theirishtimes--2020-08-09--Google to roll out software fix to remedy issue with Covid app

Google is set to roll out a software update to help solve an issue that saw some Android users of the Covid Tracker Ireland app experience rapid battery drain on their devices .
The issue is believed to lie with the underlying exposure notification application software rather than the Covid Tracker Ireland app , which was developed by Waterford-based Nearform for the Health Services Executive .
The issue did not widely affect Apple users .
The software fix that will be pushed out to phones overnight is expected to solve the problem .
The exposure notifications system was developed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apps ’ access to bluetooth and allow phones running the operating systems to swap anonymous IDs .
The app works by using the bluetooth signal on your phone to exchange a digital “ handshake ” with another device also running the Covid Tracker app when users come within two metres of each other for more than 15 minutes .
The anonymous keys are stored in a log on the phone , which the HSE may ask users to upload if they receive a positive diagnosis for Covid-19 .
That log can then be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an alert delivered to affected people through the app .
Latest figures from the HSE show that as of Sunday evening , 1,573,020 people had downloaded the app .
The HSE said that on average 10,000 to 20,000 people were downloading the Covid-19 tracker app every day , with the figure tending to be higher after “ bad news ” such as a significant rise in the number of coronavirus cases .
However , reports of phones experiencing rapidly draining batteries caused some users to delete the app in an attempt to fix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday it was working with the HSE to resolve the issue .
The number of people who have received close contact alerts through the Republic ’ s Covid Tracker app has reached 137 since the app was launched on July 7th .
Of those 137 close contact alerts , 129 people have subsequently chosen to speak to the HSE ’ s contact tracing team for advice and to be offered testing .
The HSE also revealed that 58 people who have tested positive for Covid-19 have uploaded the random IDs that have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anonymously alert people who they were in close contact with .

The tracker app was developed for the HSE by Waterford company Nearform. File photograph: Getty
Google is set to roll out a software update to help solve an issue that saw some Android users of the Covid Tracker Ireland app experience rapid battery drain on their devices.
The issue is believed to lie with the underlying exposure notification application software rather than the Covid Tracker Ireland app, which was developed by Waterford-based Nearform for the Health Services Executive. The issue did not widely affect Apple users.
The software fix that will be pushed out to phones overnight is expected to solve the problem.
The exposure notifications system was developed by Google and Apple to facilitate contact tracing apps’ access to bluetooth and allow phones running the operating systems to swap anonymous IDs.
READ MORE
The app works by using the bluetooth signal on your phone to exchange a digital “handshake” with another device also running the Covid Tracker app when users come within two metres of each other for more than 15 minutes.
The anonymous keys are stored in a log on the phone, which the HSE may ask users to upload if they receive a positive diagnosis for Covid-19. That log can then be used to track unnamed contacts, with an alert delivered to affected people through the app.
Latest figures from the HSE show that as of Sunday evening, 1,573,020 people had downloaded the app.
The HSE said that on average 10,000 to 20,000 people were downloading the Covid-19 tracker app every day, with the figure tending to be higher after “bad news” such as a significant rise in the number of coronavirus cases.
However, reports of phones experiencing rapidly draining batteries caused some users to delete the app in an attempt to fix the problem. Google said earlier on Sunday it was working with the HSE to resolve the issue.
Close contacts
The number of people who have received close contact alerts through the Republic’s Covid Tracker app has reached 137 since the app was launched on July 7th.
Of those 137 close contact alerts, 129 people have subsequently chosen to speak to the HSE’s contact tracing team for advice and to be offered testing.
The HSE also revealed that 58 people who have tested positive for Covid-19 have uploaded the random IDs that have been generated by their phone in order to anonymously alert people who they were in close contact with.


theirishtimes--2020-08-09--New call centre at Dublin Airport to track arriving passengers

A new call centre at Dublin Airport to track passengers arriving into Ireland from non-green list countries will begin operations next Monday .
The call centre has been set up by Dublin Airport Authority ( DAA ) specifically to tackle the very low rate of follow-up by State authorities on passengers arriving into Ireland who are required to quarantine for 14 days .
Until now it has been the Department of Justice which has been responsible for follow-up calls to locate incoming passengers .
However , only 7 per cent of passengers arriving from non-green list countries were contacted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls .
The low rate of contacting incoming passengers was described by Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall as the main weakness in Government ’ s plans to tackle Covid-19 in Ireland .
She said that 90 per cent of people travelling into Ireland were from non-green list countries but that there was no meaningful effort made to monitor their movements after arrival .
“ So far the tracing of passengers arriving here has been a shambles , with only 7 per cent receiving calls and half of these not being answered .
Three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bizarre game of ‘ pass the parcel ’ over who should have responsibility for the follow-up system.
” Earlier last month , questions were raised about groups of tourists arriving in from the United States and elsewhere and travelling around Ireland without subjecting themselves to quarantine .
This weekend , the Department of Transport confirmed that it will assume responsibility for contacting and monitoring travellers entering Ireland .
It also confirmed the DAA call centre will be in operation from Monday , August 17th .
Until now incoming passengers have been required to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
An electronic version of the form is being developed by the Health Service Executive and is also due to be launched this month .
“ A number of measures are being implemented to strengthen the process around follow-up with international passengers , ” said a spokesman .
He confirmed the e-form for locating passengers will include a “ text-messaging facility with the capability to issue daily reminders and public health information to persons required to restrict their movement ” .
The locator office will also be in a position to check that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be on the form they supplied upon arrival into Ireland .
The numbers of passengers arriving into Ireland through airports has fallen by more than 90 per cent during the pandemic .
However , the numbers have significantly increased during July as restrictions in Ireland and elsewhere have been gradually eased .
Almost 160,000 passengers arrived in Dublin Airport during July , most from non-green list countries .
Some 87,000 travelled to and from Britain from Dublin Airport , while 20,000 travelled to and from North America .
Another measure to prevent incoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for testing at airports .
The Department of Health has said the HSE is considering a rapid test-and-trace protocol for symptomatic passengers .
However , the proposal is for a voluntary system .
The number of coronavirus cases associated with travel remains low , at 650 or just over 2 per cent .
However , there are growing concerns that this might become a vector for infection , unless adequate restrictive measures are introduced .

