theirishtimes--2020-04-18--The rapid decline of the restless, chirruping house sparrow

Our dozen house sparrows were , for the moment , stationary and parallel , each on a hawthorn twig and pointing its beak at the sun .
I shared this arresting moment with the garden ’ s most restless birds .
I say “ our ” sparrows : if I could ring them , I ’ d know .
We ’ ve greeted them each spring for many years , back from wherever it is they wander to in winter .
The males ’ gonads , I read , swell “ from pinheads to baked beans ” in preparation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is as many as I get to before they ’ ve whirled away down the hedge .
What ’ s certain is how few this is compared with the hundreds that nested in the thatch of the cabins that crowded this hillside before the Famine .
Until motor traffic arrived , thousands hopped around the pavements of Dublin to peck at grain spilled from horse nosebags or undigested in their droppings .
Chicks twittered from every crevice of O ’ Connell Street ’ s facades , including ( as an early birder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bulls ’ heads on the Rotunda .
In the planet ’ s 20 kinds of seed-eating sparrow , 14 species nest freely in holes in buildings .
But the house sparrow , Passer domesticus , excelled as an early “ sedentary human commensal ” , settling down amicably with people .
Latching on to the takeaway grain around the first Neolithic farmers of the Middle East , it spread inseparably with farming people to achieve a virtually worldwide distribution .
Once common across the island , a BirdWatch Ireland survey finds them breeding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ census .
The end of the west ’ s small oatfields ; of farmyard hens and ducks and their dishes of mashed potato and scatterings of grain ; the mowing of grass for silage before it seeds ; the ploughing-in of autumn grain stubbles , the use of herbicides to rid field margins of seeding weeds – all changes to starve the sparrow into decline .
Free peanuts are what bring them to us in the breeding season , crowding the feeders mob-handed to the exclusion of other garden birds .
Only the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And I can think of them unkindly in winter , when their nests in the house gutters have me dodging spouts of rain .
Globally , house sparrow populations give conservationists “ least concern ” , yet their modern decline in most cities of western Europe , in places to virtual extinction , has prompted much research .
In London , especially , where sparrows had been such a cultural icon , it was a popular concern about their loss that first drew the attention of ornithology .
In India ’ s cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sparrows from dusty streets has aroused dismay – enough for Delhi to declare it the state bird and mascot in 2012 .
The Bihar cabinet followed suit and March 20th was declared World Sparrow Day .
Thousands of nest-boxes have been put up in Hindu temples and households , and “ Spare a thought for sparrows ” became a popular newspaper headline .
In Dublin , the decline was personally noted by Dr Denis Summers-Smith , now nearing his 100th birthday safely , I hope , cocooned in rural Yorkshire .
After a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world , he concluded : “ The urban decline appears to be proceeding at an increasing rate and is showing no signs of stabilising.
” Among many speculations on the reasons , the latest is infection of sparrows by a parasite that gives them malaria .
A study led by Dr Andrew Cunningham of the British Trust for Ornithology ( BTO ) , was published online last year by The Royal Society ( at doi : 10.1098/rsos.182197 ) .
The sparrows of suburban London had declined by 71 per cent since 1995 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the parasite Plasmodium relictum averaged 74 per cent , higher than previously recorded in any wild bird population in northern Europe .
The same parasite in Hawaii , carried by mosquitoes , has led to bird extinctions .
West Nile Virus caused declines in several North American bird species .
And in Ireland and the UK , the contagious parasite Trichomonas gallinae has wrought high mortality in immune-weakened greenfinches , forcing new hygiene regimes at garden feeders and bird tables .
Sparrowhawks and garden cats , lack of insect food for chicks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all been blamed for the sparrow ’ s urban declines .
The lack of insect food seemed a likely contender , until a large-scale experiment in London , feeding mealworms to nestlings , produced greater fledgling success but did nothing to improve juvenile survival through the winter .
“ Parasitism , ” offers the BTO study cautiously , “ is generally understudied as a potential cause of avian population declines.
” Meanwhile , the rude health of our own little colony bursts out in the loud and sibilant chirruping that greets my morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drowns the welcome wheeze of the greenfinch , the great tit ’ s pumping of a bicycle tyre and the chaffinch ’ s closing exclamation .
This is the unexpectedly deafening “ social singing ” defined by Summers-Smith .
It includes , perhaps , the “ ecstatic calling ” , a chorus of virile baked-bean boasts .

House sparrows: their modern decline in most cities of western Europe, in places to virtual extinction, has prompted much research. Illustration: Michael Viney
Our dozen house sparrows were, for the moment, stationary and parallel, each on a hawthorn twig and pointing its beak at the sun. I shared this arresting moment with the garden’s most restless birds.
I say “our” sparrows: if I could ring them, I’d know. We’ve greeted them each spring for many years, back from wherever it is they wander to in winter. The males’ gonads, I read, swell “from pinheads to baked beans” in preparation for mating.
I say a dozen, which is as many as I get to before they’ve whirled away down the hedge. What’s certain is how few this is compared with the hundreds that nested in the thatch of the cabins that crowded this hillside before the Famine.
Until motor traffic arrived, thousands hopped around the pavements of Dublin to peck at grain spilled from horse nosebags or undigested in their droppings. Chicks twittered from every crevice of O’Connell Street’s facades, including (as an early birder recorded) the hollow eyes of the bulls’ heads on the Rotunda.
READ MORE
In the planet’s 20 kinds of seed-eating sparrow, 14 species nest freely in holes in buildings. But the house sparrow, Passer domesticus, excelled as an early “sedentary human commensal”, settling down amicably with people. Latching on to the takeaway grain around the first Neolithic farmers of the Middle East, it spread inseparably with farming people to achieve a virtually worldwide distribution.
Once common across the island, a BirdWatch Ireland survey finds them breeding in less than half the squares under census. The end of the west’s small oatfields; of farmyard hens and ducks and their dishes of mashed potato and scatterings of grain; the mowing of grass for silage before it seeds; the ploughing-in of autumn grain stubbles, the use of herbicides to rid field margins of seeding weeds – all changes to starve the sparrow into decline.
Free peanuts are what bring them to us in the breeding season, crowding the feeders mob-handed to the exclusion of other garden birds. Only the goldfinches can be quite such bullies. And I can think of them unkindly in winter, when their nests in the house gutters have me dodging spouts of rain.
‘Least concern’
Globally, house sparrow populations give conservationists “least concern”, yet their modern decline in most cities of western Europe, in places to virtual extinction, has prompted much research. In London, especially, where sparrows had been such a cultural icon, it was a popular concern about their loss that first drew the attention of ornithology.
In India’s cities, too, the disappearance of house sparrows from dusty streets has aroused dismay – enough for Delhi to declare it the state bird and mascot in 2012. The Bihar cabinet followed suit and March 20th was declared World Sparrow Day. Thousands of nest-boxes have been put up in Hindu temples and households, and “Spare a thought for sparrows” became a popular newspaper headline.
In Dublin, the decline was personally noted by Dr Denis Summers-Smith, now nearing his 100th birthday safely, I hope, cocooned in rural Yorkshire. After a lifetime devoted to studying the sparrows of the world, he concluded: “The urban decline appears to be proceeding at an increasing rate and is showing no signs of stabilising.”
Parasites
Among many speculations on the reasons, the latest is infection of sparrows by a parasite that gives them malaria. A study led by Dr Andrew Cunningham of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), was published online last year by The Royal Society (at doi: 10.1098/rsos.182197).
The sparrows of suburban London had declined by 71 per cent since 1995 and the research team found their infection by the parasite Plasmodium relictum averaged 74 per cent, higher than previously recorded in any wild bird population in northern Europe.
The same parasite in Hawaii, carried by mosquitoes, has led to bird extinctions. West Nile Virus caused declines in several North American bird species. And in Ireland and the UK, the contagious parasite Trichomonas gallinae has wrought high mortality in immune-weakened greenfinches, forcing new hygiene regimes at garden feeders and bird tables.
Sparrowhawks and garden cats, lack of insect food for chicks, diesel fumes and phone-mast radiation have all been blamed for the sparrow’s urban declines.
The lack of insect food seemed a likely contender, until a large-scale experiment in London, feeding mealworms to nestlings, produced greater fledgling success but did nothing to improve juvenile survival through the winter. “Parasitism,” offers the BTO study cautiously, “is generally understudied as a potential cause of avian population declines.”
Meanwhile, the rude health of our own little colony bursts out in the loud and sibilant chirruping that greets my morning stroll along the boundary hedge. It drowns the welcome wheeze of the greenfinch, the great tit’s pumping of a bicycle tyre and the chaffinch’s closing exclamation.
This is the unexpectedly deafening “social singing” defined by Summers-Smith. It includes, perhaps, the “ecstatic calling”, a chorus of virile baked-bean boasts.


