theirishtimes--2020-04-02--Coronavirus: Westmeath has highest rate of Covid-19 outside of Dublin

Westmeath currently has the highest rate of coronavirus cases outside of Dublin , analysis of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre ’ s data shows .
This Irish Times analysis of the HPSC ’ s figures is based on the latest breakdown of data by county made available of 2,990 confirmed cases as of midnight , March 30th .
The analysis shows that the highest rates of coronavirus , also known as Covid-19 , are currently in Leinster with Dublin having 122.1 cases per 100,000 population followed by Westmeath ( 90.1 ) , both of which are much higher than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate per 100,000 population allows for a like by like comparison between counties .
The rate is based on confirmed cases only and does not paint the full picture of any particular county with rates likely to be higher in all areas .
As of Sunday , 15,000 people were waiting to be tested for Covid-19 and about 1,500 people are being tested per day for the virus .
While these rates change on a daily basis , Westmeath has been among the counties with the highest rates over the past number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 times greater than Carlow , the county with the lowest rate of Covid-19 cases , at 7 cases per 100,000 population .
While Cork has the second highest number of cases in the country ( 255 of 2,990 cases ) and a rate of 47 cases per 100,000 population , Tipperary currently has the highest rate in all of Munster at 53.3 cases per 100,000 population .
Galway has the highest rate of cases in Connacht at 34.1 per 100,000 population while Cavan has the highest in Ulster at 47.3 cases per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysed by the HPSC , 48 per cent are male and 50 per cent are female , with 134 clusters involving 563 cases .
The median age is 48 years old .
Public Health Agency data published on Wednesday shows there are 689 cases of Covid-19 , with 30 deaths across the North ’ s local government districts .
An Irish Times analysis of the North ’ s Public Health Agency data shows that Belfast , has the largest number of cases ( 200 ) and the highest rate of Covid-19 infections of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a rate of 58.5 cases per 100,00 population .
Belfast ’ s rate is almost five times that of Causeway and Glens local government district which on Wednesday had a rate of 12.5 confirmed cases per 100,000 .
It is unknown what districts 39 of the 689 came from .
The North and South are taking differnt approches to testing with the Republic following a South Korean model of testing , tracing and isolation to suppress cases whereas the North is not testing as widely .
The analysis on the State ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the figures published on the map of Ireland here , accessed on April 1st .
The rate was calculated using the CSO ’ s 2016 population census available here .
In the North , figures for each of the local government districts cases are available from the Public Health Agency here .
And the rate was calculated using Nirsa ’ s estimated population for 2018 available here .

Oisín Carson (5) and Isabella Fayeun (6) standing near a Covid-19 notice near an outdoor gym that has been closed due to coronavirus restrictions in Athy, County Kildare. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA
Westmeath currently has the highest rate of coronavirus cases outside of Dublin, analysis of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre’s data shows.
This Irish Times analysis of the HPSC’s figures is based on the latest breakdown of data by county made available of 2,990 confirmed cases as of midnight, March 30th.
The analysis shows that the highest rates of coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, are currently in Leinster with Dublin having 122.1 cases per 100,000 population followed by Westmeath (90.1), both of which are much higher than the rest of the country. Calculating the rate per 100,000 population allows for a like by like comparison between counties.
The rate is based on confirmed cases only and does not paint the full picture of any particular county with rates likely to be higher in all areas. As of Sunday, 15,000 people were waiting to be tested for Covid-19 and about 1,500 people are being tested per day for the virus.
READ MORE
While these rates change on a daily basis, Westmeath has been among the counties with the highest rates over the past number of days and its incidence rate is currently 13 times greater than Carlow, the county with the lowest rate of Covid-19 cases, at 7 cases per 100,000 population.
While Cork has the second highest number of cases in the country (255 of 2,990 cases) and a rate of 47 cases per 100,000 population, Tipperary currently has the highest rate in all of Munster at 53.3 cases per 100,000 population.
Galway has the highest rate of cases in Connacht at 34.1 per 100,000 population while Cavan has the highest in Ulster at 47.3 cases per 100,000 population.
Of the 2,990 cases analysed by the HPSC, 48 per cent are male and 50 per cent are female, with 134 clusters involving 563 cases. The median age is 48 years old.
Northern Ireland
Public Health Agency data published on Wednesday shows there are 689 cases of Covid-19, with 30 deaths across the North’s local government districts. An Irish Times analysis of the North’s Public Health Agency data shows that Belfast, has the largest number of cases (200) and the highest rate of Covid-19 infections of all local government authorities in the North at a rate of 58.5 cases per 100,00 population. Belfast’s rate is almost five times that of Causeway and Glens local government district which on Wednesday had a rate of 12.5 confirmed cases per 100,000. It is unknown what districts 39 of the 689 came from. The North and South are taking differnt approches to testing with the Republic following a South Korean model of testing, tracing and isolation to suppress cases whereas the North is not testing as widely.
[ here ]
[ here ]
[ here ]


theirishtimes--2020-04-02--Coronavirus: Surge in cases still expected to hit hospitals in coming days and weeks

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has said that health authorities are still expecting a surge of cases to hit hospitals in the coming days and weeks .
Mr Coveney told a press briefing that the Government does not yet know if the greatly increased capacity in the hospital system will be sufficient to deal with it .
Mr Coveney also suggested that the current restrictions may have to be extended beyond Easter Sunday .
• One million confirmed cases of coronavirus infection expected within days , says WHO chief • Trump ’ s tone changes as United States faces major loss of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus pandemic He said that huge efforts had been made to “ effectively double ” bed capacity in the health system to create space in the hospital system to create space for patients “ if we see a dramatic increase in the number of people that need hospital care – as we expect we will.
” “ We don ’ t know yet whether it ’ s going to be enough .
But what we can say is the more discipline the public shows in terms of complying with the restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likelihood that our system is going to be able to deal with the peak of this crisis when it happens , ” he said .
But Mr Coveney also warned that the current restrictions may be extended beyond Easter Sunday .
“ I think people do need to realise that these restrictions may go on for some time and it ’ s wrong to put a timeline on it , ” he said .
“ We ’ ve set an initial period but I think it may well be that we will need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But again that will be a decision taken with the best public health advice that we can get.
” He said there were good signs that the spread of the virus had been limited by the measures introduced in recent weeks .
“ We have certainly see the spread of this virus staying below what the expectation might have been a few days ago and certainly a few weeks ago .
But we would be wrong to be complacent because we have seen in other countries how quickly the spread can accelerate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaking at a press conference at Government Buildings which announced details of a new initiative – the “ Community Call ” – which will link volunteers , local authorities , community and voluntary associations to help people in isolation due to Covid-19 .
The event was also attended by Minister for Community Affairs Michael Ring and local government junior minister John Paul Phelan , as well as the chief executive of Fingal County Council , Anne Marie Farrelly .
A special helpline has been set up which will link people in need of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services from volunteers and community organisations .
Practical examples , Mr Ring said , were getting groceries for people and collecting medicines from pharmacies .
Mr Ring also urged people to check in on their neighbours to see if they need any assistance .
It also emerged at the briefing that Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan , who had been admitted to hospital for issues not related to coronavirus , is back at his desk .
On Government formation , Mr Coveney said that Fine Gale had “ a good day yesterday with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two parties are really working together to try to make an important step forward , ” he said .
He added that the two parties were seeking to agree a “ framework document ” that could “ be persuasive ” to other parties that might join a government led by the two parties .
“ My belief is that Ireland does need a government that has a majority , and has the mandate and the authority to be able to give leadership through this very difficult period , but also to be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A Cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19 is meeting on Thursday almost a week after new restrictions on movement were announced last Friday .
The group , chaired by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar , is assessing the impact of the measures announced by him in a television address to the nation .
People were told to stay at home in virtually all circumstances and all public and private gatherings have been banned for two weeks as part of the Government ’ s latest sweeping measures to tackle coronavirus .
At midday , meanwhile a special message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being broadcast on local , regional and community radio stations , and is for publication in local and regional newspapers .
The Cabinet sub-committee meeting comes as another 14 patients – seven males and seven females – diagnosed with Covid-19 were on Wednesday reported to have died .
Ten of the deaths were in the east and four in the south .
Eight of the patients were reported as having underlying health conditions .
There have now been 85 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic .
The National Public Health Emergency Team also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lower than in the two previous days .
The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 3,447 .
From this week , contact tracing for all confirmed cases is to cover the period of 48 hours before symptoms show ; this reflects increasing evidence of asymptomatic transmission of the virus .
Contact tracing is also being expanded to embrace people with suspected Covid-19 who are waiting for tests , officials said .
Asked on Wednesday whether the number of cases being reported daily was lower because of reduced testing , Deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ at present we ’ re not carrying out as many tests as we would like ” due to equipment shortages .
“ If we were , we ’ d pick up more people , but that doesn ’ t mean the picture in terms of patients hospitalised would be any different .
They ’ re the figures we ’ re most interested in.
” The head of the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) , meanwhile , has voiced deep concern about “ the rapid escalation and global spread ” of Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now reached 205 countries and territories .
WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that his agency , the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) backed debt relief to help developing countries cope with the pandemic ’ s social and economic consequences .
“ In the past five weeks , there has been a near-exponential growth in the number of new cases and the number of deaths has more than doubled in the past week , ” Mr Tedros told a virtual news conference in Geneva where the UN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next few days we will reach one million confirmed cases and 50,000 deaths worldwide , ” he said .

