireland .
The fourth person to die on the island , the third in the Republic , was a woman from the east .
The Department of Health said that it had not been told whether she had underlying health issues .
As Northern Ireland reported its first death from the virus , also known as Covid-19 , its health minister spoke of a “ worst-case nightmare scenario ” in which 15,000 could die from the disease .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us is of biblical proportions , ” said the North ’ s health minister Robin Swann .
The State ’ s chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said that the daily-reported increase was in line with expectations and warned that number would continue to rise .
It would be the end of the month before the effect of the social distancing measures introduced would be seen , he said .
“ In relative terms , these are small numbers compared to where we think we might get to , ” he told reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday evening .
“ We obviously hope and anticipate that some of the social distancing measures will flatten this growth but expect to continue to see growth in the numbers.
” Briefing Fine Gael TDs in a teleconference of the parliamentary party last night , Mr Varadkar echoed Dr Holohan ’ s warnings about an expected rise in cases over the coming days .
He also said all of Government was pulling together on fighting the virus .
On a more general note , he said the effects of social distancing may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days .
He also informed the meeting that the period before schools can reopen could be extended into April or May .
“ The numbers are going to go up .
That was his clear message .
We will not see the effects of what we do for seven days at least , ” said one TD who participated in the meeting .
“ This is the critical time period .
The next week will be critical if we keep social distancing measures up , we can minimise and avoid deaths , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debated emergency legislation to give the State sweeping powers over the freedom of individuals to stem the outbreak , Tánaiste Simon Coveney said that the political leadership shown to encourage people to protect themselves during the pandemic would determine whether the virus “ kills hundreds of people , thousands of people or tens of thousands of people in Ireland ” .
The Tánaiste ’ s stark warning came as Minister for Employment Affairs Regina Doherty said that more than 400,000 people – some 17 per cent of the State ’ s 2.3 million-strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a result of the pandemic .
“ It could be potentially as drastic [ as that ] , ” she said .
“ We have not overused the word ‘ unprecedented ’ in the past few days but it has been that.
” The Dáil passed the emergency legislation without a vote last night , and the Bill now goes to the Seanad today , where it is expected to pass all stages before being signed into law by the President .

The Covid-19 virus could kills tens of thousands of people if the public does not follow advice to keep apart from others, the Government has warned, as it passed draconian legislation that could restrict the public’s movements.
The State recorded its third death from the virus yesterday, while the first fatality in the North was also announced.
It was a day of stark warnings, both north and south of the Border, with a Government Minister in Dublin saying that almost one in five of the working population may lose their jobs as a result of a virus that has spread across the globe and killed almost 10,000 people.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told Fine Gael TDs that school closures could be extended to April or May and later discussed the crisis in a telephone call with the British prime minister Boris Johnson. Despite significant differences in the approach taken in the Republic and the UK, the two men agreed to “align their actions, in so far as possible”.
READ MORE
Main points
The Government also announced that it would introduce a rent freeze, and a temporary ban on evictions for the duration of the crisis – measures which will need further emergency legislation.
The number of new cases in the Republic jumped to 191 from 74 a day earlier, marking a daily record for a sixth day in a row. The number of confirmed cases in the Republic has risen to 557 in the 20 days since the first known case was diagnosed in the country on February 29th.
In Northern Ireland, 77 people have tested positive for coronavirus, bringing to 634 the total number of known cases on the island of Ireland.
The fourth person to die on the island, the third in the Republic, was a woman from the east. The Department of Health said that it had not been told whether she had underlying health issues.
As Northern Ireland reported its first death from the virus, also known as Covid-19, its health minister spoke of a "worst-case nightmare scenario" in which 15,000 could die from the disease.
"The scale of the surge coming towards us is of biblical proportions," said the North's health minister Robin Swann.
The State's chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said that the daily-reported increase was in line with expectations and warned that number would continue to rise. It would be the end of the month before the effect of the social distancing measures introduced would be seen, he said.
“In relative terms, these are small numbers compared to where we think we might get to,” he told reporters at the department’s daily briefing on Thursday evening.
“We obviously hope and anticipate that some of the social distancing measures will flatten this growth but expect to continue to see growth in the numbers.”
The Phil Lynott statue off Grafton Street in Dublin on Thursday. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Briefing Fine Gael TDs in a teleconference of the parliamentary party last night, Mr Varadkar echoed Dr Holohan’s warnings about an expected rise in cases over the coming days.
He also said all of Government was pulling together on fighting the virus. On a more general note, he said the effects of social distancing may not be seen for five to 10 days.
He also informed the meeting that the period before schools can reopen could be extended into April or May.
“The numbers are going to go up. That was his clear message. We will not see the effects of what we do for seven days at least,” said one TD who participated in the meeting.
“This is the critical time period. The next week will be critical if we keep social distancing measures up, we can minimise and avoid deaths,” the TD said.
As the Dáil debated emergency legislation to give the State sweeping powers over the freedom of individuals to stem the outbreak, Tánaiste Simon Coveney said that the political leadership shown to encourage people to protect themselves during the pandemic would determine whether the virus "kills hundreds of people, thousands of people or tens of thousands of people in Ireland".
The Tánaiste's stark warning came as Minister for Employment Affairs Regina Doherty said that more than 400,000 people – some 17 per cent of the State's 2.3 million-strong labour force – could lose their jobs as a result of the pandemic.
“It could be potentially as drastic [as that],” she said. “We have not overused the word ‘unprecedented’ in the past few days but it has been that.”
The Dáil passed the emergency legislation without a vote last night, and the Bill now goes to the Seanad today, where it is expected to pass all stages before being signed into law by the President.