theirishtimes--2020-04-18--What’s this weird worm? Readers’ nature queries

I came across this worm in my garden .
It stayed like this for ages and then suddenly started to unravel into a black , thin , 10cm worm .
– Tricha Blackburn , Thurles , Co Tipperary It ’ s an Australian flatworm , either Caenoplana coerulea , the blue garden flatworm ; or C dendyi , Dendy ’ s flatworm .
It was introduced into several countries in Europe , including the UK .
One was reported to Eye on Nature in 2017 in south Kerry .
I found this rare plant at the coast of south Wexford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it as Narcissus biflora .
The English name is primrose peerless .
– Joe Flynn , Enniscorthy , Co Wexford The National Biodiversity Data Centre has six reports of biflora , two each in Dublin and Wexford , and one each in Waterford and Cork .
In this photo from our garden you can see the primrose in the foreground , the cowslip in the background and their progeny , the false oxlip in the centre .
– Angela Mason , Kilcoole , Co Wicklow The primula family are notorious for cross-breeding The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gardens .
The primrose and cowslip are natives .
At the end of March this chap fell out of a primula , what is it ?
– Paul Kenny , Paul Kenny , Kimmage , Dublin12 It ’ s the caterpillar of the large yellow underwing moth .
It can be coloured anything from ochre to bright green .
This dropping was left on our patio , It was about 10cm long and full of tiny bones .
– Marie Ó Colmáin , Bantry , Co Cork It is the regurgitated pellets of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tame robin we call Bunty living in the front garden of our new house .
Bunty loves activity and waits for us to come out to play .
He now has started landing on my hand and gets braver by the day .
– Harriet Lynch , Sandymount , Dublin 4 .
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn , Louisburgh , Co Mayo , F28 F978 , or by email at viney @ anu.ie .
Include a postal address

I came across this worm in my garden. It stayed like this for ages and then suddenly started to unravel into a black, thin, 10cm worm. – Tricha Blackburn, Thurles, Co Tipperary
It's an Australian flatworm, either Caenoplana coerulea, the blue garden flatworm; or C dendyi, Dendy's flatworm. It was introduced into several countries in Europe, including the UK. One was reported to Eye on Nature in 2017 in south Kerry.
I found this rare plant at the coast of south Wexford. Webb's Irish Flora names it as Narcissus biflora. The English name is primrose peerless. – Joe Flynn, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford
The National Biodiversity Data Centre has six reports of biflora, two each in Dublin and Wexford, and one each in Waterford and Cork.
READ MORE
In this photo from our garden you can see the primrose in the foreground, the cowslip in the background and their progeny, the false oxlip in the centre. – Angela Mason, Kilcoole, Co Wicklow
The primula family are notorious for cross-breeding The primrose peerless is a hybrid escape from gardens. The primrose and cowslip are natives.
At the end of March this chap fell out of a primula, what is it? – Paul Kenny, Paul Kenny, Kimmage, Dublin12
It’s the caterpillar of the large yellow underwing moth. It can be coloured anything from ochre to bright green.
This dropping was left on our patio, It was about 10cm long and full of tiny bones. – Marie Ó Colmáin, Bantry, Co Cork
It is the regurgitated pellets of an owl.
We have a very tame robin we call Bunty living in the front garden of our new house. Bunty loves activity and waits for us to come out to play. He now has started landing on my hand and gets braver by the day. – Harriet Lynch, Sandymount, Dublin 4.
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Include a postal address


theirishtimes--2020-04-17--Coronavirus: Nursing home memo urges staff to set up ‘dirty’ and ‘clean’ areas

Transmission of the coronavirus in a Dublin nursing home has become widespread in recent days and is now affecting more than a fifth of the 200 residents , according to an internal memo .
There is evidence of coronavirus outbreaks across nearly all units in St Mary ’ s Hospital in the Phoenix Park , which has seen 11 Covid-19 related deaths in a two-week period .
The internal memo , dated April 13th , says that apart from one section all units in the home have “ evidence of more than 20 per cent ” confirmed or suspected coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assume that transmission is generalised .
Therefore , in the context of generalised transmission , the entire clinical areas of the unit is designated a contaminated zone , ” said the memo , which was circulated among staff in recent days .
A source in the facility , which is run by the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) , said the number of cases was likely even higher due to testing delays .
The home , which has 198 residential places , confirmed on Thursday night that 10 residents who had tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the condition had died within a two-week period .
The memo to staff set out measures to try and contain the spread of the virus by setting up “ clean ” and “ dirty ” areas .
It advised all staff to wear personal protective equipment ( PPE ) upon entry into a “ contaminated zone ” with suspected or confirmed cases .
Staff treating patients in these zones were instructed to provide care to all residents “ wearing the same PPE for each care period ” .
Healthcare workers should change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain in the same gown , surgical mask and eye protection .
Guidance from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) for residential care facilities dealing with Covid-19 outbreaks state staff should “ ideally change their PPE ” after every contact with a positive patient .
The HPSC ’ s advice outlined that in “ exceptional circumstances ” this can be limited to just a change of medical gloves if staff are caring for a group of patients with Covid-19 .
To avoid spreading the virus , staff should begin by providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspected Covid-19 patients , and lastly confirmed cases , the St Mary ’ s memo said .
The instructions said the “ clean zone ” in the nursing home should if possible include the staff office space and toilets .
“ Residents should not have access to the clean zone – the latter point can be difficult to manage , ” the memo said .
The memo referred to asymptomatic patients as the “ cleanest ” , those who were suspected cases as “ dirty , ” and confirmed coronavirus cases as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written after a visit to the facility from Prof Martin Cormican , the HSE national clinical lead on infection control .
In a statement , a HSE spokeswoman said the memo was drafted internally within the hospital but was issued “ without any formal approval ” .
She said the memo , which stated the measures were based on the recommendations from Prof Cormican , was not written with his input .
“ It is our strong preference that this unapproved memo and the information contained within it is not published.
” However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the memo and confirmed “ that a significant number of residents have been affected by Covid-19 within St Mary ’ s Hospital .
”

A computer image shows a model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus which is the type of virus linked to Covid-19, better known as the coronavirus. Photograph: NEXU Science Communication/Reuters
Transmission of the coronavirus in a Dublin nursing home has become widespread in recent days and is now affecting more than a fifth of the 200 residents, according to an internal memo.
There is evidence of coronavirus outbreaks across nearly all units in St Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park, which has seen 11 Covid-19 related deaths in a two-week period.
The internal memo, dated April 13th, says that apart from one section all units in the home have “ evidence of more than 20 per cent” confirmed or suspected coronavirus infection.
“It is reasonable to assume that transmission is generalised. Therefore, in the context of generalised transmission, the entire clinical areas of the unit is designated a contaminated zone,” said the memo, which was circulated among staff in recent days.
READ MORE
A source in the facility, which is run by the Health Service Executive (HSE), said the number of cases was likely even higher due to testing delays.
The home, which has 198 residential places, confirmed on Thursday night that 10 residents who had tested positive for Covid-19 and another suspected to have the condition had died within a two-week period.
The memo to staff set out measures to try and contain the spread of the virus by setting up “clean” and “dirty” areas.
It advised all staff to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) upon entry into a “contaminated zone” with suspected or confirmed cases. Staff treating patients in these zones were instructed to provide care to all residents “wearing the same PPE for each care period”.
Healthcare workers should change gloves between patients but were instructed to remain in the same gown, surgical mask and eye protection.
Medical gloves
Guidance from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) for residential care facilities dealing with Covid-19 outbreaks state staff should "ideally change their PPE" after every contact with a positive patient.
The HPSC’s advice outlined that in “exceptional circumstances” this can be limited to just a change of medical gloves if staff are caring for a group of patients with Covid-19.
To avoid spreading the virus, staff should begin by providing care to asymptomatic patients first, then suspected Covid-19 patients, and lastly confirmed cases, the St Mary’s memo said.
The instructions said the “clean zone” in the nursing home should if possible include the staff office space and toilets. “Residents should not have access to the clean zone – the latter point can be difficult to manage,” the memo said.
The memo referred to asymptomatic patients as the “cleanest”, those who were suspected cases as “dirty,” and confirmed coronavirus cases as the “dirtiest patients.”
The memo was written after a visit to the facility from Prof Martin Cormican, the HSE national clinical lead on infection control.
In a statement, a HSE spokeswoman said the memo was drafted internally within the hospital but was issued “without any formal approval”.
She said the memo, which stated the measures were based on the recommendations from Prof Cormican, was not written with his input.
“It is our strong preference that this unapproved memo and the information contained within it is not published.”
However, she did not dispute the figures in the memo and confirmed “that a significant number of residents have been affected by Covid-19 within St Mary’s Hospital.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-18--One ticket-holder scoops €9.7 million Lotto jackpot

There was one winner of Saturday night ’ s Lotto jackpot of €9.7 million , the National Lottery has announced @ @ @ @ @ 4 , 9 , 15 , 27 , 29 and 34 while the bonus number @ @ @ @ @ has yet been released on where the winning ticket was sold .