Another 13 patients diagnosed with coronavirus have died and a further 402 new cases have been confirmed. Video: RTÉ
The number of people who have now died from coronavirus in Ireland has almost reached the 100 mark.
At a briefing the National Public Health Emergency Team on Thursday evening said 13 new fatalities now bring the total to 98.
A further 402 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland as of lunchtime on Thursday bring the total figure to 3,849.
Of the most recent deaths, nine were located in the east of the country, one in the south and three in the west. There were nine men and four women with a median age of 82 – 10 had underlying conditions.
READ MORE
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said we are not yet on course to avoid a potential situation in which the number of people requiring intensive care outstrips available beds.
“If we keep growing at the rate we are growing we won’t avoid that scenario so we need to keep improving,” he said.
The latest figures for the Republic came as more than a million cases of coronavirus were registered globally, according to research by Johns Hopkins University. The number of confirmed deaths worldwide passed 51,000 on Thursday night, with Europe accounting for over half of cases and more than 70 per cent of deaths linked to the virus.
Main points
Meanwhile Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said a decision will be made towards the end of next week on whether or not to relax the current restrictions imposed on the public to halt the spread of coronavirus.
Mr Varadkar has also warned that the economic picture is “very bad” and that Ireland is facing into a recession.
“We are facing a public health emergency which in turn is leading to an economic recession.”
He also signalled that taxes could be cut to stimulate the economy but that Ireland needs to have the capacity to borrow at rates that are affordable, and the Government will not know if this is possible until the full picture emerges.
While there has been progress in flattening the curve of cases, Mr Varadkar said there was a “slight uptick” in the rate of increase of new cases today but cautioned against reading into one single day.
The Taoiseach said he was satisfied with the current capacity of the health service to deal with the health emergency.
On State exams, he said the plan is that they will go ahead and said that the Government wanted to see students start in college as they had planned.
Furthermore, he acknowledged that there is pressure on the testing services for Covid 19 and said that “we are not where we want to be”. He has asked the HSE to provide him with a report by next Monday containing a roadmap on how to increase testing and address any issues.
Surge of cases
Earlier on Thursday, Tánaiste Simon Coveney said that health authorities are still expecting a surge of cases to hit hospitals in the coming days and weeks.
Mr Coveney told a press briefing that the Government does not yet know if the greatly increased capacity in the hospital system will be sufficient to deal with it.
He said that huge efforts had been made to “effectively double” bed capacity in the health system to create space in the hospital system to create space for patients “if we see a dramatic increase in the number of people that need hospital care – as we expect we will.”
“We don’t know yet whether it’s going to be enough. But what we can say is the more discipline the public shows in terms of complying with the restrictions . . . then the higher the likelihood that our system is going to be able to deal with the peak of this crisis when it happens,” he said.
Táanaiste Simon Coveney speaking in Government Buildings on Thursday. Photograph: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland/PA
But Mr Coveney also warned that the current restrictions may be extended beyond Easter Sunday.
“I think people do need to realise that these restrictions may go on for some time and it’s wrong to put a timeline on it,” he said.
“We’ve set an initial period but I think it may well be that we will need to go beyond that initial deadline. But again that will be a decision taken with the best public health advice that we can get.”
He said there were good signs that the spread of the virus had been limited by the measures introduced in recent weeks.
“We have certainly see the spread of this virus staying below what the expectation might have been a few days ago and certainly a few weeks ago. But we would be wrong to be complacent because we have seen in other countries how quickly the spread can accelerate,” he said.
Nursing home
Meanwhile the Dáil has been told almost 100 staff members and residents in one nursing home have tested positive for coronavirus.
Fianna Fáil’s spokesman for health Stephen Donnelly said the nursing home has 200 staff, 70 of whom have tested positive for Covid-19. He said of the 100 residents, 19 have tested positive and four have died.
Furthermore, members of the cleaning staff and kitchen staff are now absent, Mr Donnelly said, adding there were difficulties in securing agency staff.
“The situation is very, very serious. The nursing homes can’t get the staff that they need. They can’t get their hands on personal protective equipment either. They are getting very, very small amounts and it is not enough. Now I know the HSE is trying to deploy its own staff to try and plug some of these gaps but much more is needed.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-02--‘It’s Sinn Féin against the rest’: NI Executive in conflict over coronavirus

Newly back in existence , the Northern Executive is riven with tensions over the battle against Covid-19 , with Sinn Féin Ministers accused of ganging up against the rest and Sinn Féin in turn robustly defending their belligerence .
Every working evening Monday to Friday First Minister Arlene Foster , of the DUP , and Deputy First Minister Michelle O ’ Neill , of Sinn Féin , deliver press conferences , with the press absent from the room but watching on video .
Whatever about their inner feelings , Foster and O ’ Neill manage to keep a lid on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But elsewhere the steam is beginning to pop the lid off the pot .
Several political and other sources contacted over recent days have confirmed that relationships are dreadful within the five-party Executive .
“ For Sinn Féin it ’ s a case of four parties bad , one party good , ” says one unionist source .
There was reasonable harmony at the outset of the crisis , but discordant notes appeared quickly after the Republic announced the closure of schools on March 12th and Northern Ireland did not follow .
Speaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , standing with Foster , stood by the North ’ s decision not to close , saying Ministers were being guided by the science .
However , she changed tack in the days following , demanding an immediate shutdown .
Her action led to inevitable unionist mutterings about O ’ Neill being instructed by “ shadowy ” Sinn Féin backroom forces .
Six days later Foster announced schools would close on March 23rd .
“ It all boils back to the schools .
That ’ s when all hell broke loose , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says one source .
He describes a recent Executive meeting where Sinn Féin ministers “ went on the attack .
They were saying things like Robin Swann [ Ulster Unionist Party , Minister for Health ] wasn ’ t up to the job ; that Diane Dodds [ DUP , Minister for the Economy ] was too slow to act ; that Peter Weir [ DUP , Minister for Education ] and Naomi Long [ Alliance , Minister for Justice ] were not up to the game ; and that Nichola @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] wasn ’ t standing her ground against the other [ non-Sinn Féin ] Ministers.
” “ It was as if Sinn Féin was trying to take total control , ” he adds .
Sinn Féin does not greatly demur from this characterisation of events .
It argues that the North and its Executive and civil service are not acting competently and should be following the example of the South .
Unionist and Alliance sources say it is now “ Sinn Féin against the rest ” , with the republican party “ throwing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Executive meeting , O ’ Neill was particularly critical of Alliance Party leader Naomi Long but “ Naomi gave as good as she got ” , effectively telling her “ to get stuffed ” .
An early Covid-19 case in Northern Ireland provoked a row between Foster and O ’ Neill .
The patient was sent to a hospital in Newcastle in England for specialist care , according to the source .
O ’ Neill complained he should have gone to Dublin .
Foster politely but emphatically told her the location @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather the level of care .
The issue of British soldiers being brought in to assist with , for instance , building special field hospitals has further exacerbated tensions at the Executive table .
Minister for Health Robin Swann has stated that if needed he would bring in the British army and the Irish Army to assist , if that would help .
However , Sinn Féin is absolutely opposed to the British army having any role .
“ In this situation that shouldn ’ t be an issue , ” says one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few years ago no one thought twice about Irish Army helicopters coming in to feed cattle caught in the snow in Co Down .
This shouldn ’ t be a political issue.
” O ’ Neill ’ s announcement on March 20th that three days ’ pay docked from striking healthcare workers would be reimbursed has created sores , too , with unionists accusing her of “ a solo run ” .
“ She didn ’ t tell Arlene , and the point here is that what she announced is against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen , new legislation will have to be introduced , ” the source says .
Given the need to put forward a united front , Foster said nothing , but the action rankled .
Tensions grew , too , after last Tuesday ’ s meeting by video of the Border at the North South Ministerial Council conference .
O ’ Neill issued a press statement through Sinn Féin ’ s press office ahead of an agreed collective Executive statement .
In the Sinn Féin release O ’ Neill was described as Deputy First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of government ” – the emphasis and perceived need for the additional title also seeming to point to the strain between her and Foster .
In it , O ’ Neill wrote of how chief medical officers North and South would sign a “ memorandum of understanding formalising co-ordination and co-operation between the Irish Government and the Executive this week ” .
However , such co-operation is already in place between public health officers on both sides of the Border , and the memorandum merely formalises this .
O ’ Neill ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to suit Sinn Féin , says a source .
Meanwhile , unionists complain that Sinn Féin Ministers are too focused on dealing with Dublin and are not taking part in the regular video-linked Cobra meetings chaired out of London by UK prime minister Boris Johnson .
In these , representatives of the British government and from Scottish , Welsh and Northern Irish devolved administrations discuss the crisis .
That charge is “ BS ” , however , according to a senior Sinn Féin source .
One of the major issues of disagreement is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ non-essential ” businesses and factories should close .
Sinn Féin politicians complained that Ulster Carpets in Portadown , which employs about 600 people making luxury carpets , should close .
The company in turn said it was observing social-distancing practices for its employees , had stringent cleaning systems in place and was allowing a number of employees to work from home .
One unionist source says this is also causing Executive grief .
He claims darkly that because Ulster Carpets is based on the Garvaghy Road – focus of the violent stand-offs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the mid-1990s and early 2000s – Sinn Féin has some special political animus against the company and that the comments are not just about worker welfare .
The source says it is important to protect these jobs .
Rejecting the charge , a senior Sinn Féin source says the party has no “ political ” issue with Ulster Carpets but is adamant the company should be shut .
He is dismissive of the idea that social-distancing measures operating at Ulster Carpets are enough to safeguard employees .
What about people coming to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are “ incubators for the virus ” , he asks .
“ Who needs a new carpet at times like this ?
It seems insane to most people.
” Lives take precedence over jobs , he adds .
More generally , he says Northern Ireland should be looking to Dublin , rather than across the water because in the Republic there is more testing , more concentration on getting in enough personal protective equipment and more focus on World Health Organisation advice , whereas London is taking a more laissez- faire attitude .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a British approach where Britain seems to be putting more store on saving the economy than on saving lives , ” he says .
The Sinn Féin figure also mentions how some unionist commentators have accused the party of failing to demonstrate Executive unity .
“ With respect , we are not looking to do meaningless displays of unity on flawed approaches when lives are at risk , ” he says .
“ It is just that simple .
Where and when we need to call it out , we ’ ll call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a time to be messing about with party politics , ” he continues .
“ Behind the scenes we have had to take people on but I know we are doing it for the right reasons .
“ We won ’ t always get it right in terms of our approach , but believe you me , it is driven by trying to cut down the casualties this is going to inflict .
The virus does not recognise North or South and it doesn ’ t recognise Ardoyne or Shankill , or anywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bulk of our efforts behind the scenes for days and weeks now has been to try to bring people to what are common-sense positions on a shared island ” .
“ This isn ’ t about the DUP and others following London and us following Dublin .
This is about trying to follow the best medical practice regardless of where that comes from .
It is not a ‘ Brits Out ’ thing .
It is not about scoring points over the DUP or the UUP , ” he says .