Almost 160,000 passengers arrived in Dublin Airport during July, most from non-green list countries. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins
A new call centre to track passengers arriving into Ireland from non-green list countries will begin operations next Monday.
The call centre has been set up by DAA, but its operations will be contracted to an outside company, specifically to tackle the very low rate of follow-up by State authorities on passengers arriving into Ireland who are required to quarantine for 14 days.
Until now it has been the Department of Justice which has been responsible for follow-up calls to locate incoming passengers.
However, only 7 per cent of passengers arriving from non-green list countries were contacted, and only half of those answered the calls.
READ MORE
The low rate of contacting incoming passengers was described by Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall as a weakness in Government plans to tackle Covid-19 in Ireland.
She said that 90 per cent of people travelling into Ireland were from non-green list countries but that there was no meaningful effort made to monitor their movements after arrival.
“So far the tracing of passengers arriving here has been a shambles, with only 7 per cent receiving calls and half of these not being answered. Three separate Government departments continue to play a bizarre game of ‘pass the parcel’ over who should have responsibility for the follow-up system.”
Ms Shortall said that in its latest letter, the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) had said that 7.8 per cent of cases notified over the previous fortnight are associated with travel. This is an indication of a rise in cases associated with travel abroad, she said.
Earlier last month, questions were raised about groups of tourists arriving in from the United States and elsewhere and travelling around Ireland without subjecting themselves to quarantine.
This weekend, the Department of Transport confirmed that it will assume responsibility for contacting and monitoring travellers entering Ireland.
It also confirmed the DAA call centre will be in operation from Monday, August 17th.
Until now incoming passengers have been required to fill out a paper-based passenger locator form. An electronic version of the form is being developed by the Health Service Executive and is also due to be launched this month.
“A number of measures are being implemented to strengthen the process around follow-up with international passengers,” said a spokesman.
Text messages
He confirmed the e-form for locating passengers will include a “text-messaging facility with the capability to issue daily reminders and public health information to persons required to restrict their movement”.
The locator office will also be in a position to check that passengers are where they claimed they would be on the form they supplied upon arrival into Ireland.
The numbers of passengers arriving into Ireland through airports has fallen by more than 90 per cent during the pandemic.
However, the numbers have significantly increased during July as restrictions in Ireland and elsewhere have been gradually eased. Almost 160,000 passengers arrived in Dublin Airport during July, most from non-green list countries.
Some 87,000 travelled to and from Britain from Dublin Airport, while 20,000 travelled to and from North America.
Another measure to prevent incoming travellers becoming a source for infection is for testing at airports. The Department of Health has said the HSE is considering a rapid test-and-trace protocol for symptomatic passengers. However, the proposal is for a voluntary system.
The number of coronavirus cases associated with travel remains low, at 650 or just over 2 per cent. However, there are growing concerns that this might become a vector for infection, unless adequate restrictive measures are introduced.


theirishtimes--2020-08-09--At least 26 police officers injured in west Belfast violence