The winning ticket of Saturday night's Lotto jackpot of €9.7 million was sold in Co Kerry, the National Lottery has announced
There was one winner of the jackpot with the winning numbers being 4, 9, 15, 27, 29 and 34 while the bonus number was 17.
The National Lottery appealed to Lotto players in Kerry to check their Lotto tickets.
The lucky ticketholder is the fourth Lotto jackpot winner of 2020.
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Since the Lotto games inception in 1988, there have been 38 Lotto jackpot winners from Co Kerry who have shared over €58 million in jackpot prizes.
The National Lottery said it hopes to reveal the name of the winning store in the next couple of days.
“With a jackpot win of this amount, it is important that we take some time to inform the winning retailer and of course to give the winning ticketholder the time and space they need to let this amazing win to sink in so we will be announcing the winning store in the coming days. We encourage all of our Lotto players who purchased a ticket for Saturday’s Lotto draw to check their tickets carefully. If you are one of the lucky winners of any of last night’s big prizes, please sign the back of the ticket and contact our prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie, and we will make arrangements for you to collect your prize when it is safe to do so.”
The jackpot was close to being shared by three more players from Carlow, Dublin and Galway who fell just one number short, matching five numbers and the bonus ball. These three players will win €36,453 each, sharing the €109,359 Lotto Match 5 + Bonus prize.
These tickets were sold at Flynn’s Spar Garage in Tullow, Co Carlow, News N Choose in Loughrea, Co Galway and the Spar store in Drimnagh, Dublin 12.


theirishtimes--2020-04-18--West Cork TD calls for calm, urges people not to take law into own hands

A west Cork TD has called for calm and urged people not to take the law into their own hands over concerns they might have that visitors are ignoring government guidelines on containing Covid-19 and coming into the area .
Social Democrat TD , Holly Cairns said she had been contacted by a number of people living in West Cork , who felt they were being judged because they may not have local accents amid concerns that visitors were coming into the area .
“ A few people got in touch with me to say that they felt hostility was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have a local accent but do live here who feel that there were being judged when they went to the local shop .
“ Somebody might have asked them how long were they here for and perhaps people were just being friendly but because of the growing watchfulness over the spread of Covid-19 , people were interpreting it in an different way.
” Ms Cairns told The Irish Times that a number of signs have begun to appear at various locations around West Cork , urging anyone who is not local to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to their homes .
But she pointed out that many people who have long been resident in West Cork may not have local accents despite their many years living in the area so people should not necessarily judge people by their accents .
“ I mean was born in West Cork but you wouldn ’ t say I have a strong West Cork accent - it ’ s the same with car registrations - just because somebody is driving a D-reg car doesn ’ t mean they are not living locally here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called on communities to “ keep West Cork friendly ” and let the Gardaí deal with any problems with people breaking the 2km rule or using holiday homes and caravans when they should not .
Ms Cairns has taken to social media to urge calm , saying that while she understands that people have grave concerns about infection and are finding the restrictions hard , they should not take the law into their own hands .
“ I want to put the call out to people to take care of themselves and each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law into your own hands , don ’ t assume people are/aren ’ t local and should/shouldn ’ t be here.
” Ms Cairns said she understood how people may be worried given the hardship they are facing in social distancing and isolation and the uncertainty over the duration of the lockdown can add to people ’ s watchfulness and hostility .
“ Let ’ s lead by example and let Gardaí take care of the rest .
Keep it friendly - tourism is a really important industry and people come here because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so it ’ s important we remember who we are.
” Chief Supt Con Cadogan of West Cork Garda Division said that gardaí had received no reports to date of anyone being threatened or intimidated or told to leave West Cork .
However he said if anyone had such experiences they should contact gardaí and the matter would be investigated fully but he stressed that the vast majority of people had been abiding by government advice to stay at home .
“ What we did notice is that around mid-March before the major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK nationals and others with holiday homes in the area but they are all cocooning and respecting the government guidelines .
”

Holly Cairns told The Irish Times that a number of signs have begun to appear at various locations around West Cork, urging anyone who is not local to the area to leave the area and return to their homes. Photograph: Holly Cairns
A west Cork TD has called for calm and urged people not to take the law into their own hands over concerns they might have that visitors are ignoring government guidelines on containing Covid-19 and coming into the area.
Social Democrat TD, Holly Cairns said she had been contacted by a number of people living in West Cork, who felt they were being judged because they may not have local accents amid concerns that visitors were coming into the area.
“A few people got in touch with me to say that they felt hostility was growing towards them - people who may not have a local accent but do live here who feel that there were being judged when they went to the local shop.
“Somebody might have asked them how long were they here for and perhaps people were just being friendly but because of the growing watchfulness over the spread of Covid-19, people were interpreting it in an different way.”
READ MORE
Ms Cairns told The Irish Times that a number of signs have begun to appear at various locations around West Cork, urging anyone who is not local to the area to leave the area and return to their homes.
But she pointed out that many people who have long been resident in West Cork may not have local accents despite their many years living in the area so people should not necessarily judge people by their accents.
“I mean was born in West Cork but you wouldn’t say I have a strong West Cork accent - it’s the same with car registrations - just because somebody is driving a D-reg car doesn’t mean they are not living locally here in West Cork.”
Ms Cairns has called on communities to “keep West Cork friendly” and let the Gardaí deal with any problems with people breaking the 2km rule or using holiday homes and caravans when they should not.
Hardship
Ms Cairns has taken to social media to urge calm, saying that while she understands that people have grave concerns about infection and are finding the restrictions hard, they should not take the law into their own hands.
“I want to put the call out to people to take care of themselves and each other - don’t take the law into your own hands, don’t assume people are/aren’t local and should/shouldn’t be here.”
Ms Cairns said she understood how people may be worried given the hardship they are facing in social distancing and isolation and the uncertainty over the duration of the lockdown can add to people’s watchfulness and hostility.
“Let’s lead by example and let Gardaí take care of the rest. Keep it friendly - tourism is a really important industry and people come here because of the lovely warm welcome they get so it’s important we remember who we are.”
No reports
Chief Supt Con Cadogan of West Cork Garda Division said that gardaí had received no reports to date of anyone being threatened or intimidated or told to leave West Cork.
However he said if anyone had such experiences they should contact gardaí and the matter would be investigated fully but he stressed that the vast majority of people had been abiding by government advice to stay at home.
“What we did notice is that around mid-March before the major lockdown, there was an influx of UK nationals and others with holiday homes in the area but they are all cocooning and respecting the government guidelines.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-18--Latest coronavirus victims in Republic were 23 women and 18 men

Another 23 women and 18 men have died after being diagnosed with Covid-19 , the National Public Health Emergency Team reported on Saturday evening .
Of the 41 latest victims , 35 deaths occurred in the east of the country , four were in the west and two were in the north west .
Their median age was 83 , and 35 of them were reported as having underlying health conditions .
Dr Tony Holohan , chief medical officer at the Department of Health , reiterated a focus on testing in community residential centres including nursing homes in the days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains a priority for our focused attention and we will continue to monitor and support them through this outbreak , ” he said .
The latest reported deaths brings the pandemic ’ s toll in the Republic to 571 .
Of those , 326 - or 57 per cent - were men , while 245 - or 43 per cent - were women , according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre .
The youngest victim so far was 23 years old while the oldest was 105 .
The median age of all those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus is 83 .
Some 330 of the fatalities had been admitted to hospital , and 46 of them were treated in intensive care units .
A further 778 people have tested positive for the disease on Saturday , according to results from laboratories in both Ireland and Germany , bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the outbreak began to 14,758 .
The Health Service Executive said it is working to identify any contacts the confirmed cases may have had , to provide them with advice on preventing the further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midnight on Thursday , 55 per cent of confirmed cases were women , while 44 per cent were men .
The median age of confirmed cases is 48 years .
Among the overall number , 454 clusters have been identified involving 2,964 cases .
Some 2,168 cases - or 16 per cent - of confirmed cases have resulted in the patient being hospitalised .
Of those , 296 patients have been treated in an intensive care unit .
Almost a quarter of all confirmed cases have been healthcare workers .
Half of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cork accounts for 7 per cent .
Where the cause of transmission is known , more than half ( 52 per cent ) were infected in the community , while most of the rest ( 43 per cent ) contracted the virus from someone close to them .
Travel abroad accounts for 5 per cent of known transmission cases .

A cyclist passes a poster alerting the public that if they must leave their home, they must stay within a 2km radius of their home, on Dublin’s O’Connell Street earlier this month. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP via Getty
Another 23 women and 18 men have died after being diagnosed with Covid-19, the National Public Health Emergency Team reported on Saturday evening.
Of the 41 latest victims, 35 deaths occurred in the east of the country, four were in the west and two were in the north west.
Their median age was 83, and 35 of them were reported as having underlying health conditions.
Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer at the Department of Health, reiterated a focus on testing in community residential centres including nursing homes in the days and weeks ahead.
READ MORE
“This sector remains a priority for our focused attention and we will continue to monitor and support them through this outbreak,” he said.
The latest reported deaths brings the pandemic’s toll in the Republic to 571.
Of those, 326 - or 57 per cent - were men, while 245 - or 43 per cent - were women, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
Youngest victim
The youngest victim so far was 23 years old while the oldest was 105. The median age of all those who have died so far after contracting the coronavirus is 83.
Some 330 of the fatalities had been admitted to hospital, and 46 of them were treated in intensive care units.
A further 778 people have tested positive for the disease on Saturday, according to results from laboratories in both Ireland and Germany, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the outbreak began to 14,758.
The Health Service Executive said it is working to identify any contacts the confirmed cases may have had, to provide them with advice on preventing the further spread of the virus.
As of midnight on Thursday, 55 per cent of confirmed cases were women, while 44 per cent were men. The median age of confirmed cases is 48 years.
Among the overall number, 454 clusters have been identified involving 2,964 cases.
Some 2,168 cases - or 16 per cent - of confirmed cases have resulted in the patient being hospitalised.
Of those, 296 patients have been treated in an intensive care unit.
Travel abroad
Almost a quarter of all confirmed cases have been healthcare workers.
Half of all cases have been in Dublin, while Cork accounts for 7 per cent.
Where the cause of transmission is known, more than half (52 per cent) were infected in the community, while most of the rest (43 per cent) contracted the virus from someone close to them.
Travel abroad accounts for 5 per cent of known transmission cases.


theirishtimes--2020-04-18--Climate crisis: What action should we expect from the next government?