Newly back in existence, the Northern Executive is riven with tensions over the battle against Covid-19, with Sinn Féin Ministers accused of ganging up against the rest and Sinn Féin in turn robustly defending their belligerence.
Every working evening Monday to Friday First Minister Arlene Foster, of the DUP, and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, of Sinn Féin, deliver press conferences, with the press absent from the room but watching on video.
Whatever about their inner feelings, Foster and O’Neill manage to keep a lid on their differences when at the podium. But elsewhere the steam is beginning to pop the lid off the pot.
Several political and other sources contacted over recent days have confirmed that relationships are dreadful within the five-party Executive. “For Sinn Féin it’s a case of four parties bad, one party good,” says one unionist source.
READ MORE
There was reasonable harmony at the outset of the crisis, but discordant notes appeared quickly after the Republic announced the closure of schools on March 12th and Northern Ireland did not follow.
Speaking that Thursday evening, O’Neill, standing with Foster, stood by the North’s decision not to close, saying Ministers were being guided by the science.
However, she changed tack in the days following, demanding an immediate shutdown. Her action led to inevitable unionist mutterings about O’Neill being instructed by “shadowy” Sinn Féin backroom forces.
One source describes a recent Executive meeting where Sinn Féin ministers "went on the attack"
Six days later Foster announced schools would close on March 23rd. “It all boils back to the schools. That’s when all hell broke loose, and Sinn Féin have been hyperactive since then,” says one source.
He describes a recent Executive meeting where Sinn Féin ministers "went on the attack. They were saying things like Robin Swann [Ulster Unionist Party, Minister for Health] wasn't up to the job; that Diane Dodds [DUP, Minister for the Economy] was too slow to act; that Peter Weir [DUP, Minister for Education] and Naomi Long [Alliance, Minister for Justice] were not up to the game; and that Nichola Mallon [SDLP, Minister for Infrastructure] wasn't standing her ground against the other [non-Sinn Féin] Ministers."
“It was as if Sinn Féin was trying to take total control,” he adds.
Sinn Féin does not greatly demur from this characterisation of events. It argues that the North and its Executive and civil service are not acting competently and should be following the example of the South.
Unionist and Alliance sources say it is now “Sinn Féin against the rest”, with the republican party “throwing their weight around”.
‘Get stuffed’
During Monday’s Executive meeting, O’Neill was particularly critical of Alliance Party leader Naomi Long but “Naomi gave as good as she got”, effectively telling her “to get stuffed”.
Naomi Long, leader of the Alliance party and Minister for Justice. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
An early Covid-19 case in Northern Ireland provoked a row between Foster and O'Neill. The patient was sent to a hospital in Newcastle in England for specialist care, according to the source.
O’Neill complained he should have gone to Dublin. Foster politely but emphatically told her the location of the hospital did not matter but rather the level of care.
The issue of British soldiers being brought in to assist with, for instance, building special field hospitals has further exacerbated tensions at the Executive table.
Minister for Health Robin Swann has stated that if needed he would bring in the British army and the Irish Army to assist, if that would help. However, Sinn Féin is absolutely opposed to the British army having any role.
Minister for Health Robin Swann of the Ulster Unionist Party. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
“In this situation that shouldn’t be an issue,” says one senior unionist source. “For instance a few years ago no one thought twice about Irish Army helicopters coming in to feed cattle caught in the snow in Co Down. This shouldn’t be a political issue.”
O’Neill’s announcement on March 20th that three days’ pay docked from striking healthcare workers would be reimbursed has created sores, too, with unionists accusing her of “a solo run”.
“She didn’t tell Arlene, and the point here is that what she announced is against the law, and if that is to happen, new legislation will have to be introduced,” the source says.
Given the need to put forward a united front, Foster said nothing, but the action rankled.
In the Sinn Féin release O'Neill was described as Deputy First Minister and also as "joint head of government"
Tensions grew, too, after last Tuesday’s meeting by video of the Border at the North South Ministerial Council conference. O’Neill issued a press statement through Sinn Féin’s press office ahead of an agreed collective Executive statement.
In the Sinn Féin release O’Neill was described as Deputy First Minister and also as “joint head of government” – the emphasis and perceived need for the additional title also seeming to point to the strain between her and Foster.
In it, O'Neill wrote of how chief medical officers North and South would sign a "memorandum of understanding formalising co-ordination and co-operation between the Irish Government and the Executive this week".
However, such co-operation is already in place between public health officers on both sides of the Border, and the memorandum merely formalises this. O’Neill’s wording is “just about presentation” to suit Sinn Féin, says a source.
Meanwhile, unionists complain that Sinn Féin Ministers are too focused on dealing with Dublin and are not taking part in the regular video-linked Cobra meetings chaired out of London by UK prime minister Boris Johnson.
In these, representatives of the British government and from Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish devolved administrations discuss the crisis. That charge is “BS”, however, according to a senior Sinn Féin source.
Ulster Carpets
One of the major issues of disagreement is over the Sinn Féin demand that all "non-essential" businesses and factories should close. Sinn Féin politicians complained that Ulster Carpets in Portadown, which employs about 600 people making luxury carpets, should close.
The company in turn said it was observing social-distancing practices for its employees, had stringent cleaning systems in place and was allowing a number of employees to work from home.
One unionist source says this is also causing Executive grief. He claims darkly that because Ulster Carpets is based on the Garvaghy Road – focus of the violent stand-offs between the Orange Order and local nationalists during the mid-1990s and early 2000s – Sinn Féin has some special political animus against the company and that the comments are not just about worker welfare. The source says it is important to protect these jobs.
Rejecting the charge, a senior Sinn Féin source says the party has no “political” issue with Ulster Carpets but is adamant the company should be shut. He is dismissive of the idea that social-distancing measures operating at Ulster Carpets are enough to safeguard employees.
"Who needs a new carpet at times like this? It seems insane to most people"
What about people coming to work there in buses or vans who are “incubators for the virus”, he asks. “Who needs a new carpet at times like this? It seems insane to most people.” Lives take precedence over jobs, he adds.
More generally, he says Northern Ireland should be looking to Dublin, rather than across the water because in the Republic there is more testing, more concentration on getting in enough personal protective equipment and more focus on World Health Organisation advice, whereas London is taking a more laissez- faire attitude.
“It is us being handcuffed to a British approach where Britain seems to be putting more store on saving the economy than on saving lives,” he says.
‘Meaningless displays’
The Sinn Féin figure also mentions how some unionist commentators have accused the party of failing to demonstrate Executive unity. “With respect, we are not looking to do meaningless displays of unity on flawed approaches when lives are at risk,” he says. “It is just that simple. Where and when we need to call it out, we’ll call it out.”
“This is not a time to be messing about with party politics,” he continues. “Behind the scenes we have had to take people on but I know we are doing it for the right reasons.
“We won’t always get it right in terms of our approach, but believe you me, it is driven by trying to cut down the casualties this is going to inflict. The virus does not recognise North or South and it doesn’t recognise Ardoyne or Shankill, or anywhere else.”
This isn't about the DUP and others following London and us following Dublin. This is about trying to follow the best medical practice
He adds that “the bulk of our efforts behind the scenes for days and weeks now has been to try to bring people to what are common-sense positions on a shared island”.
“This isn’t about the DUP and others following London and us following Dublin. This is about trying to follow the best medical practice regardless of where that comes from. It is not a ‘Brits Out’ thing. It is not about scoring points over the DUP or the UUP,” he says.


theirishtimes--2020-04-02--Coronavirus: Should everybody be wearing masks to combat Covid-19?