theirishtimes--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: Celtic Media lay off staff on temporary basis

Celtic Media Group , one of the country ’ s largest local and regional newspaper organisations , has announced that a number of staff will be laid off on a temporary basis during the Covid-19 pandemic due to a collapse in revenues .
Celtic Media employs just over 90 people at eight different titles , including the Anglo-Celt in Cavan , first published in 1846 , as well as the Meath Chronicle , Westmeath Examiner , Westmeath Independent and Connaught Telegraph .
Staff temporarily laid off from the group can avail of the Government ’ s emergency Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work shorter hours next month and all managers have offered to take “ substantial pay cuts ” on a temporary basis .
The group has confirmed it will continue to publish its five weekly cover-price titles – both in print and online , and the company ’ s print plant in Navan is operating as normal .
However , publication of its free newspaper , the Offaly Independent , has been suspended .
With more than 1.5 million monthly visitors to its group websites and 230,000-plus Facebook followers , Celtic Media Group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ model .
Frank Mulrennan , chief executive of the group , said : “ By acting quickly once we saw the scale of revenue downturn in the last fortnight , we are putting in place a lower cost platform during these crisis weeks to allow us to emerge as a strong business once the economy recovers.
” He added : “ I am so proud of how my colleagues throughout the centres are responding to this crisis situation for us all in local businesses.
” Leading industry figures have warned of the potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unless urgent State support is given immediately to the news publishing industry .
In a joint letter going to Oireachtas members , Linda O ’ Reilly , editor of the Anglo-Celt , and Johnny O ’ Hanlon , director of Local Ireland , called for immediate State support for the local newspaper titles .
“ Some publishers fear their ability to survive beyond the next few months without immediate Government support , ” the letter states .
“ We can not overstate the scale of the crisis facing the news publishing industry in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the State to ensure we can continue to fulfil our public service role in society .
”

Celtic Media Group confirmed it will continue to publish its five weekly cover-price titles. Photograph: iStock
Celtic Media Group, one of the country’s largest local and regional newspaper organisations, has announced that a number of staff will be laid off on a temporary basis during the Covid-19 pandemic due to a collapse in revenues.
Celtic Media employs just over 90 people at eight different titles, including the Anglo-Celt in Cavan, first published in 1846, as well as the Meath Chronicle, Westmeath Examiner, Westmeath Independent and Connaught Telegraph.
Staff temporarily laid off from the group can avail of the Government’s emergency Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, while other employees have agreed to work shorter hours next month and all managers have offered to take “substantial pay cuts” on a temporary basis.
The group has confirmed it will continue to publish its five weekly cover-price titles – both in print and online, and the company’s print plant in Navan is operating as normal. However, publication of its free newspaper, the Offaly Independent, has been suspended.
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With more than 1.5 million monthly visitors to its group websites and 230,000-plus Facebook followers, Celtic Media Group has been investing substantially in its digital model.
Revenue downturn
Frank Mulrennan, chief executive of the group, said: “By acting quickly once we saw the scale of revenue downturn in the last fortnight, we are putting in place a lower cost platform during these crisis weeks to allow us to emerge as a strong business once the economy recovers.”
He added: “I am so proud of how my colleagues throughout the centres are responding to this crisis situation for us all in local businesses.”
Leading industry figures have warned of the potential closure of other titles around the country unless urgent State support is given immediately to the news publishing industry.
In a joint letter going to Oireachtas members, Linda O’Reilly, editor of the Anglo-Celt, and Johnny O’Hanlon, director of Local Ireland, called for immediate State support for the local newspaper titles.
“Some publishers fear their ability to survive beyond the next few months without immediate Government support,” the letter states. “We cannot overstate the scale of the crisis facing the news publishing industry in the coming weeks and we are asking the State to ensure we can continue to fulfil our public service role in society.”


theirishtimes--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: Immigration permits to be extended temporarily

Foreign nationals with visas due to expire in the coming weeks will be able to remain in Ireland until at least May 20th under a temporary extension announced by the Department of Justice in response to the Covid-19 pandemic .
The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service on Burgh Quay in Dublin will also temporarily close its doors as part of range of measures being taken in response to the coronavirus .
In a statement released late on Friday night , Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said non-EEA nationals with immigration permission due to expire in the near future would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for two months .
He said the immigration status of thousands of people living in Ireland could become “ unlawful ” through no fault of their own if permission to remain in the country was not extended .
The decision to close the Burgh Quay registration office was due to the “ high footfall , challenges in maintaining social distancing and to ensure consistency across the system ” , the Minister said .
These measures will also apply to immigration registrations and renewals that take place outside of Dublin .
These take place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local immigration officers .
The department said the moves would free-up members of the force for other duties .
Three categories of foreign nationals will be affected by the development - those who currently hold valid permission to be in Ireland but need to renew this ; those who arrived in the State in the past three months and were awaiting their first immigration registration appointment , and those who had been granted three month permission ( a short stay visa ) to remain in Ireland .
“ I want to assure people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortly that your legal status in the country will be maintained , ” said Mr Flanagan .
“ If your immigration or international protection permission will expire between March 20th , 2020 and May 20th , 2020 , I am granting you an automatic renewal for two months .
This renewal is on the same basis as your existing permission and the same conditions will continue to apply.
” Mr Flanagan said he would keep the situation under active review as the Covid-19 pandemic evolves .
Any person who had already scheduled a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these changes will be contacted by Immigration Service Delivery , the department said .