Any party entering government formation talks with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael should insist the State pursue actions to contain climate breakdown – and their bottom line should be cutting carbon emissions by 8 per cent a year , according to Oisín Coghlan , director of Friends of the Earth .
“ We know from the UN we need to reduce our emissions by at least 8 per cent a year [ up to 2030 ] and current plans fall far short of that , ” he said .
He accused Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of promising vaguely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to prevent climate breakdown .
“ They have given us no figures .
And they are not promising to pass the new climate law that all parties have already agreed to .
It ’ s as if they are leaving all that for the smaller parties to propose in negotiations.
” Any of the smaller parties entering into talks with the larger parties must demand the State does its fair share to fulfil the Paris Agreement and that it enact a long-promised new climate law within the first 100 days of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Coghlan said .
The Green Party has flagged it is seeking for the next decade a yearly emissions cut of 7 per cent – which is close to the figure that leading climate scientists indicate is required to avoid irreversible climate impacts from 2030 on .
The Government ’ s current climate action plan would reduce emissions by 35 per cent by 2030 ( seeing emissions fall by 3.5 per cent a year on average ) and sets out for the first time how the State can meet legally binding EU 2030 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrongly claimed the plan will only reduce emissions by 2 per cent a year – as such examinations do not include actions in the plan to reduce emissions from electricity , large industry or land use .
Many of the most effective measures for reducing emissions require changes in technology or in assets which can not happen in a single year .
A 35 per cent reduction means delivering on 1 million electric vehicles ; 500,000 home upgrades ; 70 per cent renewable electricity ; an €80-per-tonne carbon tax ; greater agricultural efficiencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 180 actions in the plan .
It would mean cleaner air , warmer homes and a more sustainable economy ; the only difficulty is the European Green Deal , which the Government has endorsed , will see the EU raise its ambition to a 50-55 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 , and net-zero emissions by 2050 .
This will require further development of the climate action plan and inclusion of new ambition and new actions .
The plan already commits to annual updates .
The Stop Climate Chaos ( SCC ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were still not uniting behind the science and proposing more specific annual emissions cuts and sectoral-specific plans .
“ To be in line with the science and our climate obligations , the [ next ] programme for government must deliver emissions reductions that average at least 8 per cent a year over its lifetime , ” said SCC policy adviser Sadhbh O ’ Neill .
In addition , setting a new 2030 target in this regard needs to be operationalised with five-year carbon budgets to put the State on track to meeting its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid mounting costs of non-compliance , she added .
The State ’ s most senior scientist with the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change , Prof Peter Thorne , of Maynooth University , said he had expected Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil ’ s framework document for a potential coalition to be deliberately vague for political purposes .
“ Who knows where we ’ re going to land after Covid-19 ?
” he said .
That said , a strengthened climate Act backed by new governance structures , including a new standing committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Taoiseach , would ensure the State was on the right course and could quickly correct mistakes .
“ As long as they do that , climate can not fall off the table , ” he added .
Covid-19 was a threat but also an opportunity to re-evaluate , he added .
It had shown “ we are not above nature ” and human activity had taken its toll on the environment .
“ It ’ s an opportunity to stop and think .
Do we actually want this ?
Do we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we were ?
” Oonagh Duggan of BirdWatch Ireland welcomed commitment in the framework document to take immediate action to protect ecosystems on land and at sea , and to proceed with a Citizens ’ Assembly on countering biodiversity loss .
“ The programme for government that may follow from this framework represents a real and timely opportunity to fully integrate biodiversity and climate goals into policies on agriculture , forestry , fisheries , housing , health , transport and energy so that we can more fully reap societal benefits from these sectors @ @ @ @ @

The Green Party has flagged it is seeking for the next decade a yearly emissions cut of 7 per cent. File photograph: John Giles/PA Wire
Any party entering government formation talks with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael should insist the State pursue actions to contain climate breakdown – and their bottom line should be cutting carbon emissions by 8 per cent a year, according to Oisín Coghlan, director of Friends of the Earth.
“We know from the UN we need to reduce our emissions by at least 8 per cent a year [up to 2030] and current plans fall far short of that,” he said.
He accused Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of promising vaguely to do more on emissions but not promising enough to prevent climate breakdown. “They have given us no figures. And they are not promising to pass the new climate law that all parties have already agreed to. It’s as if they are leaving all that for the smaller parties to propose in negotiations.”
Any of the smaller parties entering into talks with the larger parties must demand the State does its fair share to fulfil the Paris Agreement and that it enact a long-promised new climate law within the first 100 days of the Dáil being back up and running, Mr Coghlan said.
READ MORE
The Green Party has flagged it is seeking for the next decade a yearly emissions cut of 7 per cent – which is close to the figure that leading climate scientists indicate is required to avoid irreversible climate impacts from 2030 on.
The Government’s current climate action plan would reduce emissions by 35 per cent by 2030 (seeing emissions fall by 3.5 per cent a year on average) and sets out for the first time how the State can meet legally binding EU 2030 targets on emissions.
Incorrect analysis
Other analysis has wrongly claimed the plan will only reduce emissions by 2 per cent a year – as such examinations do not include actions in the plan to reduce emissions from electricity, large industry or land use. Many of the most effective measures for reducing emissions require changes in technology or in assets which cannot happen in a single year.
A 35 per cent reduction means delivering on 1 million electric vehicles; 500,000 home upgrades; 70 per cent renewable electricity; an €80-per-tonne carbon tax; greater agricultural efficiencies, and the implementation of more than 180 actions in the plan.
It would mean cleaner air, warmer homes and a more sustainable economy; the only difficulty is the European Green Deal, which the Government has endorsed, will see the EU raise its ambition to a 50-55 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030, and net-zero emissions by 2050. This will require further development of the climate action plan and inclusion of new ambition and new actions. The plan already commits to annual updates.
The Stop Climate Chaos (SCC) coalition said it was concerned major parties were still not uniting behind the science and proposing more specific annual emissions cuts and sectoral-specific plans.
“To be in line with the science and our climate obligations, the [next] programme for government must deliver emissions reductions that average at least 8 per cent a year over its lifetime,” said SCC policy adviser Sadhbh O’Neill.
In addition, setting a new 2030 target in this regard needs to be operationalised with five-year carbon budgets to put the State on track to meeting its EU and Paris Agreement obligations and to avoid mounting costs of non-compliance, she added.
Political purposes
The State's most senior scientist with the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Prof Peter Thorne, of Maynooth University, said he had expected Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil's framework document for a potential coalition to be deliberately vague for political purposes. "Who knows where we're going to land after Covid-19?" he said.
That said, a strengthened climate Act backed by new governance structures, including a new standing committee with teeth and oversight by the Department of the Taoiseach, would ensure the State was on the right course and could quickly correct mistakes. "As long as they do that, climate cannot fall off the table," he added.
Covid-19 was a threat but also an opportunity to re-evaluate, he added. It had shown “we are not above nature” and human activity had taken its toll on the environment. “It’s an opportunity to stop and think. Do we actually want this? Do we really want to go back to where we were?”
Oonagh Duggan of BirdWatch Ireland welcomed commitment in the framework document to take immediate action to protect ecosystems on land and at sea, and to proceed with a Citizens' Assembly on countering biodiversity loss.
“The programme for government that may follow from this framework represents a real and timely opportunity to fully integrate biodiversity and climate goals into policies on agriculture, forestry, fisheries, housing, health, transport and energy so that we can more fully reap societal benefits from these sectors,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-04-18--Man (22) appears in court over attack at Cork filling station

A 22-year-old man has appeared in court charged in relation to an incident when another young man was attacked at a filling station in Cork as part of an escalating feud between rival Traveller families in the city .
Paddy Stokes of St Anthony ’ s Park , Hollyhill , Cork was brought before a special sitting of Cork District Court on Friday afternoon , arising out of an incident where a man was attacked at Blarney Filling Station on April 16th .
Mr Stokes was charged with engaging in threatening , abusive or insulting behaviour in Blarney on April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a breach of the peace , contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice ( Public Order ) Act 1994 .
And he was also charged with obstructing a member of An Garda Síochána in the execution of his duty at St Anthony ’ s Park , Hollyhill , Cork on April 17th contrary to Section 19 of the Criminal Justice ( Public Order ) Act 1994 .
Det Garda Maurice Leahy of Blarney Garda Station gave evidence of arrest , charge and caution and told the court that Mr Stokes made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were put to him after caution .
Det Garda Leahy said that Mr Stokes ’ s arrest related to a garda investigation of an ongoing feud between members of the Stokes family on the one side and members of the rival McCarthy and Faulkner families on the other side .
Gardaí did not object to bail for Mr Stokes once he gave an undertaking to abide by strict conditions including that he remain off social media and have no contact with either of the opposing families , the McCarthy or the Falconers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the 2km Covid-19 restrictions and that he would present each Monday , Wednesday and Friday at Gurranabraher Garda Station , without being required to sign at the station .
Defence solicitor , Joe Cuddigan asked if his client could use Facebook to contact his grandmother in Mallow but Judge Olann Kelleher said he had to stay off social media and he could be remanded in custody if he did not agree .
Mr Stokes could instead use his phone to contact his grandmother in Mallow , said Judge Kelleher before remanding Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cork District Court on April 27th .
Earlier this week , two other men caught up in the feud between the Stokes and the McCarthy/Faulkner faction were remanded in continuing custody by Judge Kelleher when they appeared by video link at Cork District Court .
James McCarthy ( 33 ) of the Halting Site , Spring Lane , Cork , and of Liffey Park , Mayfield , Cork was alleged to have uploaded a video on his Facebook page , making a threat directed at Michael Stokes .
Det Garda John Gleeson told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Mr McCarthy said on the video : “ I will get you .
I will cut you from head to toe .
I will cut you in pieces .
I will cut you in bits.
” Det Garda Pat Barry said the state would allege that Michael Stokes ( 24 ) , with an address at St. Anthony ’ s Park , Knocknaheeny , Cork , had posted videos on his Facebook page specifically targeting James McCarthy .
He said the state would allege that Michael Stokes said on the video : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week and you ’ ll get bate seven days again .
Next time I see you , you are going underground.
” Cross-examined by Mr McCarthy ’ s solicitor , Thomas Coughlan , Det Garda Gleeson agreed that only the shoes of the person making the threats was visible on the video which had been posted on line .
However , Det Gleeson said he clearly recognised the voice as that of James McCarthy and he said the shoes were very distinctive and the defendant was wearing a pair of the same shoes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Stokes video was made in a blue BMW and that Michael Stokes drives a blue BMW and said he was 100per cent sure the voice was that of Michael Stokes .
Cross-examined by Mr Stokes ’ s solicitor , Frank Buttimer , Det Garda Barry said that the man in the video making the threats was wearing a Rolex watch on his wrist and that Mr Stokes had a Rolex .
Det Garda Barry told the court that there was an escalating feud between the families that had in recent weeks seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a gunshot fired at a house .
Det Garda Barry said there were fears for the safety of those being threatened in the feud which had escalated since January when it was alleged a member of the McCarthy family was assaulted outside the cinema in Blackpool .
Both Mr McCarthy and Mr Stokes applied for bail through their solicitors but Judge Olann Kelleher refused bail and remanded both men in custody until April 15th when he further remanded them to appear again on April 29th .