Should healthcare workers wear masks even for routine engagements with patients ?
And should the wider population also wear masks in order to suppress the spread of coronavirus ?
These are questions that refuse to go away , despite official guidance , in Ireland and internationally , that masks are of limited benefit away from specialised health settings and could even be counterproductive .
The debate is complicated by the worldwide shortage of protective equipment , which means priority needs to be given to healthcare workers and vulnerable patients .
The World Health Organisation advises people should wear a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms , especially coughing , or looking after a person with the virus .
“ If you are not ill or looking after someone who is ill , then you are wasting a mask , ” its guidance bluntly states .
More than 650 Irish healthcare workers have so far been infected , with transmission occurring between staff and patients responsible in about one-quarter of these cases .
Understandably , the risk of infection for healthcare workers is a huge worry for staff and a considerable manpower challenge for the system .
Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diseases Prof Martin Cormican recently reviewed guidelines on mask-wearing for hospital staff and came to the conclusion that there was no evidence to support the wearing of surgical masks by healthcare workers for close patient encounters and staff meetings .
Citing WHO advice , Prof Cormican suggested mask-wearing by people with no symptoms could create unnecessary cost and create “ a false sense of security ” .
He acknowledged there was “ some uncertainty ” about how much asymptomatic people could disperse infectious droplets , but said this was likely to be “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with symptoms .
“ Even if the hypothesis that transmission from truly asymptomatic healthcare workers in the healthcare setting is significant is accepted , there is no evidence the universal use of surgical masks is effective in reducing this beyond what is achieved by standard precautions [ hand hygiene , respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette and environmental cleaning ] and minimising interpersonal interaction.
” Prof Cormican ’ s updated guidance was sparked by a decision by St James ’ s Hospital to issue protective equipment more widely to staff working outside intensive care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest .
The hospital ’ s advice that staff should wear surgical masks for all patient encounters and meetings between staff where social distancing of at least two metres can not be maintained has been followed by other hospitals where the workforce had expressed concerns .
The indications are that hospitals are continuing to go their own way .
Occupational health advice provided within the RCSI Hospital Group , seen by The Irish Times , states : “ It doesn ’ t matter what national guidelines say – if it ’ s wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and will not work .
.
.
they are guidelines and not proscriptive or dogma .
The duty is to find solutions that work.
” RCSI guidelines recommend staff wear masks , along with disposable aprons and gloves , even for “ minimal contact activities ” such as cleaning , taking a temperature or feeding a patient .
In the community , basic homemade or surgical masks are notoriously unreliable when used by untrained people .
Aside from the gaps at the side , the act of handling the mask can increase the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yet , given the lack of definitive knowledge about how coronavirus is spread , many experts now argue that something is better than nothing , and that masks can play a role , alongside social distancing and hand hygiene , in further reducing the rate of transmission .
Regulators in the US are said to be mulling a change of guidelines in relation to masks , while countries such as Austria and the Czech Republic have made the wearing of masks compulsory in public .
One hospital in Naples has reportedly managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demarcation between Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients and the use of gas mask-like protective gear .
Dr Cillian de Gascun , head of the expert group advising the Government , said the issue was under discussion and would be kept under review .
“ We are aware of anxiety among healthcare workers .
There really isn ’ t any evidence there to recommend the wearing of face masks for asymptomatic individuals.
” Whatever the official advice , many more people are choosing to make their own masks or have donned surgical masks , despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply issues may ease , and it is likely that masks will play an even bigger role as Ireland and other countries attempt to ease their way out of this crisis .

Another 14 patients diagnosed with Covid-19 have died, the National Public Health Emergency Team have reported, with 212 new cases recorded. Video: RTE News Now
Should healthcare workers wear masks even for routine engagements with patients? And should the wider population also wear masks in order to suppress the spread of coronavirus?
These are questions that refuse to go away, despite official guidance, in Ireland and internationally, that masks are of limited benefit away from specialised health settings and could even be counterproductive.
The debate is complicated by the worldwide shortage of protective equipment, which means priority needs to be given to healthcare workers and vulnerable patients.
The World Health Organisation advises people should wear a mask only if they are ill with Covid-19 symptoms, especially coughing, or looking after a person with the virus.
READ MORE
“If you are not ill or looking after someone who is ill, then you are wasting a mask,” its guidance bluntly states.
More than 650 Irish healthcare workers have so far been infected, with transmission occurring between staff and patients responsible in about one-quarter of these cases.
Understandably, the risk of infection for healthcare workers is a huge worry for staff and a considerable manpower challenge for the system.
Here in Ireland, HSE lead for infectious diseases Prof Martin Cormican recently reviewed guidelines on mask-wearing for hospital staff and came to the conclusion that there was no evidence to support the wearing of surgical masks by healthcare workers for close patient encounters and staff meetings.
Citing WHO advice, Prof Cormican suggested mask-wearing by people with no symptoms could create unnecessary cost and create “a false sense of security”.
Infectious droplets
He acknowledged there was “some uncertainty” about how much asymptomatic people could disperse infectious droplets, but said this was likely to be “very much less” than among people with symptoms.
“Even if the hypothesis that transmission from truly asymptomatic healthcare workers in the healthcare setting is significant is accepted, there is no evidence the universal use of surgical masks is effective in reducing this beyond what is achieved by standard precautions [hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette and environmental cleaning] and minimising interpersonal interaction.”
Prof Cormican’s updated guidance was sparked by a decision by St James’s Hospital to issue protective equipment more widely to staff working outside intensive care situations where the risk of infection is highest.
The hospital’s advice that staff should wear surgical masks for all patient encounters and meetings between staff where social distancing of at least two metres cannot be maintained has been followed by other hospitals where the workforce had expressed concerns.
The indications are that hospitals are continuing to go their own way. Occupational health advice provided within the RCSI Hospital Group, seen by The Irish Times, states: "It doesn't matter what national guidelines say – if it's wrong in reality, it's wrong and will not work . . . they are guidelines and not proscriptive or dogma. The duty is to find solutions that work."
Textile printer Liz Walsh with her 3-year-old son Tadhg Jackson. Ms Walsh has been making protective masks at home in Dublin and plans to give them to family, friends and people working in shops and hospitals. Photograph: Mark Stedman
RCSI guidelines recommend staff wear masks, along with disposable aprons and gloves, even for “minimal contact activities” such as cleaning, taking a temperature or feeding a patient.
Unreliable
In the community, basic homemade or surgical masks are notoriously unreliable when used by untrained people. Aside from the gaps at the side, the act of handling the mask can increase the risk of infection rather than reducing it.
Yet, given the lack of definitive knowledge about how coronavirus is spread, many experts now argue that something is better than nothing, and that masks can play a role, alongside social distancing and hand hygiene, in further reducing the rate of transmission.
Regulators in the US are said to be mulling a change of guidelines in relation to masks, while countries such as Austria and the Czech Republic have made the wearing of masks compulsory in public.
One hospital in Naples has reportedly managed to avoid any staff infections through strict demarcation between Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients and the use of gas mask-like protective gear.
Dr Cillian de Gascun, head of the expert group advising the Government, said the issue was under discussion and would be kept under review.
“We are aware of anxiety among healthcare workers. There really isn’t any evidence there to recommend the wearing of face masks for asymptomatic individuals.”
Whatever the official advice, many more people are choosing to make their own masks or have donned surgical masks, despite their limited use outdoors.
Eventually, supply issues may ease, and it is likely that masks will play an even bigger role as Ireland and other countries attempt to ease their way out of this crisis.


theirishtimes--2020-04-02--Private practice to continue in public hospitals during Covid-19 crisis

Private patients with non-Covid-19 illnesses will continue to be treated in public hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic , it has emerged .
The Government this week effectively took over the facilities of 19 private hospitals around the country as part of its plan for dealing with the current Covid-19 crisis .
However , a number of informed sources said the Department of Health signalled to health insurers at a meeting on Wednesday that private fee-paying patients would still be accommodated in public hospitals for treatment for non-Covid-19 illnesses .
Insurers can be charged up to €813 per day for subscribers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avail of their insurance cover .
Patients with Covid-19 will be treated in public hospitals without charge .
Separately in a note to members last night following talks with health service management , the Irish Medical Organisation ( IMO ) said consultants with contractual rights to see fee-paying patients ( category B and C contracts ) may continue to care for their current insured patients privately in their public hospital , provided that the care delivered is not related to Covid-19 .
The IMO said also that consultants who held type B or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treat their existing patients in a private hospital for the current episode of care , however upon cessation of the current episode of care such patients will be treated as public patients and no fees will apply ( for example readmittance of that patient ) ” .
Informed sources also said insurers were advised that maternity and paediatric hospitals can continue to bill in respect of patients covered by private insurance .
Sources said insurers were told private psychiatric hospitals would not be included in the deal reached between the Government and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While much of the work of hospitals in the weeks ahead is likely to be dominated by coronavirus-related illnesses , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said earlier this week that people would still experience heart attacks , strokes and cancers .
He said as far as practicable regular healthcare should continue .
It is understood insurers are to look for clarity in relation to a number of scenarios regarding subscribers being treated in both public and private hospitals in the weeks ahead .
In a statement issued following the meeting with the department on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said : “ Insurance Ireland welcomes the Government ’ s partnership with private hospitals in relation to the provision of public health services in private hospitals as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic .
All health insurers support this.
” Gerry Hassett , interim chief executive of Insurance Ireland , said : “ We held a good meeting today and further clarifications will be required to determine exactly what the impacts are for customers and how to address these .
We will then be in a position to advise our customers accordingly and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Under the initiative announced on Monday the Government has effectively brought about 19 private hospitals into the public health system .
The deal , which will run for three months and potentially up to five months , will have implications for more than two million people who have private health insurance , many of whom have plans which provide cover for private hospitals .
Health insurers have signalled that subscribers may see some financial benefits arising from the Government ’ s effective takeover of the private hospital system .
However , it may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details emerge .
Health insurer Laya said in recent days it would provide a financial support to its 600,000 members in response to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis .
The State-owned health insurer VHI – the largest in the Irish market – has advised subscribers that it will give back to them savings on claims generated as a result of the new measures to deal with the Covid-19 crisis .
Irish Life Health has indicated to its customers that they can expect a discount in the months ahead as a result of the Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals under public control during the coronavirus crisis .