Foreign nationals with visas due to expire in the coming weeks will be able to remain in Ireland until at least May 20th under a temporary extension announced by the Department of Justice in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service on Burgh Quay in Dublin will also temporarily close its doors as part of range of measures being taken in response to the coronavirus.
In a statement released late on Friday night, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said non-EEA nationals with immigration permission due to expire in the near future would be granted an automatic renewal of their visas for two months.
He said the immigration status of thousands of people living in Ireland could become “unlawful” through no fault of their own if permission to remain in the country was not extended.
READ MORE
The decision to close the Burgh Quay registration office was due to the “high footfall, challenges in maintaining social distancing and to ensure consistency across the system”, the Minister said.
These measures will also apply to immigration registrations and renewals that take place outside of Dublin. These take place in garda stations and are overseen by local immigration officers. The department said the moves would free-up members of the force for other duties.
Three categories of foreign nationals will be affected by the development - those who currently hold valid permission to be in Ireland but need to renew this; those who arrived in the State in the past three months and were awaiting their first immigration registration appointment, and those who had been granted three month permission (a short stay visa) to remain in Ireland.
“I want to assure people whose immigration permissions are due to expire shortly that your legal status in the country will be maintained,” said Mr Flanagan.
“If your immigration or international protection permission will expire between March 20th, 2020 and May 20th, 2020, I am granting you an automatic renewal for two months. This renewal is on the same basis as your existing permission and the same conditions will continue to apply.”
Mr Flanagan said he would keep the situation under active review as the Covid-19 pandemic evolves.
Any person who had already scheduled a visa appointment and is now impacted by these changes will be contacted by Immigration Service Delivery, the department said.


theirishtimes--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: Mater Private criticised over sick pay for staff who contract Covid-19

The trade union Siptu has criticised management at the Mater Private hospital in Dublin over arrangements for staff who have to take sick leave due to the coronavirus outbreak .
The union said the hospital had told its representatives that staff who needed to self-isolate or who became ill with the Covid-19 virus must use their existing sick pay scheme to support them through this period .
Furthermore , Siptu understands and has confronted management on the issue of directing staff to claim the Government ’ s special Covid-19 sick payment of €305 per week and return it to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was only available to employees whose employers would not pay sick pay .
Siptu health division organiser Paul Bell said other private hospital providers and the HSE “ did not count time out of work for self-isolation or those unfortunate enough to contract the disease as a normal illness to be funded by the sick pay scheme .
“ As our country faces into a health crisis , [ in ] which as yet we have no understanding of when the disease will peak or end , we understand that private hospitals may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients with Covid-19 as the HSE secure additional bed capacity and treatment facilities as and when required .
“ The Mater Hospital needs to step in line as a partner in the fight against this disease and support health workers who may in the weeks ahead be expected to join their public sector counterparts in the frontline battle .
To date on a national basis some health workers have contracted the disease , and we are convinced that the protocol and supports in for health workers employed in the HSE has helped early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where required .
I make a special plea to the Mater Private hospital group to reverse their position and come in line with the HSE and other major private hospital providers.
” The Mater Private said on Friday that in order to better support its staff , it was temporarily waiving the requirement that they had to have completed one year of service before eligibility to avail of sick leave benefit .
However , this waiver was exclusively for Covid-19 cases of medically certified self-isolation and/or diagnosis .
“ We will also provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 if they have already exhausted their normal sick leave allowance .
We will require staff to supply medical certification as soon as is practical , covering any absences of sick leave , ” it said .
“ Staff who are on sick leave or who have been medically certified to self-quarantine for any Covid-19 instance will receive their full sick pay entitlement , minus the appropriate social welfare payment that applies .
All staff are required to apply to claim the appropriate illness benefit payment from the Department of Employment Affairs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick leave procedure .
”

The trade union Siptu has criticised management at the Mater Private hospital in Dublin over arrangements for staff who have to take sick leave due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The trade union Siptu has criticised management at the Mater Private hospital in Dublin over arrangements for staff who have to take sick leave due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The union said the hospital had told its representatives that staff who needed to self-isolate or who became ill with the Covid-19 virus must use their existing sick pay scheme to support them through this period.
Furthermore, Siptu understands and has confronted management on the issue of directing staff to claim the Government’s special Covid-19 sick payment of €305 per week and return it to the hospital.
The union said this payment was only available to employees whose employers would not pay sick pay.
READ MORE
Siptu health division organiser Paul Bell said other private hospital providers and the HSE “did not count time out of work for self-isolation or those unfortunate enough to contract the disease as a normal illness to be funded by the sick pay scheme.
“As our country faces into a health crisis, [in] which as yet we have no understanding of when the disease will peak or end, we understand that private hospitals may become part of the frontline for treating patients with Covid-19 as the HSE secure additional bed capacity and treatment facilities as and when required.
"The Mater Hospital needs to step in line as a partner in the fight against this disease and support health workers who may in the weeks ahead be expected to join their public sector counterparts in the frontline battle. To date on a national basis some health workers have contracted the disease, and we are convinced that the protocol and supports in for health workers employed in the HSE has helped early action through direction to self-isolate or treatment where required. I make a special plea to the Mater Private hospital group to reverse their position and come in line with the HSE and other major private hospital providers."
Waiving requirement
The Mater Private said on Friday that in order to better support its staff, it was temporarily waiving the requirement that they had to have completed one year of service before eligibility to avail of sick leave benefit. However, this waiver was exclusively for Covid-19 cases of medically certified self-isolation and/or diagnosis.
“We will also provide exceptional sick pay to staff who contract Covid-19 if they have already exhausted their normal sick leave allowance. We will require staff to supply medical certification as soon as is practical, covering any absences of sick leave,” it said.
“Staff who are on sick leave or who have been medically certified to self-quarantine for any Covid-19 instance will receive their full sick pay entitlement, minus the appropriate social welfare payment that applies. All staff are required to apply to claim the appropriate illness benefit payment from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, in line with standard sick leave procedure.”