Paddy Stokes of St Anthony’s Park, Hollyhill, Cork was brought before a special sitting of Cork District Court on Friday afternoon, arising out of an incident where a man was attacked at Blarney Filling Station on April 16th. Photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times
A 22-year-old man has appeared in court charged in relation to an incident when another young man was attacked at a filling station in Cork as part of an escalating feud between rival Traveller families in the city.
Paddy Stokes of St Anthony's Park, Hollyhill, Cork was brought before a special sitting of Cork District Court on Friday afternoon, arising out of an incident where a man was attacked at Blarney Filling Station on April 16th.
Mr Stokes was charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in Blarney on April 16th in a manner likely to lead to a breach of the peace, contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.
And he was also charged with obstructing a member of An Garda Síochána in the execution of his duty at St Anthony's Park, Hollyhill, Cork on April 17th contrary to Section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.
READ MORE
Det Garda Maurice Leahy of Blarney Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and told the court that Mr Stokes made no reply to either charge when they were put to him after caution.
Det Garda Leahy said that Mr Stokes’s arrest related to a garda investigation of an ongoing feud between members of the Stokes family on the one side and members of the rival McCarthy and Faulkner families on the other side.
Gardaí did not object to bail for Mr Stokes once he gave an undertaking to abide by strict conditions including that he remain off social media and have no contact with either of the opposing families, the McCarthy or the Falconers.
Gardaí also sought that Mr Stokes comply with the 2km Covid-19 restrictions and that he would present each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Gurranabraher Garda Station, without being required to sign at the station.
No social media
Defence solicitor, Joe Cuddigan asked if his client could use Facebook to contact his grandmother in Mallow but Judge Olann Kelleher said he had to stay off social media and he could be remanded in custody if he did not agree.
Mr Stokes could instead use his phone to contact his grandmother in Mallow, said Judge Kelleher before remanding Mr Stokes on bail to appear again at Cork District Court on April 27th.
Earlier this week, two other men caught up in the feud between the Stokes and the McCarthy/Faulkner faction were remanded in continuing custody by Judge Kelleher when they appeared by video link at Cork District Court.
James McCarthy (33) of the Halting Site, Spring Lane, Cork, and of Liffey Park, Mayfield, Cork was alleged to have uploaded a video on his Facebook page, making a threat directed at Michael Stokes.
Det Garda John Gleeson told the court that the state would allege that Mr McCarthy said on the video: "I will get you. I will cut you from head to toe. I will cut you in pieces. I will cut you in bits."
Det Garda Pat Barry said the state would allege that Michael Stokes (24), with an address at St. Anthony's Park, Knocknaheeny, Cork, had posted videos on his Facebook page specifically targeting James McCarthy.
He said the state would allege that Michael Stokes said on the video: “Ye got bate seven days a week and you’ll get bate seven days again. Next time I see you, you are going underground.”
Cross-examined by Mr McCarthy's solicitor, Thomas Coughlan, Det Garda Gleeson agreed that only the shoes of the person making the threats was visible on the video which had been posted on line.
However, Det Gleeson said he clearly recognised the voice as that of James McCarthy and he said the shoes were very distinctive and the defendant was wearing a pair of the same shoes when arrested.
Det Garda Barry said the Stokes video was made in a blue BMW and that Michael Stokes drives a blue BMW and said he was 100per cent sure the voice was that of Michael Stokes.
Escalation
Cross-examined by Mr Stokes's solicitor, Frank Buttimer, Det Garda Barry said that the man in the video making the threats was wearing a Rolex watch on his wrist and that Mr Stokes had a Rolex.
Det Garda Barry told the court that there was an escalating feud between the families that had in recent weeks seen a pipe bomb thrown at a house and a gunshot fired at a house.
Det Garda Barry said there were fears for the safety of those being threatened in the feud which had escalated since January when it was alleged a member of the McCarthy family was assaulted outside the cinema in Blackpool.
Both Mr McCarthy and Mr Stokes applied for bail through their solicitors but Judge Olann Kelleher refused bail and remanded both men in custody until April 15th when he further remanded them to appear again on April 29th.


theirishtimes--2020-04-18--Coronavirus: Cavan worst affected county outside of Dublin, latest figures suggest

Cavan is proportionally the worst affected county for the coronavirus outside of Dublin , latest provisional figures are suggesting .
While in real terms the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 infections in the Border county is a fraction of those in the capital , infection rates in Cavan appear to be much higher than in the rest of the country when measured against its actual population .
The figures released by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) on Saturday compare cases to county populations .
They show 345 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Cavan , a county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of midnight on Wednesday .
However , that would translate into almost 453 cases for every 100,000 people , making it the proportionally the second-worst-affected county in the State .
Earlier this month , the Irish Hospital Consultants Association ( IHCA ) said doctors were being dispatched to work at Cavan General Hospital , after it was reported that up to 70 doctors and nurses working there had become infected with Covid-19 .
Meanwhile , in Dublin , there were 6,567 confirmed cases up to midnight on Wednesday , which represents more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population .
Westmeath ranks the third highest when comparing cases to county populations , with an infection rate of what would be some 358 cases per 100,000 people .
The figures are in a report prepared by the HPSC for the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) .
It is titled Epidemiology of Covid-19 in Ireland and it notes that the data is provisional .
Other than Leitrim , Border counties all appear to have significantly higher rates per population than much of the south and west of the country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ centres Drogheda and Dundalk , the confirmed Covid-19 rate per 100,000 population is almost 298 cases .
In Monaghan it is more than 270 , while in Donegal the rate is just in excess of 221 .
Sparsely populated Leitrim has a rate of almost 144 .
The figures compare unfavourably with parts of the southeast , most notably .
Wexford has the lowest rate per 100,000 population , at less than 51 cases .
That rate is almost nine times lower than that of Cavan , and a fraction of those of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the second lowest at just below 88 .
Even counties with large cities have notably lower rates of cases per head of population than most of the Border counties .
In Cork , the rate is 174 cases ; in Limerick it is 176 , while Galway is recording 103 confirmed cases per 100,000 people .
Counties around Dublin all rank higher than the south and west : Kildare has a rate of 279 confirmed infections per 100,000 population ; Wicklow has a rate of almost 270 , while Meath has a @ @ @ @

Figures released by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre on Saturday compare cases to county populations. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Cavan is proportionally the worst affected county for the coronavirus outside of Dublin, latest provisional figures are suggesting.
While in real terms the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 infections in the Border county is a fraction of those in the capital, infection rates in Cavan appear to be much higher than in the rest of the country when measured against its actual population.
The figures released by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Saturday compare cases to county populations.
They show 345 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Cavan, a county with a population of about 76,000, as of midnight on Wednesday.
READ MORE
However, that would translate into almost 453 cases for every 100,000 people, making it the proportionally the second-worst-affected county in the State.
Cumulative incidence rates per 100,000 population of confirmed cases of CovidD-19 up to midnight on April 15th by county. Photograph: HSE
Earlier this month, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said doctors were being dispatched to work at Cavan General Hospital, after it was reported that up to 70 doctors and nurses working there had become infected with Covid-19.
Meanwhile, in Dublin, there were 6,567 confirmed cases up to midnight on Wednesday, which represents more than 487 infections per 100,000 in the population.
Westmeath ranks the third highest when comparing cases to county populations, with an infection rate of what would be some 358 cases per 100,000 people.
The figures are in a report prepared by the HPSC for the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). It is titled Epidemiology of Covid-19 in Ireland and it notes that the data is provisional.
Border counties
Other than Leitrim, Border counties all appear to have significantly higher rates per population than much of the south and west of the country.
In Louth, which includes dense urban centres Drogheda and Dundalk, the confirmed Covid-19 rate per 100,000 population is almost 298 cases. In Monaghan it is more than 270, while in Donegal the rate is just in excess of 221.
Sparsely populated Leitrim has a rate of almost 144.
The figures compare unfavourably with parts of the southeast, most notably.
Wexford has the lowest rate per 100,000 population, at less than 51 cases. That rate is almost nine times lower than that of Cavan, and a fraction of those of all the other Border counties.
Waterford is the second lowest at just below 88.
Even counties with large cities have notably lower rates of cases per head of population than most of the Border counties.
In Cork, the rate is 174 cases; in Limerick it is 176, while Galway is recording 103 confirmed cases per 100,000 people.
Counties around Dublin all rank higher than the south and west: Kildare has a rate of 279 confirmed infections per 100,000 population; Wicklow has a rate of almost 270, while Meath has a rate of 216.


theirishtimes--2020-04-18--Three men charged and weapons seized after Dundalk incident

Three men have been charged and a number of weapons seized following a public order incident in Dundalk , Co @ @ @ @ @ The three men , all aged in their 20s , were arrested and charged after @ @ @ @ @ an altercation between a number of individuals at Woodland Park in the town at 4.35pm @ @ @ @ @ a quantity of weapons , including a knife , after arriving at the scene .
@ @ @ @ @ at Dundalk Garda station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act , 1984 .
@ @ @ @ @ before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Saturday afternoon .