The Beacon Clinic in Dublin. It is understood insurers are to look for clarity in relation to a number of scenarios regarding subscribers being treated in both public and private hospitals in the weeks ahead.
Private patients with non-Covid-19 illnesses will continue to be treated in public hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic, it has emerged.
The Government this week effectively took over the facilities of 19 private hospitals around the country as part of its plan for dealing with the current Covid-19 crisis.
However, a number of informed sources said the Department of Health signalled to health insurers at a meeting on Wednesday that private fee-paying patients would still be accommodated in public hospitals for treatment for non-Covid-19 illnesses.
Insurers can be charged up to €813 per day for subscribers treated in public hospitals who opt to avail of their insurance cover. Patients with Covid-19 will be treated in public hospitals without charge.
READ MORE
Separately in a note to members last night following talks with health service management, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) said consultants with contractual rights to see fee-paying patients (category B and C contracts) may continue to care for their current insured patients privately in their public hospital, provided that the care delivered is not related to Covid-19.
The IMO said also that consultants who held type B or type C contracts “can continue to treat their existing patients in a private hospital for the current episode of care, however upon cessation of the current episode of care such patients will be treated as public patients and no fees will apply (for example readmittance of that patient)”.
Informed sources also said insurers were advised that maternity and paediatric hospitals can continue to bill in respect of patients covered by private insurance.
Psychiatric hospitals
Sources said insurers were told private psychiatric hospitals would not be included in the deal reached between the Government and the private hospital sector earlier this week.
While much of the work of hospitals in the weeks ahead is likely to be dominated by coronavirus-related illnesses, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said earlier this week that people would still experience heart attacks, strokes and cancers. He said as far as practicable regular healthcare should continue.
It is understood insurers are to look for clarity in relation to a number of scenarios regarding subscribers being treated in both public and private hospitals in the weeks ahead.
In a statement issued following the meeting with the department on Wednesday, the representative group Insurance Ireland group said: "Insurance Ireland welcomes the Government's partnership with private hospitals in relation to the provision of public health services in private hospitals as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic. All health insurers support this."
Gerry Hassett, interim chief executive of Insurance Ireland, said: "We held a good meeting today and further clarifications will be required to determine exactly what the impacts are for customers and how to address these. We will then be in a position to advise our customers accordingly and are eager to do that quickly."
Under the initiative announced on Monday the Government has effectively brought about 19 private hospitals into the public health system.
The deal, which will run for three months and potentially up to five months, will have implications for more than two million people who have private health insurance, many of whom have plans which provide cover for private hospitals.
Health insurers have signalled that subscribers may see some financial benefits arising from the Government’s effective takeover of the private hospital system.
However, it may be early next week before any such details emerge.
Health insurer Laya said in recent days it would provide a financial support to its 600,000 members in response to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
The State-owned health insurer VHI – the largest in the Irish market – has advised subscribers that it will give back to them savings on claims generated as a result of the new measures to deal with the Covid-19 crisis.
Irish Life Health has indicated to its customers that they can expect a discount in the months ahead as a result of the Government's decision to bring all private hospitals under public control during the coronavirus crisis.


theirishtimes--2020-04-02--Coronavirus: At least 750 home carers to be redeployed to nursing homes

Hundreds of home carers are to be redeployed to nursing and residential care homes to plug staffing gaps caused by outbreaks of coronavirus .
Separately , public health officials have said most nursing home residents who contract the disease will not be sent to hospital for treatment , in an attempt to break the chain of transmission of the disease .
The deaths of another 14 patients – seven males and seven females – diagnosed with Covid-19 were reported on Wednesday by the National Public Health Emergency Team .
Ten of the deaths were in the east and four in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were reported as having underlying health conditions .
There have now been 85 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic .
The emergency team also reported 212 new confirmed cases on Wednesday , lower than in the two previous days .
The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 3,447 .
Under measures agreed between the HSE and Home and Community Care Ireland , carers will be temporarily redeployed from caring for low-dependency clients in their homes if they can be looked after by family members who are self-isolating .
The redeployed carers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for higher-dependency clients requiring home care .
Between 750 and 1,000 carers , and possibly more if the crisis continues , are expected to be redeployed under the agreement .
The emergence of 24 clusters of the disease in nursing homes has depleted staff and caused widespread concern about the impact on vulnerable residents .
The HSE will work with people receiving home care to determine who is willing to have the service temporarily suspended , according to HCCI .
“ Carers will only be redeployed where this makes sense for clients and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporarily , take over the carer ’ s role , ” said Joseph Musgrave , chief executive of HCCI .
“ Once the Covid-19 crisis abates , and people go back to work , we understand from our conversations with the HSE that home care will be reinstated for these clients.
” More than 3,000 people receiving home care are self-isolating , leaving carers unable to perform their normal duties .
Residents of nursing homes and other residential care institutions who contract Covid-19 should be kept in the homes if there is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them being moved , according to the emergency team .
HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said nursing homes would provide “ as much care as possible ” for residents who contracted Covid-19 .
Normally , the policy is to send sick nursing home patients to hospital for treatment , but Dr Henry said that although there were circumstances in which this would still happen , “ in the context of a pandemic and to break the chain of transmission our clear preference is to provide as much care as possible in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy , staff training and the provision of oxygen and personal protective equipment is to be upgraded to enable as much care as possible to be provided to residents in their care homes .
One Dublin nursing home has told families residents with the virus will not be transferred to hospitals as research showed outcomes for their cohort are not improved by hospitalisation or being placed on a ventilator for several weeks .
It has also emerged that private patients with illnesses other than Covid-19 will continue to be treated in public hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week effectively took over the facilities of 19 private hospitals around the country as part of its plan for dealing with the crisis .
However , sources said the Department of Health signalled to health insurers at a meeting on Wednesday that private fee-paying patients would still be accommodated in public hospitals for treatment for non-Covid 19 illnesses .
Chief medical officer Tony Holohan is expected back at work today after being admitted to St James ’ s Hospital for tests having complained about feeling unwell on Tuesday night .
It is understood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 .
Separately , all 16,000 special-needs assistants employed by schools are to be placed on standby to fill vacancies created by moving nurses and medical staff out of community healthcare setting and into frontline jobs .
All schools are currently closed under public health restrictions .

Another 14 patients diagnosed with Covid-19 have died, the National Public Health Emergency Team have reported, with 212 new cases recorded. Video: RTE News Now
Hundreds of home carers are to be redeployed to nursing and residential care homes to plug staffing gaps caused by outbreaks of coronavirus.
Separately, public health officials have said most nursing home residents who contract the disease will not be sent to hospital for treatment, in an attempt to break the chain of transmission of the disease.
The deaths of another 14 patients – seven males and seven females – diagnosed with Covid-19 were reported on Wednesday by the National Public Health Emergency Team.
Ten of the deaths were in the east and four in the south. Eight of the patients were reported as having underlying health conditions. There have now been 85 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic.
READ MORE
The emergency team also reported 212 new confirmed cases on Wednesday, lower than in the two previous days. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 3,447.
Under measures agreed between the HSE and Home and Community Care Ireland, carers will be temporarily redeployed from caring for low-dependency clients in their homes if they can be looked after by family members who are self-isolating.
The redeployed carers will provide support for nursing homes and for higher-dependency clients requiring home care.
Cluster concerns
Between 750 and 1,000 carers, and possibly more if the crisis continues, are expected to be redeployed under the agreement. The emergence of 24 clusters of the disease in nursing homes has depleted staff and caused widespread concern about the impact on vulnerable residents.
The HSE will work with people receiving home care to determine who is willing to have the service temporarily suspended, according to HCCI.
"Carers will only be redeployed where this makes sense for clients and if they have family who can, temporarily, take over the carer's role," said Joseph Musgrave, chief executive of HCCI. "Once the Covid-19 crisis abates, and people go back to work, we understand from our conversations with the HSE that home care will be reinstated for these clients."
More than 3,000 people receiving home care are self-isolating, leaving carers unable to perform their normal duties.
Residents of nursing homes and other residential care institutions who contract Covid-19 should be kept in the homes if there is no “clinical or other advantage” to them being moved, according to the emergency team.
HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said nursing homes would provide "as much care as possible" for residents who contracted Covid-19.
Normally, the policy is to send sick nursing home patients to hospital for treatment, but Dr Henry said that although there were circumstances in which this would still happen, “in the context of a pandemic and to break the chain of transmission our clear preference is to provide as much care as possible in that setting”.
Equipment upgrades
Under the new policy, staff training and the provision of oxygen and personal protective equipment is to be upgraded to enable as much care as possible to be provided to residents in their care homes.
One Dublin nursing home has told families residents with the virus will not be transferred to hospitals as research showed outcomes for their cohort are not improved by hospitalisation or being placed on a ventilator for several weeks.
It has also emerged that private patients with illnesses other than Covid-19 will continue to be treated in public hospitals during the pandemic.
The Government this week effectively took over the facilities of 19 private hospitals around the country as part of its plan for dealing with the crisis.
However, sources said the Department of Health signalled to health insurers at a meeting on Wednesday that private fee-paying patients would still be accommodated in public hospitals for treatment for non-Covid 19 illnesses.
Chief medical officer Tony Holohan is expected back at work today after being admitted to St James's Hospital for tests having complained about feeling unwell on Tuesday night. It is understood the health complaint is unrelated to the Covid-19.
Separately, all 16,000 special-needs assistants employed by schools are to be placed on standby to fill vacancies created by moving nurses and medical staff out of community healthcare setting and into frontline jobs. All schools are currently closed under public health restrictions.