theirishtimes--2020-03-20--Covid-19: President hopes future generations look back on response with pride

President Michael D. Higgins has said he hopes future generations will look back with pride at how Irish society has risen to the challenges posed by the coronaviurs pandemic .
Tens of thousands of people have offered to work or return to work in the health service to help combat the Covid-19 outbreak and communities have rallied together to help those vulnerable to the illness .
Speaking after signing emergency legislation drafted in response to the Covid-19 outbreak , Mr Higgins urged citizens to “ respond in a generous way to the Health Service Executive ’ s advice on measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He appealed to young people to follow advice on maintaining a two metre social distance during the outbreak and to “ spread the word among their friends of the importance of that which we have been asked to do ” .
“ In every generation there will be exceptions to what is being sought in the public interest .
Let us hope that we have seen the end of such behaviour which puts all of us at risk.
” Mr Higgins said he hoped future generations will look back and “ be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rose to the challenges together , with different generations taking account of one another ” .
“ Many of the older people , of whose generation Sabina and I are a part , and to whom I have spoken , have been very appreciative of the large numbers of young people who are helping them , and that such assistance is offered in such a caring way that addresses issues of our older citizens that go far beyond the delivery of necessary groceries or food , ” he said in a statement on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social measures may be difficult for many but they affect us all and we are at a point now when a person ’ s actions have consequences not only for themselves but for all in society .
Irresponsible individual action puts all at risk .
We must draw on our strengths now.
” The President signed the Health ( Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest ) Bill 2020 on Friday , which allows the State to shut down mass gatherings and potentially order groups of people in certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Financial measures included in the legislation will allow people to be paid illness benefits if they are infected by coronavirus , or receive payment if they lose their job .

President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins signing the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020 on Friday.
President Michael D. Higgins has said he hopes future generations will look back with pride at how Irish society has risen to the challenges posed by the coronaviurs pandemic.
Tens of thousands of people have offered to work or return to work in the health service to help combat the Covid-19 outbreak and communities have rallied together to help those vulnerable to the illness.
Speaking after signing emergency legislation drafted in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, Mr Higgins urged citizens to “respond in a generous way to the Health Service Executive’s advice on measures to alleviate the spread of Covid-19”.
He appealed to young people to follow advice on maintaining a two metre social distance during the outbreak and to “spread the word among their friends of the importance of that which we have been asked to do”.
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“In every generation there will be exceptions to what is being sought in the public interest. Let us hope that we have seen the end of such behaviour which puts all of us at risk.”
Mr Higgins said he hoped future generations will look back and “be proud of how we as a society rose to the challenges together, with different generations taking account of one another”.
“Many of the older people, of whose generation Sabina and I are a part, and to whom I have spoken, have been very appreciative of the large numbers of young people who are helping them, and that such assistance is offered in such a caring way that addresses issues of our older citizens that go far beyond the delivery of necessary groceries or food,” he said in a statement on Friday.
“These new health and social measures may be difficult for many but they affect us all and we are at a point now when a person’s actions have consequences not only for themselves but for all in society. Irresponsible individual action puts all at risk. We must draw on our strengths now.”
The President signed the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020 on Friday, which allows the State to shut down mass gatherings and potentially order groups of people in certain areas to stay in their homes.
Financial measures included in the legislation will allow people to be paid illness benefits if they are infected by coronavirus, or receive payment if they lose their job.


theirishtimes--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: All Irish households to get two postcards to send for free

Two specially designed postcards will be delivered to the State ’ s 1.8 million households over the coming week to allow people to post a message of love and support to their family and friends amid the coronavirus outbreak , An Post has announced .
As more people socially isolate and become “ cocooned ” in order to combat the spread of the Covid-19 virus , every household in the State will receive the postcards to write personal messages for family and friends to help them stay connected in the weeks ahead .
The 5,000,000 postcards can be sent anywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of charge .
Speaking about the postcards , An Post chief executive David McRedmond encouraged households to “ write to your grandparents or older relatives and friends who are self-isolating ; write to someone who is living alone or who could do with a boost .
Send a note to your cousins or friends .
Let them know you ’ re thinking of them .
Send thanks to our outstanding healthcare and all those working so hard to get us through this crisis.
” The process is simple , Mr McRedmond explained : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you ’ re out for a walk – there ’ s no need for a stamp .
The postmen and postwomen of Ireland will deliver your message free of charge to your loved ones .
“ There ’ s nothing like a personal note to raise our spirits and remind us that we ’ re not being forgotten , that we are all in this together and that we will get through it .
Post is a powerful link connecting people and communities who have to remain apart at this strange and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Additional cards will be available at local post offices .