Three men have been charged and a number of weapons seized following a public order incident in Dundalk, Co Louth, on Friday. File photograph: Frank Miller/The Irish Times
Three men have been charged and a number of weapons seized following a public order incident in Dundalk, Co Louth, on Friday.
The three men, all aged in their 20s, were arrested and charged after gardaí responded to reports of an altercation between a number of individuals at Woodland Park in the town at 4.35pm on Friday.
Gardaí seized a quantity of weapons, including a knife, after arriving at the scene.
The three men were detained at Dundalk Garda station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
READ MORE
They were due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Saturday afternoon.


theirishtimes--2020-04-18--Coronavirus: Another 17 deaths recorded in Northern Ireland

There have been a further 17 deaths from Covid-19 in Northern Ireland , according to the North ’ s Public Health Agency .
The news comes as the British government confirmed a further £50 million ( about €57 million ) of funding to support the Northern Ireland Executive as it tackles the coronavirus pandemic .
The funding is part of a package of measures announced by the UK ’ s local government secretary Robert Jenrick on Saturday afternoon .
Responding to the move , Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis said : “ From the outset of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committed to doing whatever it takes to support the devolved administrations in their fight to defeat this virus .
The additional £50 million for the Northern Ireland Executive announced today will help bolster vital public services as they respond to the challenges of coronavirus .
“ Today ’ s funding , in addition to the support offered to people and businesses across Northern Ireland through UK-wide initiatives , reinforces our commitment to ensuring that everyone in Northern Ireland is able to access the resources and support they need at this incredibly challenging time.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Agency ’ s figure for the total death toll in Northern Ireland from the coronavirus pandemic to 193 .
However , separate weekly statistics provided by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency ( Nisra ) on Friday indicated there had been 39 deaths outside hospitals – in care homes and home addresses – that are suspected of being related to Covid-19 , which would bring the overall death toll to 232 .
The discrepancy , as explained by Nisra , is mainly down to the fact that suspected coronavirus deaths in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Public Health Agency ( PHA ) figures up to April 10th .
Of the 118 deaths recorded by the PHA up to April 10th , the vast majority occurred in hospitals .
The Nisra statistics prompted trade unions in Northern Ireland to call for more resources to be urgently deployed to community settings such as care homes and for domiciliary carers .
On Friday , the PHA also reported 137 new confirmed cases of coronavirus , leaving the total number of cases in Northern Ireland at 2,338 .
So far 15,025 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Northern Ireland .

There have been a further 17 deaths from Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, according to the North’s Public Health Agency. File photograph: Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP via Getty Images
There have been a further 17 deaths from Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, according to the North's Public Health Agency.
The news comes as the British government confirmed a further £50 million (about €57 million) of funding to support the Northern Ireland Executive as it tackles the coronavirus pandemic.
The funding is part of a package of measures announced by the UK’s local government secretary Robert Jenrick on Saturday afternoon.
Responding to the move, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis said: “From the outset of this coronavirus crisis, the UK government has committed to doing whatever it takes to support the devolved administrations in their fight to defeat this virus. The additional £50 million for the Northern Ireland Executive announced today will help bolster vital public services as they respond to the challenges of coronavirus.
READ MORE
“Today’s funding, in addition to the support offered to people and businesses across Northern Ireland through UK-wide initiatives, reinforces our commitment to ensuring that everyone in Northern Ireland is able to access the resources and support they need at this incredibly challenging time.”
Discrepancy in figures
The latest fatalities bring the Public Health Agency’s figure for the total death toll in Northern Ireland from the coronavirus pandemic to 193.
However, separate weekly statistics provided by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) on Friday indicated there had been 39 deaths outside hospitals – in care homes and home addresses – that are suspected of being related to Covid-19, which would bring the overall death toll to 232.
The discrepancy, as explained by Nisra, is mainly down to the fact that suspected coronavirus deaths in care homes and hospices were not included in the Public Health Agency (PHA) figures up to April 10th.
Of the 118 deaths recorded by the PHA up to April 10th, the vast majority occurred in hospitals.
The Nisra statistics prompted trade unions in Northern Ireland to call for more resources to be urgently deployed to community settings such as care homes and for domiciliary carers.
On Friday, the PHA also reported 137 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, leaving the total number of cases in Northern Ireland at 2,338. So far 15,025 people have been tested for the virus in Northern Ireland.