theirishtimes--2020-04-02--As marts reopen new agri-software gives virtual auction option

An Irish agri-software company has welcomed the Government decision to allow marts resume trading amid the Covid-19 pandemic , saying its software can create a virtual mart online and avoid crowds attending .
Livestock-Live was developed by Irish entrepreneur Brendan Hannigan who said his software is an ideal fit with what the Department of Agriculture is seeking to do in allowing marts to reopen .
On Tuesday , the department announced that marts , which handle about 1.7 million cattle sales and 1.5 million sheep sales annually , are to be allowed to reopen following their closure last week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited range of services to facilitate the sale of livestock building up in farms during the calving season .
Marts will be allowed to match buyers and sellers , weigh animals and oversee sales but there will be no public auctions and no crowds attending the mart premises , according to the department .
It said marts had to show they were able “ to operate in full compliance with HSE guidelines in relation to hygiene and physical distancing ” and they could explore “ using information technology solutions to assist in facilitating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ software developed by his company , which is headquartered in Mullingar , Co Westmeath , allows farmers to buy and sell animals online .
He said Livestock-Live has been developing the software for the past five years and last week it was trialled at Carnaross Mart in Co Meath with good results .
“ It is now possible to have virtual auctions that are physically closed to the public but are open online to buyers and provide realtime bidding information to farmers.
” The software can video stream a live auction where animals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shown in the ring to buyers , watching and bidding online .
Sellers can upload videos of the animal they want to sell , giving an estimated weight .
This is then shown in the virtual mart to buyers , again watching and bidding from home Mr Hannigan said the Livestock-Live farm management app is free to farmers and the mart is charged a small commission .
“ Our software and online streaming system offers full transparency to all buyers and sellers – there ’ s full transparency on pricing and the seller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payment structure , ” he said .
“ It enables the marts to get back up and running as quickly as possible .
We already have the system installed in Carnaross and Gortatlea in Tralee and Manorhamilton in Leitrim but we could roll it out nationally within weeks.
” IFA national livestock chairman Brendan Golden welcomed the move to allow marts come up with alternative mechanisms for the sale of calves , cattle and sheep .

An Irish agri-software company has welcomed the Government decision to allow marts resume trading amid the Covid-19 pandemic, saying its software can create a virtual mart online and avoid crowds attending.
Livestock-Live was developed by Irish entrepreneur Brendan Hannigan who said his software is an ideal fit with what the Department of Agriculture is seeking to do in allowing marts to reopen.
On Tuesday, the department announced that marts, which handle about 1.7 million cattle sales and 1.5 million sheep sales annually, are to be allowed to reopen following their closure last week. They will be able to provide a limited range of services to facilitate the sale of livestock building up in farms during the calving season.
Marts will be allowed to match buyers and sellers, weigh animals and oversee sales but there will be no public auctions and no crowds attending the mart premises, according to the department. It said marts had to show they were able “to operate in full compliance with HSE guidelines in relation to hygiene and physical distancing” and they could explore “using information technology solutions to assist in facilitating sales”.
READ MORE
Virtual auctions
Mr Hannigan said the software developed by his company, which is headquartered in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, allows farmers to buy and sell animals online. He said Livestock-Live has been developing the software for the past five years and last week it was trialled at Carnaross Mart in Co Meath with good results.
“It is now possible to have virtual auctions that are physically closed to the public but are open online to buyers and provide realtime bidding information to farmers.”
The software can video stream a live auction where animals are dropped off at the mart and shown in the ring to buyers, watching and bidding online. Sellers can upload videos of the animal they want to sell, giving an estimated weight. This is then shown in the virtual mart to buyers, again watching and bidding from home
Mr Hannigan said the Livestock-Live farm management app is free to farmers and the mart is charged a small commission.
“Our software and online streaming system offers full transparency to all buyers and sellers – there’s full transparency on pricing and the seller benefits from the mart’s guaranteed payment structure,” he said.
"It enables the marts to get back up and running as quickly as possible. We already have the system installed in Carnaross and Gortatlea in Tralee and Manorhamilton in Leitrim but we could roll it out nationally within weeks."
IFA national livestock chairman Brendan Golden welcomed the move to allow marts come up with alternative mechanisms for the sale of calves, cattle and sheep.


theirishtimes--2020-04-02--Q&A Covid-19 testing: How many tests have we done?

How many tests have we done , and how many are we doing ?
In terms of laboratory tests , which produce a positive or negative result on a sample , we have done just over 30,000 , with a positive rate in the current tests of about 15 per cent .
About 14 labs are producing just over 1,500 test results a day .
What was all this about 5,000 a day ?
That figure refers to swabs , or samples , collected , rather than test results .
And the current level seems to be lower than 5,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Why have sampling centres been closed ?
Mostly it was due to a shortage of swabbing kits , although the HSE said on Tuesday centres were open “ as needed ” and that it has a “ plentiful supply of swabbing kits ” .
It said patients being referred for swabbing can easily be processed by existing testing centres .
However , 2,000-3,000 swabs from 46 testing centres would indicate they still are not running at full clip , possibly to avoid overloading the labs and creating a backlog between those two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labs be overloaded ?
They are struggling for vital supplies , including something called reagent .
A reagent is a chemical ingredient needed to show the presence of the virus .
Everyone in the world wants these ingredients , so there ’ s a significant shortfall .
This is why we ’ re only producing 1,500 test results a day .
Weren ’ t we supposed to do 15,000 a day ?
That is still the goal , but without significant new supplies of reagent , it is hard to see how this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here has suggested it might be able to step up and provide supplies , which could be a significant development .
Why does this all matter ?
Ireland ’ s strategy has been to “ test , test , test ” .
If we are not doing much testing , it ’ s not very credible to claim that is still our approach .
Also , a strong testing system will be important in the future when we try to go back to normal .
Quick and efficient testing means you can identify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to control them .
It can facilitate going back to something like normal .
Does all this matter to me if I develop symptoms ?
Usually , no .
If you ’ re sick , you ’ re advised to stay at home for 14 days and self-isolate until you ’ re five days fever-free .
If you become sicker , call your GP or in an emergency , 999 .
Your Covid-19 test status – whether you have had one or not , or whether it ’ s positive or negative – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical care , your symptoms do .
What makes me eligible for a test ?
There ’ s been another change to the criteria , as of Tuesday night .
Whereas previously you needed to have two symptoms and be in a vulnerable group , now those who are in close contact with a confirmed or probable case and who begin to display symptoms no longer have to display two symptoms in order to go forward for testing .
The number of eligible groups has increased , and some chronic conditions such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing homes , direct provision and specialist Traveller or Roma accommodation are also considered to be vulnerable .
“ What it is going to do is allow us to do more targeted testing and identify areas where there ’ s a potential for an outbreak , like nursing homes , so we can go in and stop the virus spreading , ” according to Dr Nuala O ’ Connor , lead adviser on Covid-19 with the Irish College of General Practitioners .
“ If they have someone in their household who is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unwell with any cough , fever or shortness of breath then we need them to contact their GP to see if they need to be tested.
” The main things to remember are to self-isolate if you feel sick .
Your close contacts should reduce their movements in this case , and monitor closely any vulnerable people you live with .
Contact your GP , who will determine if you ’ re eligible for a test , and arrange one if needed .