Two specially designed postcards will be delivered to the State’s 1.8m households over the coming week. File photograph: Getty Images
Two specially designed postcards will be delivered to the State's 1.8 million households over the coming week to allow people to post a message of love and support to their family and friends amid the coronavirus outbreak, An Post has announced.
As more people socially isolate and become “cocooned” in order to combat the spread of the Covid-19 virus, every household in the State will receive the postcards to write personal messages for family and friends to help them stay connected in the weeks ahead.
The 5,000,000 postcards can be sent anywhere on the island of Ireland, free of charge.
Speaking about the postcards, An Post chief executive David McRedmond encouraged households to “write to your grandparents or older relatives and friends who are self-isolating; write to someone who is living alone or who could do with a boost. Send a note to your cousins or friends. Let them know you’re thinking of them. Send thanks to our outstanding healthcare and all those working so hard to get us through this crisis.”
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The process is simple, Mr McRedmond explained: “Pop the postcards in the postbox when you’re out for a walk – there’s no need for a stamp. The postmen and postwomen of Ireland will deliver your message free of charge to your loved ones.
“There’s nothing like a personal note to raise our spirits and remind us that we’re not being forgotten, that we are all in this together and that we will get through it. Post is a powerful link connecting people and communities who have to remain apart at this strange and difficult time,” he said.
Additional cards will be available at local post offices.


theirishtimes--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: Refugee and asylum seeker medics could provide ‘essential support’

Refugees and asylum seekers who trained as doctors and nurses in their home countries , but who are not registered to work in Ireland , may be able to provide “ essential support ” during the coronavirus pandemic , the Irish Medical Council has said .
While doctors from outside the European Union and European Economic Area ( EEA ) who are not on the State ’ s medical register are not entitled to practice in Ireland , their skills could still become very useful in hospitals as more people contract Covid-19 , the council ’ s spokesman Alan Gallagher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priority ” for the council was to re-register the many applications received from retired doctors , doctors returning to practise and doctors returning to Ireland .
Mr Gallagher said refugees and asylum seekers with medical training may be able to assist by “ providing essential support ” by taking up roles including as healthcare assistants .
He said for those who wish to register with the council , there are “ set requirements in place and standards which must be met and verified ” to gain entry to the medical register and practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assessed individually and there may be a requirement for a doctor applying to sit exams in addition to a language exam.
” In light of the ongoing crisis , professional and clinical regulators have waived their registration fees and applications are being fast-tracked to support health services during this time , according to the HSE recruitment web page .
The HSE said earlier this week it planned to take on as many doctors , nurses and healthcare staff as it could as part of a massive recruitment drive to tackle the coronavirus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everybody and anybody who is suitably qualified to work in the Irish public system , ” said Minister for Health Simon Harris earlier this week .
A Department of Justice spokesman said it planned to make contact with asylum seekers living in direct provision centres shortly about the opportunities available to them to help in the effort against the coronavirus .
Asylum seekers were given the right to work in 2018 after the State opted into the EU reception conditions directive .
Under the directive , aslyum seekers who have been waiting nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their application can apply to work .
If their application is successful they receive a work permit valid for six months which is renewable under certain circumstances .
Applicants awaiting a decision on an appeal are not eligible to work .
People who have been granted international protection status , also known as refugees , have full access to the labour market on the same basis as EEA nationals .
Medical professionals interested in offering their services should apply through the HSE online portal .

Refugees and asylum seekers with medical training may be able to assist in the coronavirus outbreak by ‘providing essential support’, The Irish Medical Organisation has said. File image: Stephane Mahe/Reuters.
Refugees and asylum seekers who trained as doctors and nurses in their home countries, but who are not registered to work in Ireland, may be able to provide "essential support" during the coronavirus pandemic, the Irish Medical Council has said.
While doctors from outside the European Union and European Economic Area (EEA) who are not on the State's medical register are not entitled to practice in Ireland, their skills could still become very useful in hospitals as more people contract Covid-19, the council's spokesman Alan Gallagher said.
He said “the current priority” for the council was to re-register the many applications received from retired doctors, doctors returning to practise and doctors returning to Ireland.
Mr Gallagher said refugees and asylum seekers with medical training may be able to assist by “providing essential support” by taking up roles including as healthcare assistants.
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He said for those who wish to register with the council, there are “set requirements in place and standards which must be met and verified” to gain entry to the medical register and practice in Ireland.
Exams
“Each application is assessed individually and there may be a requirement for a doctor applying to sit exams in addition to a language exam.”
In light of the ongoing crisis, professional and clinical regulators have waived their registration fees and applications are being fast-tracked to support health services during this time, according to the HSE recruitment web page.
The HSE said earlier this week it planned to take on as many doctors, nurses and healthcare staff as it could as part of a massive recruitment drive to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
“The health service can hire everybody and anybody who is suitably qualified to work in the Irish public system,” said Minister for Health Simon Harris earlier this week.
A Department of Justice spokesman said it planned to make contact with asylum seekers living in direct provision centres shortly about the opportunities available to them to help in the effort against the coronavirus.
Right to work
Asylum seekers were given the right to work in 2018 after the State opted into the EU reception conditions directive. Under the directive, aslyum seekers who have been waiting nine months for a first instance decision on their application can apply to work.
If their application is successful they receive a work permit valid for six months which is renewable under certain circumstances. Applicants awaiting a decision on an appeal are not eligible to work.
People who have been granted international protection status, also known as refugees, have full access to the labour market on the same basis as EEA nationals.
Medical professionals interested in offering their services should apply through the HSE online portal.