theirishtimes--2020-04-18--Coronavirus: 41 more deaths confirmed in the Republic

An additional 41 people have died from coronavirus in the Republic , it was confirmed by the Department of Health on Saturday .
This brings to 571 the total number of deaths in the State from Covid-19 .
Of the 41 deaths reported on Saturday , 18 were men and 23 were women while their median age was 83 years .
Some 35 of those who died had underlying conditions .
Of the latest deaths 35 were located in the east , two in the north west and four in the west of the country .
An additional 630 new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Irish laboratories on Saturday as well as 148 confirmed cases by a laboratory in Germany , to which tests were sent for analysis to ease a backlog .
With the latest figures from Germany included , there are now a total of 14,758 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland .
Also on Saturday a further 17 deaths from Covid-19 were reported in Northern Ireland .
Minister for Health Simon Harris , in an update on Twitter on Saturday evening , said there has been a slight fall in numbers in hospital with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said too the Health Information and Quality Authority would publish research it has done on speedy antibody tests and all testing options available across the world for the virus in coming days .
While he would love to see schools open that would only happen at a time that is “ safe ” for that to happen .
He said “ public health comes first , second and third ” .
Asked what would happen on May 5th , the date to which restrictions on public movement have been extended to , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happens over the next two weeks .
Replying to a question on whether Electric Picnic would go ahead this year , he said it was unlikely we will have such mass gatherings any time soon .
“ We are going to have to very shortly make a decision on these mass gaterings .
I think its unlikely that we are going to see mass gatherings come back any time soon .
I think we are going to have to keep up our social distancing even if we can lessen some of the restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was confirmed the Defence Forces may become involved in testing residents and staff in nursing homes for the coronavirus .
The Irish Times understands that paramedic staff in the Defence Forces have been alerted this weekend that they may be brought in to assist in a major programme to carry out testing for Covid-19 in nursing homes in the coming days .
Up to 100,000 staff and residents in long-term residential care facilities are to be urgently tested for Covid-19 in an effort to bring the disease under control among vulnerable groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical technicians in the Defence Forces have been put on standby this weekend to become involved in the programme .
There had been some discussions last week between the HSE and the Government about Defence Force personnel potentially being deployed to work in nursing homes .
However , this did not happen .
A separate deal agreed with trade unions in recent days will see some existing health service personnel volunteer to work in private nursing homes which are under pressure as a result of the coronavirus outbreak .
Sources said the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking part in the planned testing programme .
The intensive programme of testing of staff and residents in nursing homes for Covid-19 was announced by the National Public Health Emergency Team on Friday and will take place over the coming week or so .
Deaths in residential care facilities account for more than half of all coronavirus fatalities reported so far .
The deaths of significant numbers of vulnerable residents in centres in Portlaoise and Dublin were revealed in recent days .
Meanwhile , Nursing Homes Ireland ( NHI ) said “ rationing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in older person ’ s facilities was “ not appropriate ” and “ flies in the face of previous commitments ” .
On April 15th , a memo was sent to nursing homes and other healthcare providers by the Midlands , Louth , Meath community area of the HSE advising them of the revised ordering procedure for PPE .
The memo stated : “ Orders will now be based on the number of confirmed positive/suspect client cases in a unit/service ” .
The order will be calculated based on an algorithm , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive of NHI , said this is “ basically a rationing of PPE and this is not appropriate ” .
“ I ’ ve been speaking of the need to make sure we can put all the necessary measures in place to ensure that the remaining 70 per cent that are currently Covid-free are supplied with PPE .
It flies in the face of this and it flies in the face of previous commitments , ” Mr Daly told the Saturday with Cormac O ’ hEadhra show on RTÉ Radio One .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that there is no consistency in terms of PPE , both in terms of quality and quantity .
What we ’ re concerned about in the nursing home sector and in Nursing Homes Ireland is that the commitments that we ’ ve spoken of have not been delivered .
Every day counts at this point in time.
” In response , Minister for Health Simon Harris said the health service has improved the distribution of PPE but acknowledged that there was still work to be done .
“ What it [ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our health service - clinicians , not politicians , and not nursing home owners - are deciding how best to distribute personal protective equipment to make sure that we get the best use out of it , ” he said .
“ Can we continue to do better in terms of personal protective equipment ?
I have no doubt about that.
” He added that all nursing homes who need access to PPE are able to apply for it , that more than 278 homes have already received the equipment and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million pieces of PPE to nursing homes already .
“ From Tuesday , a checklist is being published by Hiqa [ the Health Information and Quality Authority ] , a regulatory framework , that every nursing home , including our own which will be challenging for the HSE too , needs to say that it has absolutely complied with it , ” Mr Harris said .
“ Then inspections will start .
Inspectors will be calling to every nursing home in Ireland to check that they ’ re actually adhering to that.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised about the safety of staff and residents in residential care facilities .
Deaths in residential care facilities account for more than half of all coronavirus deaths reported so far , with the deaths of large numbers of vulnerable patients in centres in Portlaoise and Dublin being revealed in recent days .
Covid-19 is present in almost 30 per cent of nursing homes .
There are currently 335 outbreaks in residential care facilities , of which 188 are in centres operated by private providers and 112 in HSE facilities .
Another 28 are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and funded largely by the HSE .
Of the total number of outbreaks , 196 are in nursing homes , though another 49 involve centres where older people are resident .
Also on Saturday the chief executive of Nursing Homes Ireland said a €72 million support package announced for nursing homes during the Covid-19 crisis is “ inadequate ” .
Mr Daly claimed the aid was calculated only on a proportion of residents countrywide .
He said the figure was worked out on the basis of 23,000 nursing home residents who avail of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them finance their care .
It did not factor in 5,000 other residents who are in transitional care , respite or who self-finance their care , he claimed .
“ A significant proportion of people cared for in nursing homes are non-Fair Deal , ” he said .
“ These residents may be availing of the care services of the nursing home for transitional care , respite or rehabilitative care and other residents and their families are paying from their own resources .
“ Understandably , the State has leaned upon nursing homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are removed from acute hospital settings .
Now it is excluding the costs entailed to encompass their care needs during Covid-19 .
This is blatant discrimination.
” If the additional 5,000 residents were factored into the financial aid calculations , it would have amounted to millions of euro more , claimed Mr Daly .
However , he said it was a matter of “ principle ” and no residents would be further threatened or endangered as a result of how the financial aid package was calculated .
NHI has requested an immediate review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Richard Quinlan, Chief Ambulance Officer for north Leinster and advanced paramedic, demonstrating how the test for coronavirus is performed. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
An additional 41 people have died from coronavirus in the Republic, it was confirmed by the Department of Health on Saturday.
This brings to 571 the total number of deaths in the State from Covid-19.
Of the 41 deaths reported on Saturday, 18 were men and 23 were women while their median age was 83 years.
Some 35 of those who died had underlying conditions.
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Of the latest deaths 35 were located in the east, two in the north west and four in the west of the country.
An additional 630 new confirmed cases of the disease were reported by Irish laboratories on Saturday as well as 148 confirmed cases by a laboratory in Germany, to which tests were sent for analysis to ease a backlog. With the latest figures from Germany included, there are now a total of 14,758 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
Also on Saturday a further 17 deaths from Covid-19 were reported in Northern Ireland.
Minister for Health Simon Harris, in an update on Twitter on Saturday evening, said there has been a slight fall in numbers in hospital with Covid-19 over the past two days.
He said too the Health Information and Quality Authority would publish research it has done on speedy antibody tests and all testing options available across the world for the virus in coming days.
While he would love to see schools open that would only happen at a time that is “safe” for that to happen. He said “public health comes first, second and third”.
Asked what would happen on May 5th, the date to which restrictions on public movement have been extended to, he said that would depend on what happens over the next two weeks.
Replying to a question on whether Electric Picnic would go ahead this year, he said it was unlikely we will have such mass gatherings any time soon. “We are going to have to very shortly make a decision on these mass gaterings. I think its unlikely that we are going to see mass gatherings come back any time soon. I think we are going to have to keep up our social distancing even if we can lessen some of the restrictions in place as well”.
Defence forces
Earlier it was confirmed the Defence Forces may become involved in testing residents and staff in nursing homes for the coronavirus.
The Irish Times understands that paramedic staff in the Defence Forces have been alerted this weekend that they may be brought in to assist in a major programme to carry out testing for Covid-19 in nursing homes in the coming days.
The Irish Times understands that paramedic staff in the Defence Forces have been alerted this weekend that they may be brought in to assist. Photograph: Alan Betson
Up to 100,000 staff and residents in long-term residential care facilities are to be urgently tested for Covid-19 in an effort to bring the disease under control among vulnerable groups.
It is understood about 20 emergency medical technicians in the Defence Forces have been put on standby this weekend to become involved in the programme.
There had been some discussions last week between the HSE and the Government about Defence Force personnel potentially being deployed to work in nursing homes. However, this did not happen.
A separate deal agreed with trade unions in recent days will see some existing health service personnel volunteer to work in private nursing homes which are under pressure as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
Sources said the current plans would involve Defence Force members only taking part in the planned testing programme.
The intensive programme of testing of staff and residents in nursing homes for Covid-19 was announced by the National Public Health Emergency Team on Friday and will take place over the coming week or so.
Deaths in residential care facilities account for more than half of all coronavirus fatalities reported so far. The deaths of significant numbers of vulnerable residents in centres in Portlaoise and Dublin were revealed in recent days.
‘Rationing’
Meanwhile, Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) said “rationing” personal protective equipment (PPE) in older person’s facilities was “not appropriate” and “flies in the face of previous commitments”.
On April 15th, a memo was sent to nursing homes and other healthcare providers by the Midlands, Louth, Meath community area of the HSE advising them of the revised ordering procedure for PPE.
The memo stated: “Orders will now be based on the number of confirmed positive/suspect client cases in a unit/service”.
The order will be calculated based on an algorithm, the memo added.
Tadhg Daly, chief executive of NHI, said this is "basically a rationing of PPE and this is not appropriate".
Tadgh Daly, the chief executive of Nursing Homes Ireland.
"I've been speaking of the need to make sure we can put all the necessary measures in place to ensure that the remaining 70 per cent that are currently Covid-free are supplied with PPE. It flies in the face of this and it flies in the face of previous commitments," Mr Daly told the Saturday with Cormac O'hEadhra show on RTÉ Radio One.
“Our difficulty at this point in time is that there is no consistency in terms of PPE, both in terms of quality and quantity. What we’re concerned about in the nursing home sector and in Nursing Homes Ireland is that the commitments that we’ve spoken of have not been delivered. Every day counts at this point in time.”
PPE
In response, Minister for Health Simon Harris said the health service has improved the distribution of PPE but acknowledged that there was still work to be done.
“What it [the memo] basically means is that clinicians in our health service - clinicians, not politicians, and not nursing home owners - are deciding how best to distribute personal protective equipment to make sure that we get the best use out of it,” he said.
“Can we continue to do better in terms of personal protective equipment? I have no doubt about that.”
He added that all nursing homes who need access to PPE are able to apply for it, that more than 278 homes have already received the equipment and that the HSE has distributed more than one million pieces of PPE to nursing homes already.
“From Tuesday, a checklist is being published by Hiqa [the Health Information and Quality Authority], a regulatory framework, that every nursing home, including our own which will be challenging for the HSE too, needs to say that it has absolutely complied with it,” Mr Harris said.
“Then inspections will start. Inspectors will be calling to every nursing home in Ireland to check that they’re actually adhering to that.”
In recent days, concerns have been raised about the safety of staff and residents in residential care facilities.
Deaths in residential care facilities account for more than half of all coronavirus deaths reported so far, with the deaths of large numbers of vulnerable patients in centres in Portlaoise and Dublin being revealed in recent days.
Covid-19 is present in almost 30 per cent of nursing homes. There are currently 335 outbreaks in residential care facilities, of which 188 are in centres operated by private providers and 112 in HSE facilities. Another 28 are in centres run by section 38/39 organisations and funded largely by the HSE.
Of the total number of outbreaks, 196 are in nursing homes, though another 49 involve centres where older people are resident.
‘Inadequate’
Also on Saturday the chief executive of Nursing Homes Ireland said a €72 million support package announced for nursing homes during the Covid-19 crisis is “inadequate”.
Mr Daly claimed the aid was calculated only on a proportion of residents countrywide. He said the figure was worked out on the basis of 23,000 nursing home residents who avail of the Fair Deal scheme, which helps them finance their care.
It did not factor in 5,000 other residents who are in transitional care, respite or who self-finance their care, he claimed.
“A significant proportion of people cared for in nursing homes are non-Fair Deal,” he said.
“These residents may be availing of the care services of the nursing home for transitional care, respite or rehabilitative care and other residents and their families are paying from their own resources.
“Understandably, the State has leaned upon nursing homes in recent weeks to ensure older people are removed from acute hospital settings. Now it is excluding the costs entailed to encompass their care needs during Covid-19. This is blatant discrimination.”
If the additional 5,000 residents were factored into the financial aid calculations, it would have amounted to millions of euro more, claimed Mr Daly.
However, he said it was a matter of “principle” and no residents would be further threatened or endangered as a result of how the financial aid package was calculated.
NHI has requested an immediate review of the “inadequate” support package.