Another 14 patients diagnosed with Covid-19 have died, the National Public Health Emergency Team have reported, with 212 new cases recorded. Video: RTE News Now
How many tests have we done, and how many are we doing?
In terms of laboratory tests, which produce a positive or negative result on a sample, we have done just over 30,000, with a positive rate in the current tests of about 15 per cent. About 14 labs are producing just over 1,500 test results a day.
What was all this about 5,000 a day?
That figure refers to swabs, or samples, collected, rather than test results. And the current level seems to be lower than 5,000, between 2,000 and 3,000 a day.
READ MORE
Why have sampling centres been closed?
Mostly it was due to a shortage of swabbing kits, although the HSE said on Tuesday centres were open “as needed” and that it has a “plentiful supply of swabbing kits”. It said patients being referred for swabbing can easily be processed by existing testing centres.
However, 2,000-3,000 swabs from 46 testing centres would indicate they still are not running at full clip, possibly to avoid overloading the labs and creating a backlog between those two parts of the system.
How could labs be overloaded?
They are struggling for vital supplies, including something called reagent. A reagent is a chemical ingredient needed to show the presence of the virus. Everyone in the world wants these ingredients, so there’s a significant shortfall. This is why we’re only producing 1,500 test results a day.
Weren’t we supposed to do 15,000 a day?
That is still the goal, but without significant new supplies of reagent, it is hard to see how this can be achieved. The pharmaceutical industry here has suggested it might be able to step up and provide supplies, which could be a significant development.
Why does this all matter?
Ireland’s strategy has been to “test, test, test”. If we are not doing much testing, it’s not very credible to claim that is still our approach. Also, a strong testing system will be important in the future when we try to go back to normal. Quick and efficient testing means you can identify and react to new clusters and move to control them. It can facilitate going back to something like normal.
Does all this matter to me if I develop symptoms?
Usually, no. If you’re sick, you’re advised to stay at home for 14 days and self-isolate until you’re five days fever-free. If you become sicker, call your GP or in an emergency, 999. Your Covid-19 test status – whether you have had one or not, or whether it’s positive or negative – doesn’t determine your access to medical care, your symptoms do.
What makes me eligible for a test?
There’s been another change to the criteria, as of Tuesday night. Whereas previously you needed to have two symptoms and be in a vulnerable group, now those who are in close contact with a confirmed or probable case and who begin to display symptoms no longer have to display two symptoms in order to go forward for testing.
The number of eligible groups has increased, and some chronic conditions such as obesity have been added. People in nursing homes, direct provision and specialist Traveller or Roma accommodation are also considered to be vulnerable.
“What it is going to do is allow us to do more targeted testing and identify areas where there’s a potential for an outbreak, like nursing homes, so we can go in and stop the virus spreading,” according to Dr Nuala O’Connor, lead adviser on Covid-19 with the Irish College of General Practitioners.
“If they have someone in their household who is in a vulnerable group and starts to feel unwell with any cough, fever or shortness of breath then we need them to contact their GP to see if they need to be tested.”
The main things to remember are to self-isolate if you feel sick. Your close contacts should reduce their movements in this case, and monitor closely any vulnerable people you live with. Contact your GP, who will determine if you’re eligible for a test, and arrange one if needed.


theirishtimes--2020-04-02--Ireland’s pharma industry gears up to make key ingredient for Covid-19 testing

Ireland ’ s pharmaceutical industry has indicated it is gearing up to produce key ingredients for Covid-19 testing which the State is struggling to source on the international market .
The industry could produce enough reagent – a key laboratory ingredient which is in short supply – to enable around 500,000 tests to take place , said Matt Moran , director of the pharmaceutical industry lobby group BioPharmaChem Ireland .
He told The Irish Times that he was hopeful of being able to make a firm announcement soon .
“ We are looking at making it , and are trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment.
” Similarly to the finished product , the ingredients for reagent are much sought after at the moment .
However , Mr Moran said “ we are hopeful we might have a solution in the not too distant future ” .
The reagents used for the type of testing done for Covid-19 regulate salt and pH levels in tests , and also contain pieces of genetic material which bind to the virus , producing more of it , allowing the indication it is present in the sample .
The State has struggled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , leading to a reduced level of testing of samples in laboratories .
“ If we can get this over the line we want to make a significant amount , probably enough to enable over half a million tests , ” said Mr Moran , adding that some academic institutions were also involved and they were hopeful of being able to start producing the reagent within days .
“ We have the process , we have just about found the raw materials , and it is just about tying down where exactly we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
It is understood that Camida and WuXi are among the companies involved in the plan , and a plan is being examined to sell the reagent at production cost or below to the State .
The HSE told Opposition health spokespersons at a briefing on Wednesday that it was in negotiations with two major pharmaceutical companies with large Irish operations – Roche and Abbott – about the role they could play .
The HSE said it could take until the end of next week to get equipment and reagent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Covid-19 testing system .
Stephen Donnelly , the Fianna Fáil health spokesman , said : “ The HSE confirmed to me that it is in negotiations with Roche and Abbott , and it is essential that some portion of Ireland ’ s large and sophisticated chemical industry is immediately deployed to solve this bottleneck .
”

The HSE says it could take until the end of next week to get equipment and reagent from Ireland’s pharma companies into the Covid-19 testing system. Photograp: Getty Images
Ireland’s pharmaceutical industry has indicated it is gearing up to produce key ingredients for Covid-19 testing which the State is struggling to source on the international market.
The industry could produce enough reagent – a key laboratory ingredient which is in short supply – to enable around 500,000 tests to take place, said Matt Moran, director of the pharmaceutical industry lobby group BioPharmaChem Ireland.
He told The Irish Times that he was hopeful of being able to make a firm announcement soon. “We are looking at making it, and are trying to source the raw materials at the moment.”
Similarly to the finished product, the ingredients for reagent are much sought after at the moment. However, Mr Moran said “we are hopeful we might have a solution in the not too distant future”.
READ MORE
The reagents used for the type of testing done for Covid-19 regulate salt and pH levels in tests, and also contain pieces of genetic material which bind to the virus, producing more of it, allowing the indication it is present in the sample.
The State has struggled to secure sufficient supplies in recent weeks, leading to a reduced level of testing of samples in laboratories.
“If we can get this over the line we want to make a significant amount, probably enough to enable over half a million tests,” said Mr Moran, adding that some academic institutions were also involved and they were hopeful of being able to start producing the reagent within days.
“We have the process, we have just about found the raw materials, and it is just about tying down where exactly we make it and then ship it,” he said.
It is understood that Camida and WuXi are among the companies involved in the plan, and a plan is being examined to sell the reagent at production cost or below to the State.
Irish operations
The HSE told Opposition health spokespersons at a briefing on Wednesday that it was in negotiations with two major pharmaceutical companies with large Irish operations – Roche and Abbott – about the role they could play.
The HSE said it could take until the end of next week to get equipment and reagent from Ireland’s pharma companies into the Covid-19 testing system.
Stephen Donnelly, the Fianna Fáil health spokesman, said: "The HSE confirmed to me that it is in negotiations with Roche and Abbott, and it is essential that some portion of Ireland's large and sophisticated chemical industry is immediately deployed to solve this bottleneck."


theirishtimes--2020-04-02--The mathematics of fair play in video games

Video games generate worldwide annual sales of about €140 billion .
With millions of people confined at home with time to spare , the current pandemic may benefit the industry .
At the core of a video game is a computer program capable of simulating a range of phenomena in the real world or in a fantasy universe , of generating realistic imagery and of responding to the actions and reactions of the players .
At every level , mathematics is crucial .
Riot Games is a video game company with more than 2,000 staff members and European headquarters in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Legends , is a multiplayer online battle arena game with about 8 million concurrent users each day .
Eoin Murphy , an insights analyst at the company , spoke to me about the mathematics behind video games .
Players want to win , but there must be a challenge .
There is a sense of achievement only if their competitors are hard to beat .
To ensure fair matchmaking between teams , sophisticated statistical techniques are used .
Players are given an initial rating and this is adjusted following each game to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a team is too simple to measure overall strength : a strong player can more than compensate for a weak player , and gamers who play regularly together develop skills that can outwit gamers unfamiliar with each other .
One way to gauge the relative skill of players is to use a rating system originally developed for chess .
This system was invented by Arpad Elo , a Hungarian-American physics professor and a master-level chess player .
The system is now used much more widely for matching players in multiplayer competition in video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baseball , table-tennis and various board games .
The Elo scheme has a sound statistical basis , ensuring that players with equal skill have comparable ratings .
With computing power now inexpensive and widely available , various simplifying assumptions made by Elo are no longer necessary .
Thus , algorithms have become more complex and sophisticated so that the pairing of players is very accurate and mis-matches are rare .
Actions during a game must be faithfully represented or rendered on-screen .
Suppose a vase is knocked off a table : its tumbling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using the laws of physics .
Havok , an Irish software company now owned by Microsoft , provides a physics engine for use in video games .
Its dynamical simulation makes for realistic virtual worlds and has been used in more than 150 leading game titles .
The realistic representation of three-dimensional images in varying conditions of light and shade involves heavy computation .
Light ray tracing is a method for generating images by tracking the path of light from an object in an image to the viewer ’ s eye , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The method yields a high degree of visual realism but at a heavy cost in computation .
As computer power increases , this technique , whose origins go back to Albrecht Dürer , is becoming feasible for real-time applications in video games .
When three-dimensional objects are rotated , the viewer ’ s perception of them changes .
There are several ways to model rotations mathematically , but the use of quaternions has distinct advantages and is now popular in rendering software .
Quaternions are those hyper-complex numbers invented – in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ William Rowan Hamilton in 1843 .
His goal was to model the physical world but he would probably have delighted in the use of his numbers to model the fantasy worlds of video games .
Peter Lynch is emeritus professor at UCD School of Mathematics & Statistics – he blogs atthatsmaths.com