theirishtimes--2020-03-20--Covid-19: Unions propose financial scheme to aid laid-off workers

Proposals that would mean workers laid off due to the coronavirus outbreak receive payments up to an equivalent of €40,000 per year have been advanced by trade unions .
Under the initiative , submitted to the Government this week , the cost of a three-month wage subsidy scheme would be shared on a 75:25 per cent basis by the Government and employer .
Proposals produced by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions ( Ictu ) suggested the payment arrangements could be modelled on the existing scheme for maternity benefit .
Under that arrangement the employer initially pays the full amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contribution rebated by the Department of Social Protection .
The Government has come under pressure from trade unions and employers in recent days regarding the provision of enhanced financial support for the hundreds of thousands of workers who have or could lose their jobs as a result of the outbreak .
Employers ’ group Ibec on Friday called on the Government to provide up to €4 billion in supports to households that have lost their regular income as a result of coronavirus .
Ibec said the Government was “ behind the curve ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the crisis and was in danger of letting a supply-side shock morph into a demand shock that would close businesses permanently .
It said the package , which equates to about 1.2 per cent of gross domestic product , could fund replacement rates of at least 70 per cent of net wages lost for 20 weeks for up to 500,000 workers .
Earlier this week the Ictu warned in a letter to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that even with mitigation measures already in place by the Government , a household with two adults @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of about €45,000 – close to the average earnings for a full-time worker – could see a fall of nearly two-thirds in net income .
Ictu also cautioned that a single worker with no children earning €25,000 could see a fall of about half .
Congress suggested if a wage subsidisation scheme – similar to that introduced in Denmark – was put in place here it should be targeted at companies affected economically as a consequence of Covid-19 .
This scheme would apply for a temporary period of three months .
Meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks ’ of their benefit every fortnight from Monday , while appointments for PPS numbers and public services cards have been suspended .
The emergency measures are being taken to reduce numbers arriving at post and Intreo offices , to stem the spread of the coronavirus .
Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty said recipients of 35 welfare schemes would start getting two weeks ’ payment in one payment from next week , with beneficiaries of 19 others starting fortnightly collections the following week .
The move follows scenes of long queues at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week where social distancing was not observed .

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions warned that a single worker with no children earning €25,000 could see a fall of 50% in salary. File photograph: Getty
Proposals that would mean workers laid off due to the coronavirus outbreak receive payments up to an equivalent of €40,000 per year have been advanced by trade unions.
Under the initiative, submitted to the Government this week, the cost of a three-month wage subsidy scheme would be shared on a 75:25 per cent basis by the Government and employer.
Proposals produced by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) suggested the payment arrangements could be modelled on the existing scheme for maternity benefit. Under that arrangement the employer initially pays the full amount due, with the State's contribution rebated by the Department of Social Protection.
The Government has come under pressure from trade unions and employers in recent days regarding the provision of enhanced financial support for the hundreds of thousands of workers who have or could lose their jobs as a result of the outbreak.
READ MORE
Employers’ group Ibec on Friday called on the Government to provide up to €4 billion in supports to households that have lost their regular income as a result of coronavirus.
Ibec said the Government was “behind the curve” internationally in terms of a fiscal response to the crisis and was in danger of letting a supply-side shock morph into a demand shock that would close businesses permanently.
It said the package, which equates to about 1.2 per cent of gross domestic product, could fund replacement rates of at least 70 per cent of net wages lost for 20 weeks for up to 500,000 workers.
Earlier this week the Ictu warned in a letter to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that even with mitigation measures already in place by the Government, a household with two adults and one child with a single income of about €45,000 – close to the average earnings for a full-time worker – could see a fall of nearly two-thirds in net income. Ictu also cautioned that a single worker with no children earning €25,000 could see a fall of about half.
Congress suggested if a wage subsidisation scheme – similar to that introduced in Denmark – was put in place here it should be targeted at companies affected economically as a consequence of Covid-19.
This scheme would apply for a temporary period of three months.
Fortnightly welfare payments
Meanwhile, social welfare recipients will be paid two weeks’ of their benefit every fortnight from Monday, while appointments for PPS numbers and public services cards have been suspended.
The emergency measures are being taken to reduce numbers arriving at post and Intreo offices, to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty said recipients of 35 welfare schemes would start getting two weeks' payment in one payment from next week, with beneficiaries of 19 others starting fortnightly collections the following week.
The move follows scenes of long queues at some post offices and Intreo premises this week where social distancing was not observed.


theirishtimes--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: Pharmacists say supplies solid as ‘panic buying’ dies down