theirishtimes--2020-04-18--Hardware stores may open for essential items during pandemic, says Government

Hardware stores have been told they may reopen as essential retailers during the Covid-19 pandemic despite contradictory advice from the chief medical officer .
A spokesman for the Department of Business , Enterprise and Innovation ( DBEI ) confirmed on Saturday that hardware and builders ’ merchants shops were considered essential retail outlets .
These stores were included in the list of essential retail outlets published as part of legislation on temporary restrictions introduced by the Minister for Health on April 7th .
These newly introduced regulations state that hardware stores selling products necessary for home and business maintenance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tools essential for gardening , farming or agriculture purposes are considered “ essential ” and may continue to operate during the pandemic .
The Government had previously said on March 27th that hardware stores could only offer emergency callout or delivery services .
However , legislation enacted last week overrides this advice .
Comments by chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan last week that he did not consider hardware and gardening stores essential retailers led to serious confusion around the issue .
Asked on April 9th whether hardware stores and garden centres were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said “ in my view they are not ” .
It is understood that a number of hardware stores were told this week that they could reopen following advice from a DBEI official .
The DBEI spokesman underlined on Saturday that any retail outlets that do open during the crisis should ensure physical distancing and public health guidelines are “ rigorously implemented ” .
Business owners should ensure adequate distancing between customers and shop assistants in line with public health guidelines , only let small groups into stores and manage queue control inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All essential retail outlets are encouraged to provide online services where that is possible and appropriate to minimise footfall , he said .
“ The Minister and Dept are in regular contact with those involved in retail and the supply chain including through the Retail and Enterprise Forums .
“ The Department wrote to members of the Retail Forum following last Wednesday ’ s meeting reiterating public health advice for essential retail.
” In a further clarification on Saturday evening the Deptartment spokesman said : “ The regulations relate to the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Essential service workers are allowed to make journeys to pick up necessary supplies for emergency services they are providing .
“ Hardware and other stores shouldn ’ t be open to the general public .
Such outlets are not to open except on the emergency and/or delivery basis as set out in the updated retail services list .
That list is unchanged .
”

It is understood that a number of hardware stores were told this week that they could reopen. Photograph: Getty Images/Ron Chapple Studios
Hardware stores may reopen as essential retailers during the Covid-19 pandemic but people can only visit them for “emergencies”, Minister for Business Heather Humphreys has said.
There has been confusion in relation to the matter in recent weeks after new legislation governing businesses during the Covid-19 crisis classified such stores as “essential retail outlets” that were permitted to stay open.
They were specifically described as “hardware outlets, builders’ merchants and outlets that provide, whether on a retail or wholesale basis”.
These include “hardware products necessary for home and business maintenance, sanitation and farm equipment, or supplies and tools essential for gardening, farming or agriculture purposes”.
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Speaking on This Week on RTÉ Radio 1 on Sunday, Ms Humphreys said: “Hardware stores can operate. I want to stress, this is in a very limited and restricted way.
“It’s not the case that hardware stores should be open to the general public but if you need something as an emergency, for example, if you have a burst pipe in your house, or if there’s a hole in your roof and the rain is coming in, or the fridge gives up.
“Obviously, in emergency cases like that, you and your tradesman are going to need to be able to access certain materials from the hardware shops to fix the problem.
“So I want to stress in cases like that, it should be done by delivery or on an emergency call-up basis. So basically if there’s an emergency or you need to get something the hardware stores can provide that to you.”
Comments by chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan last week that he did not consider hardware and gardening stores essential retailers led to confusion around the issue.
Asked on April 9th whether hardware stores and garden centres were essential at this time, Dr Holohan said “in my view they are not”.
It is understood that a number of hardware stores were told this week that they could reopen following advice from a Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) official.
The DBEI spokesman said on Saturday that any retail outlets that did open during the crisis should ensure physical distancing and public health guidelines were “rigorously implemented”.
Business owners should ensure adequate distancing between customers and shop assistants in line with public health guidelines, only let small groups into stores and manage queue control inside and outside the door, he added.
All essential retail outlets were encouraged to provide online services where that was possible and appropriate to minimise footfall, he said.
“The Minister and Dept are in regular contact with those involved in retail and the supply chain including through the Retail and Enterprise Forums.
“The Department wrote to members of the Retail Forum following last Wednesday’s meeting reiterating public health advice for essential retail.”
In a further clarification on Saturday evening the Department spokesman said: “The regulations relate to the right to move around and make journeys. Essential service workers are allowed to make journeys to pick up necessary supplies for emergency services they are providing.
“Hardware and other stores shouldn’t be open to the general public. Such outlets are not to open except on the emergency and/or delivery basis as set out in the updated retail services list. That list is unchanged.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-18--No proof of immunity in recovered coronavirus patients, says WHO

There is no evidence that blood tests to detect Covid-19 antibodies can show whether a person has immunity or is no longer at risk of becoming re-infected , according to the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) .
In a briefing , WHO epidemiologists warned despite hopes governments across the world had placed on antibody tests in an effort to re-open economies , there was no proof yet that having had a coronavirus infection will confer immunity for a significant period of time .
Scientists in many countries including Ireland are developing or testing new pinprick blood tests to measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the body in fighting the virus – so far none have been validated for use .
Speaking at a press conference in Geneva , Dr Maria van Kerchief said : “ There are a lot of countries that are suggesting using rapid diagnostic serological tests to be able to capture what they think will be a measure of immunity .
Right now , we have no evidence the use of a serological test can show that an individual has immunity or is protected from reinfection.
” These antibody tests would be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that indication of antibodies in somebody did not mean they were immune .
She said it was “ a good thing ” so many tests were being developed .
“ We need to ensure that they are validated so that we know what they say they attempt to measure they are actually measuring.
” Head of WHO ’ s emergencies programme Dr Mike Ryan said even if antibodies were effective there was little sign that large numbers of people had developed them , and were beginning to offer so-called “ herd immunity ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of preliminary information coming to us right now would suggest quite a low percentage of population have seroconversion ( to produce antibodies ) , ” he added .
There was expectation that the majority in society may have developed antibodies , but the general evidence is pointing against that , “ so it may not solve the problem of governments ” .
In addition , some of the tests have issues with sensitivity , Dr Ryan added .
They may give a false negative result .
More than 560,000 of the 2.1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marked as recovered , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University in the US .
However , infectious disease specialists say the case total is likely to be much higher as people go undetected and countries struggle with testing .
In the US antibody tests have begun to be rolled out in spite of lack of reliability and validation .
US president Donald Trump has recommended states use the tests as they start relaxing some of the physical distancing measures imposed to combat the pandemic , which has infected more than 671,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said antibody tests also raised ethical questions .
“ There are serious ethical issues around the use of such an approach and we need to address it very carefully , we also need to look at the length of protection that antibodies might give , ” he said .
“ You might have someone who believes they are seropositive ( have been infected ) and protected in a situation where they may be exposed and in fact they are susceptible to the disease.
” As a consequence , Dr Ryan said the tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a coherent public health policy .

There is no evidence that blood tests to detect Covid-19 antibodies can show whether a person has immunity or is no longer at risk of becoming re-infected, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
There is no evidence that blood tests to detect Covid-19 antibodies can show whether a person has immunity or is no longer at risk of becoming re-infected, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In a briefing, WHO epidemiologists warned despite hopes governments across the world had placed on antibody tests in an effort to re-open economies, there was no proof yet that having had a coronavirus infection will confer immunity for a significant period of time.
Scientists in many countries including Ireland are developing or testing new pinprick blood tests to measure for raised levels of antibodies generated by the body in fighting the virus – so far none have been validated for use.
Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, Dr Maria van Kerchief said: “There are a lot of countries that are suggesting using rapid diagnostic serological tests to be able to capture what they think will be a measure of immunity. Right now, we have no evidence the use of a serological test can show that an individual has immunity or is protected from reinfection.”
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These antibody tests would be able to measure “seroprevalence” levels – but that indication of antibodies in somebody did not mean they were immune.
She said it was “a good thing” so many tests were being developed. “We need to ensure that they are validated so that we know what they say they attempt to measure they are actually measuring.”
Head of WHO's emergencies programme Dr Mike Ryan said even if antibodies were effective there was little sign that large numbers of people had developed them, and were beginning to offer so-called "herd immunity" to the broader population.
“A lot of preliminary information coming to us right now would suggest quite a low percentage of population have seroconversion (to produce antibodies),” he added.
There was expectation that the majority in society may have developed antibodies, but the general evidence is pointing against that, “so it may not solve the problem of governments”.
In addition, some of the tests have issues with sensitivity, Dr Ryan added. They may give a false negative result.
More than 560,000 of the 2.1 million coronavirus cases across the world are marked as recovered, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University in the US. However, infectious disease specialists say the case total is likely to be much higher as people go undetected and countries struggle with testing.
In the US antibody tests have begun to be rolled out in spite of lack of reliability and validation. US president Donald Trump has recommended states use the tests as they start relaxing some of the physical distancing measures imposed to combat the pandemic, which has infected more than 671,000 people in the US.
Dr Ryan said antibody tests also raised ethical questions. “There are serious ethical issues around the use of such an approach and we need to address it very carefully, we also need to look at the length of protection that antibodies might give,” he said.
“You might have someone who believes they are seropositive (have been infected) and protected in a situation where they may be exposed and in fact they are susceptible to the disease.”
As a consequence, Dr Ryan said the tests had to be used as part of a coherent public health policy.