Video games generate worldwide annual sales of about €140 billion. With millions of people confined at home with time to spare, the current pandemic may benefit the industry.
At the core of a video game is a computer program capable of simulating a range of phenomena in the real world or in a fantasy universe, of generating realistic imagery and of responding to the actions and reactions of the players. At every level, mathematics is crucial.
Riot Games is a video game company with more than 2,000 staff members and European headquarters in Dublin. Its flagship product, League of Legends, is a multiplayer online battle arena game with about 8 million concurrent users each day. Eoin Murphy, an insights analyst at the company, spoke to me about the mathematics behind video games.
Fair play
Players want to win, but there must be a challenge. There is a sense of achievement only if their competitors are hard to beat. To ensure fair matchmaking between teams, sophisticated statistical techniques are used.
READ MORE
Players are given an initial rating and this is adjusted following each game to reflect performance. The average rating of a team is too simple to measure overall strength: a strong player can more than compensate for a weak player, and gamers who play regularly together develop skills that can outwit gamers unfamiliar with each other.
One way to gauge the relative skill of players is to use a rating system originally developed for chess. This system was invented by Arpad Elo, a Hungarian-American physics professor and a master-level chess player. The system is now used much more widely for matching players in multiplayer competition in video games as well as in football, baseball, table-tennis and various board games.
The Elo scheme has a sound statistical basis, ensuring that players with equal skill have comparable ratings. With computing power now inexpensive and widely available, various simplifying assumptions made by Elo are no longer necessary. Thus, algorithms have become more complex and sophisticated so that the pairing of players is very accurate and mis-matches are rare.
Physics engines
Actions during a game must be faithfully represented or rendered on-screen. Suppose a vase is knocked off a table: its tumbling motion as it falls can be simulated using the laws of physics.
Havok, an Irish software company now owned by Microsoft, provides a physics engine for use in video games. Its dynamical simulation makes for realistic virtual worlds and has been used in more than 150 leading game titles.
The realistic representation of three-dimensional images in varying conditions of light and shade involves heavy computation. Light ray tracing is a method for generating images by tracking the path of light from an object in an image to the viewer’s eye, including effects like reflection, refraction and scattering.
The method yields a high degree of visual realism but at a heavy cost in computation. As computer power increases, this technique, whose origins go back to Albrecht Dürer, is becoming feasible for real-time applications in video games.
When three-dimensional objects are rotated, the viewer’s perception of them changes. There are several ways to model rotations mathematically, but the use of quaternions has distinct advantages and is now popular in rendering software.
Quaternions are those hyper-complex numbers invented – in a flash of insight – by Irish mathematician William Rowan Hamilton in 1843. His goal was to model the physical world but he would probably have delighted in the use of his numbers to model the fantasy worlds of video games.
Peter Lynch is emeritus professor at UCD School of Mathematics & Statistics – he blogs at thatsmaths.com


theirishtimes--2020-04-02--Coronavirus: Derry blinds firm opens a window of opportunity

Two weeks ago , Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt , Co Derry was full of primary school children taking part in a GAA blitz ; today , the leisure centre has been turned into a factory making face shields for healthcare workers .
“ I feel very privileged that I ’ m fit to help our doctors and nurses , who are the people on the front line , ” says Scott McMullan .
He is one of 120 employees at local firm Bloc Blinds , which until the coronavirus crisis manufactured blinds for windows and skylights .
As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparing to close , and to furlough its workers .
“ We knew it was the right thing to do , to stay at home , but you felt so helpless , ” explains McMullan .
“ But when we all got the message to say that we were going to make PPE [ personal protective equipment ] for the healthcare workers , it was just amazing , it gave you a real buzz .
“ You knew you were helping in some way , and that gives you a positive when there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moment.
” Managing director Cormac Diamond is of the same mind .
“ It was never an option , ” he says .
“ It was always that we were going to try and help whatever way we could.
” Overnight , Bloc Blinds went from winding down production to ramping it up .
In order to comply with social distancing requirements , Diamond knew they would need more space .
He approached Mid Ulster District Council , which runs the arena ; they said yes immediately .
“ That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , ” says council chair Martin Kearney .
“ We can just get on with it.
” Get on with it they did .
“ We were taking this risk of making these volumes without actually having orders , ” says Diamond .
“ We thought , some of us need this stuff , let ’ s do it anyway , and if it doesn ’ t work we ’ ll stop it , but it ’ s been the exact opposite.
” The company now supplies to the health services , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visors are manufactured on a not-for-profit basis .
“ At the end of it if we find there are surpluses we ’ ll give it all back to the relevant health services .
It ’ s more about servicing need rather than thinking of it as commercially viable or not , ” says Diamond .
Offers of help have come from all quarters .
O ’ Neills sportswear in Co Tyrone has provided raw materials , as has Quinn Packaging in Co Cavan , which manufactured and donated more than 1.6 million tonnes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using the machinery in Bloc Blinds ’ existing factory , then transported to the indoor arena for assembly .
Everyone must sanitise their hands and put on disposable gloves and a facemask before they are allowed onto what is now the factory floor .
Inside the arena about 100 tables – one per worker – have been set up in rows ; each is the appropriate distance apart .
Between them are poles – normally supplied with the company ’ s blinds – which are used to hook and drag boxes from one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A large white tent houses the sterile unit , where the finished visors are cleaned and packed for delivery .
Including visors supplied in kit form , the firm aims to dispatch half a million per week .
It has gone from temporarily laying staff off to recruiting for more .
Concerns have been raised in the North over the availability of PPE , as well as over how businesses are implementing social distancing regulations .
On Tuesday , Bloc Blinds was among the firms singled out for praise by the First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Executive ’ s daily press briefing .
“ We must not lose sight of businesses who , in the face of this terrible health crisis , have recalibrated their production lines with much-needed PPE , ” she said .
Bloc Blinds was among the firms which , she said , “ we must celebrate ” .
Diamond is celebrating his staff .
“ Every one of them that was of the right profile , in health or age , is here , and that ’ s an example of how our own staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , the community.
” Kearney agrees .
“ There is such a feelgood factor here , such a groundswell of goodwill , that this is happening in our town.
” “ It ’ s humbling , ” says Diamond .
“ We could have stayed at home .
We weren ’ t ordered or contacted to do this , we weren ’ t asked .
We just did this ourselves .
”

Workers in the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt, Co Derry, where Bloc Blinds have set up a factory floor making protective equipment for the health services North and South. Photograph: Margaret McLaughlin
Two weeks ago, Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt, Co Derry was full of primary school children taking part in a GAA blitz; today, the leisure centre has been turned into a factory making face shields for healthcare workers.
“I feel very privileged that I’m fit to help our doctors and nurses, who are the people on the front line,” says Scott McMullan.
He is one of 120 employees at local firm Bloc Blinds, which until the coronavirus crisis manufactured blinds for windows and skylights. As a a non-essential business, it had been preparing to close, and to furlough its workers.
“We knew it was the right thing to do, to stay at home, but you felt so helpless,” explains McMullan.
READ MORE
“But when we all got the message to say that we were going to make PPE [personal protective equipment] for the healthcare workers, it was just amazing, it gave you a real buzz.
“You knew you were helping in some way, and that gives you a positive when there’s negative all round you at the moment.”
Managing director Cormac Diamond is of the same mind.
“It was never an option,” he says. “It was always that we were going to try and help whatever way we could.”
Ramping up
Overnight, Bloc Blinds went from winding down production to ramping it up. In order to comply with social distancing requirements, Diamond knew they would need more space. He approached Mid Ulster District Council, which runs the arena; they said yes immediately.
"That's the beauty of local government and local people," says council chair Martin Kearney. "We can just get on with it."
At the end of it if we find there are surpluses we'll give it all back to the relevant health services
Get on with it they did. “We were taking this risk of making these volumes without actually having orders,” says Diamond. “We thought, some of us need this stuff, let’s do it anyway, and if it doesn’t work we’ll stop it, but it’s been the exact opposite.”
The company now supplies to the health services, North and South; all of its visors are manufactured on a not-for-profit basis.
“At the end of it if we find there are surpluses we’ll give it all back to the relevant health services. It’s more about servicing need rather than thinking of it as commercially viable or not,” says Diamond.
Offers of help have come from all quarters. O’Neills sportswear in Co Tyrone has provided raw materials, as has Quinn Packaging in Co Cavan, which manufactured and donated more than 1.6 million tonnes of plastic sheeting.
This is cut using the machinery in Bloc Blinds’ existing factory, then transported to the indoor arena for assembly. Everyone must sanitise their hands and put on disposable gloves and a facemask before they are allowed onto what is now the factory floor.
Appropriate distance
Inside the arena about 100 tables – one per worker – have been set up in rows; each is the appropriate distance apart. Between them are poles – normally supplied with the company’s blinds – which are used to hook and drag boxes from one table to another, to minimise contact.
A large white tent houses the sterile unit, where the finished visors are cleaned and packed for delivery. Including visors supplied in kit form, the firm aims to dispatch half a million per week. It has gone from temporarily laying staff off to recruiting for more.
There is such a feelgood factor here, such a groundswell of goodwill, that this is happening in our town
Concerns have been raised in the North over the availability of PPE, as well as over how businesses are implementing social distancing regulations. On Tuesday, Bloc Blinds was among the firms singled out for praise by the First Minister, Arlene Foster, at the Executive's daily press briefing.
“We must not lose sight of businesses who, in the face of this terrible health crisis, have recalibrated their production lines with much-needed PPE,” she said. Bloc Blinds was among the firms which, she said, “we must celebrate”.
Diamond is celebrating his staff. “Every one of them that was of the right profile, in health or age, is here, and that’s an example of how our own staff have bought into it and, beyond that, the community.”
Kearney agrees. “There is such a feelgood factor here, such a groundswell of goodwill, that this is happening in our town.”
“It’s humbling,” says Diamond. “We could have stayed at home. We weren’t ordered or contacted to do this, we weren’t asked. We just did this ourselves.”