A dramatic increase in sales of over the counter medications such as paracetamol and ibrupofen as people became “ spooked ” by the coronavirus outbreak has eased and supplies remain solid , pharmacists and producers have said .
“ We saw a big spike in sales of over the counter medication in the 10 days up until last Monday , ” said Tony McEntee , managing director of the McCauley pharmacy chain which has 35 branches around the State .
“ There was a bit of panic buying ... People were definitely spooked a bit and every time there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spike but that demand has been sated and we are back to normal , ” he said .
“ Our level of over the countrer medications in stock yesterday was no different to the same day last year .
And I am not aware of any shortages coming down the line.
” Pharmacist Dave McFadden , who owns a shop on Prussia Street in Dublin 7 , said “ things are holding up fine ” and “ it is just a matter of people not panicking ” .
“ Wholesalers are keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our normal two deliveries a day , ” he said .
Shane O ’ Sullivan , managing director of online pharmacy Healthwave , said his company had seen a “ massive increase ” in demand for its delivery service and had employed drivers .
“ We have managed out supplies well and while there were a huge amount of queries about hand sanatiser and face masks , things have settled down a bit.
” He said there had been an surge in the sale of over the counter medications but it was being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stopped filling six-month prescriptions in a single order to ensure there were enough supplies for all .
“ It is challenging but we are doing everything we can and customers have been very understanding , ” Mr O ’ Sullivan said .
A spokewoman for GlaxoSmithKline , which makes Panadol , said the company had “ experienced an increase in demand for some of our products ” .
However , she said the company had plans in place “ which includes measures to help secure reliable supply , such as holding strategic stock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GSK took “ the resilience and continuity of our supply chains very seriously , and we draw on our extensive experience to try and mitigate issues affecting supply.
” David Delaney of Medicines for Ireland , the representative body for the Irish pharmaceutical trade sector , said the country was well stocked and there was no need for people to stockpile or overpurchase .
He said planning for Brexit in recent times meant the sector was well placed to cope with the pandemic .
He said it was business as usual for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggest that Ireland would face any general medicine supply issues .

A dramatic increase in sales of over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol and ibrupofen as people became spooked by the coronavirus outbreak has eased and supplies remain solid, pharmacists and producers have said. File photograph: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg.
A dramatic increase in sales of over the counter medications such as paracetamol and ibrupofen as people became “spooked” by the coronavirus outbreak has eased and supplies remain solid, pharmacists and producers have said.
“We saw a big spike in sales of over the counter medication in the 10 days up until last Monday,” said Tony McEntee, managing director of the McCauley pharmacy chain which has 35 branches around the State.
“There was a bit of panic buying...People were definitely spooked a bit and every time there was a bit of bad news we saw a spike but that demand has been sated and we are back to normal,” he said.
“Our level of over the countrer medications in stock yesterday was no different to the same day last year. And I am not aware of any shortages coming down the line.”
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Pharmacist Dave McFadden, who owns a shop on Prussia Street in Dublin 7, said “things are holding up fine” and “it is just a matter of people not panicking”.
“Wholesalers are keeping the flow going and we are getting our normal two deliveries a day,” he said.
Shane O’Sullivan, managing director of online pharmacy Healthwave, said his company had seen a “massive increase” in demand for its delivery service and had employed drivers.
“We have managed out supplies well and while there were a huge amount of queries about hand sanatiser and face masks, things have settled down a bit.”
Prescriptions
He said there had been an surge in the sale of over the counter medications but it was being managed and he said the firm had stopped filling six-month prescriptions in a single order to ensure there were enough supplies for all.
“It is challenging but we are doing everything we can and customers have been very understanding,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
A spokewoman for GlaxoSmithKline, which makes Panadol, said the company had “experienced an increase in demand for some of our products”.
However, she said the company had plans in place “which includes measures to help secure reliable supply, such as holding strategic stock and dual sourcing”.
She said GSK took "the resilience and continuity of our supply chains very seriously, and we draw on our extensive experience to try and mitigate issues affecting supply."
David Delaney of Medicines for Ireland, the representative body for the Irish pharmaceutical trade sector, said the country was well stocked and there was no need for people to stockpile or overpurchase.
He said planning for Brexit in recent times meant the sector was well placed to cope with the pandemic.
He said it was business as usual for the sector and there was no evidence to suggest that Ireland would face any general medicine supply issues.


theirishtimes--2020-03-20--The State will now be able to detain people and restrict travel. Should it do so?

The Oireachtas has passed emergency legislation giving the State sweeping powers to curtail human liberties with the aim of tackling the spread of coronavirus .
The Bill , expected to become law at the weekend , provides for the detention of people and restrictions on travel during the Covid-19 crisis .
Ministers have said repeatedly that they hope they never have to make use of the provisions of the legislation .
But will they ?
Or , more pertinently , should they ?
The public may think it is taking its medicine since schools and pubs were closed last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing rules put in place .
These measures have secured high levels of compliance , even at the cost of thousands of jobs .
However , more and more doctors and scientists here and abroad are calling for even stronger measures .
The word “ lockdown ” is increasingly being used as the next step that Ireland should take in order to cement the effectiveness of the measures introduced last week .
Some countries have already gone further than Ireland despite acting later .
In Spain , for example , people can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as food shopping or medical appointments .
They can not take their children out for a walk , and the country ’ s borders have been shut .
In the early stages of this crisis , public health doctors talked about containing the virus up to a point , and then following this phase with a mitigation phase as cases surged .
An intermediate stage , called the delay phase , was then inserted into official planning to reflect the current “ calm before the storm ” period .
This is nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when cases surge and hospitals fill up , is nearly upon us .
However , since our early plans were laid the thinking has moved on internationally .
Mitigation is now seen by many experts as a poor second best , and suppression is now the stated goal .
Experts have run the rule over the approach taken by China , which is now reporting no new “ home-grown ” cases each day , and by other Asian countries such as South Korea , Taiwan and Singapore , which are also succeeding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or sharply reducing the number of new cases .
“ Go hard right now .
Order heavy social distancing .
Get this thing under control , ” goes one widely-read online summary of how to suppress the disease .
“ On one side countries can go the mitigation route : create a massive epidemic , overwhelm the healthcare system , drive the death of millions of people , and release new mutations of this virus in the wild , ” says Thomas Pueyo , whose blogs distilling the research have been read tens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other , countries can fight .
They can lock down for a few weeks to buy us time , create an educated action plan , and control this virus until we have a vaccine.
” By now we ’ ve heard about “ bending the curve ” by reducing the surge of cases occurring at the same time – and thereby threatening to overload hospital – and spreading them out over a long period of time .
But what if the surge is a multiple of the capacity of hospitals and intensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paper by researchers at Imperial College London ?
If that was the case no amount of gentle bending of the curve though mitigation measures will suffice .
That paper predicted 250,000 people could die in the UK as a result .
This is why more and more scientists are saying the disease has to be “ stopped in its tracks ” through restrictive measures such as a quarantine on all incoming travellers to a country .
This would buy time for health services to save lives ; in this period more equipment can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out and , possibly , vaccines developed .
The Imperial College paper scared many people by suggesting that a second outbreak might follow once strict control measures were lifted .
Other researchers rejected this finding , saying the paper failed to take account of the impact effective contact-tracing and monitoring could make .
Pueyo says “ strong coronavirus measures today should only last a few weeks , there shouldn ’ t be a big peak of infections afterwards , and it can all be done for a reasonable cost to society , saving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ireland has put in place a range of measures which it has left to the discretion of citizens to decide whether to follow or not .
We face a particular difficulty in that the UK , our nearest neighbour and the other side of our common travel area , is taking a different , and erratic , tack on the issue .
This week the only cases of Covid-19 reported in China are those brought in from other countries .
Ireland might want to bear this in mind as it decides what @ @ @ @

More scientists are saying the disease has to be “stopped in its tracks” through restrictive measures such as a quarantine on all incoming travellers. Photograph: Getty Images
The Oireachtas has passed emergency legislation giving the State sweeping powers to curtail human liberties with the aim of tackling the spread of coronavirus.
The Bill, expected to become law at the weekend, provides for the detention of people and restrictions on travel during the Covid-19 crisis.
Ministers have said repeatedly that they hope they never have to make use of the provisions of the legislation. But will they? Or, more pertinently, should they?
The public may think it is taking its medicine since schools and pubs were closed last week, mass gatherings banned and strict social distancing rules put in place. These measures have secured high levels of compliance, even at the cost of thousands of jobs.
READ MORE
However, more and more doctors and scientists here and abroad are calling for even stronger measures. The word "lockdown" is increasingly being used as the next step that Ireland should take in order to cement the effectiveness of the measures introduced last week.
Some countries have already gone further than Ireland despite acting later. In Spain, for example, people cannot leave their homes except for essential reasons such as food shopping or medical appointments. They cannot take their children out for a walk, and the country's borders have been shut.
In the early stages of this crisis, public health doctors talked about containing the virus up to a point, and then following this phase with a mitigation phase as cases surged.
An intermediate stage, called the delay phase, was then inserted into official planning to reflect the current “calm before the storm” period. This is nearly over, and the moment of truth, when cases surge and hospitals fill up, is nearly upon us.
Suppression
However, since our early plans were laid the thinking has moved on internationally. Mitigation is now seen by many experts as a poor second best, and suppression is now the stated goal.
Experts have run the rule over the approach taken by China, which is now reporting no new "home-grown" cases each day, and by other Asian countries such as South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore, which are also succeeding in either keeping the virus at bay or sharply reducing the number of new cases.
“Go hard right now. Order heavy social distancing. Get this thing under control,” goes one widely-read online summary of how to suppress the disease.
"On one side countries can go the mitigation route: create a massive epidemic, overwhelm the healthcare system, drive the death of millions of people, and release new mutations of this virus in the wild," says Thomas Pueyo, whose blogs distilling the research have been read tens of millions of times.
“On the other, countries can fight. They can lock down for a few weeks to buy us time, create an educated action plan, and control this virus until we have a vaccine.”
By now we’ve heard about “bending the curve” by reducing the surge of cases occurring at the same time – and thereby threatening to overload hospital – and spreading them out over a long period of time.
But what if the surge is a multiple of the capacity of hospitals and intensive care, as was posited by a paper by researchers at Imperial College London?
If that was the case no amount of gentle bending of the curve though mitigation measures will suffice. That paper predicted 250,000 people could die in the UK as a result.
Quarantine
This is why more and more scientists are saying the disease has to be “stopped in its tracks” through restrictive measures such as a quarantine on all incoming travellers to a country. This would buy time for health services to save lives; in this period more equipment can be procured, more treatment possibilities tried out and, possibly, vaccines developed.
The Imperial College paper scared many people by suggesting that a second outbreak might follow once strict control measures were lifted. Other researchers rejected this finding, saying the paper failed to take account of the impact effective contact-tracing and monitoring could make.
Pueyo says “strong coronavirus measures today should only last a few weeks, there shouldn’t be a big peak of infections afterwards, and it can all be done for a reasonable cost to society, saving millions of lives along the way”.
Ireland has put in place a range of measures which it has left to the discretion of citizens to decide whether to follow or not. We face a particular difficulty in that the UK, our nearest neighbour and the other side of our common travel area, is taking a different, and erratic, tack on the issue.
This week the only cases of Covid-19 reported in China are those brought in from other countries. Ireland might want to bear this in mind as it decides what to do next.