Police are “ sick of being a punch bag for the failures of society ” , the head of the North ’ s Police Federation has complained after at least 26 PSNI officers were injured on Saturday while assisting contractors remove an internment anniversary bonfire in west Belfast .
The officers were attacked with petrol bombs , stones , bottles and other missiles as they oversaw the dismantling of an anti-internment bonfire on Distillery Street .
Some of the officers sustained serious injuries with one officer possibly suffering two broken vertebrae , said Mark Lindsay , chairman of the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The bonfire was erected to mark the 49th anniversary of the introduction of internment on August 9th , 1971 , when hundreds of people were arrested and detained without trial .
“ During the operation , officers came under sustained attack from large groups of youths throwing petrol bombs , masonry and other missiles towards police , ” said Supt Melanie Jones .
“ At least 26 officers have sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment , ” she said .
“ Footage from evidence gathering cameras will be reviewed and all efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Supt Jones .
“ Parents and guardians have an important obligation to keep young people safe by knowing where they are going and who they are with .
Young people must understand the dangers of getting involved in behaviour which could result in them injuring themselves or others , or ultimately , ending up with a criminal record , ” she added .
Mr Lindsay said police officers were drawn “ into the middle of a row over what should or shouldn ’ t take place .
.
.
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a society that has failed to tackle contentious issues.
” Mr Lindsay added : “ The attacks were premeditated .
.
.
Those behind this reckless and irresponsible action had a very clear aim of making officers bear the brunt of their hate.
” Mr Lindsay said the rioters achieved “ nothing but misery and distress for residents in affected areas ” .
PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne said his ” thoughts are with our injured colleagues who faced shocking violence just trying to do their job ” .
First Minister Arlene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Our thoughts are with the injured officers .
.
.
A message must be sent that this is not acceptable.
” Alliance leader and the North ’ s Minister for Justice Naomi Long condemned the violence as “ utterly intolerable ” .

The scene in Distillery street, Belfast, where 29 police officers were injured after being attacked as they were involved in removing bonfire materia. Photograph: Stephen Davison
Police are "sick of being a punch bag for the failures of society", the head of the North's Police Federation has complained after at least 26 PSNI officers were injured on Saturday while assisting contractors remove an internment anniversary bonfire in west Belfast.
The officers were attacked with petrol bombs, stones, bottles and other missiles as they oversaw the dismantling of an anti-internment bonfire on Distillery Street.
Some of the officers sustained serious injuries with one officer possibly suffering two broken vertebrae, said Mark Lindsay, chairman of the police representative body, the Police Federation.
The bonfire was erected to mark the 49th anniversary of the introduction of internment on August 9th, 1971, when hundreds of people were arrested and detained without trial.
READ MORE
"During the operation, officers came under sustained attack from large groups of youths throwing petrol bombs, masonry and other missiles towards police," said Supt Melanie Jones.
“At least 26 officers have sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment,” she said.
“Footage from evidence gathering cameras will be reviewed and all efforts will be made to identify those involved,” said Supt Jones.
“Parents and guardians have an important obligation to keep young people safe by knowing where they are going and who they are with. Young people must understand the dangers of getting involved in behaviour which could result in them injuring themselves or others, or ultimately, ending up with a criminal record,” she added.
‘Contentious issues’
Mr Lindsay said police officers were drawn “into the middle of a row over what should or shouldn’t take place . . . They are sick of being a punch bag for a society that has failed to tackle contentious issues.”
Mr Lindsay added: “The attacks were premeditated . . . Those behind this reckless and irresponsible action had a very clear aim of making officers bear the brunt of their hate.”
Mr Lindsay said the rioters achieved “nothing but misery and distress for residents in affected areas”.
PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne said his" thoughts are with our injured colleagues who faced shocking violence just trying to do their job".
First Minister Arlene Foster said what happened was disgraceful. "Our thoughts are with the injured officers . . . A message must be sent that this is not acceptable."
Alliance leader and the North's Minister for Justice Naomi Long condemned the violence as "utterly intolerable".


theirishtimes--2020-08-09--Coronavirus: No additional deaths in State but 68 new cases

There have been no new deaths reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre on Sunday .
There has now been a total of 1,772 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland .
As of midnight Saturday August 8th , the centre has been notified of 68 confirmed cases of Covid-19 .
There is now a total of 26,712 confirmed cases in Ireland .
Meanwhile , repeat blanket testing for Covid-19 is to be provided for the 15,000 meat industry workers , according to Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary .
Initially , the programme will focus on 2,500 workers in plants in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large outbreaks of the virus .
Mr Calleary said his officials would be meeting the Health Service Executive on Monday to scope out the provision of blanket testing in the sector .
He indicated he would like to see the industry cover the cost of the testing programme .
Defending the Government ’ s response on the issue , he said Ireland was the first country globally to introduce a protocol on Covid-19 and meat processing plants on May 15th .
There had been 1,100 cases across the plants but this had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of June ” .
Mr Calleary said he wanted to draw on experience internationally in trying to strengthen the protocol and making sure every effort is made to ensure outbreaks do not reoccur .
Benefits are in place for any worker experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 , he said .
Blanket testing of workers in the meat industry needs to be introduced immediately , according to the main union representing workers in the sector .
Siptu also says plants where Covid-19 outbreaks occur should immediately shut down without loss of earning for staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Week programme , Siptu area organiser Greg Ennis called on the Government to lead on the issue and said workers needed a voice .
“ We have a serious crisis in this industry where we here 11 per cent testing positive , ” he said .
Union representatives are due to meet Meat Industry Ireland on Monday to discuss the mass outbreaks of the virus in several plants .
Meanwhile , a leading public health official has warned the reopening of schools and colleges in the autumn could have been threatened if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Offaly had not been introduced on Friday .
A “ short , sharp intervention could save us a great deal of difficulty in two to three weeks ’ time ” , said Prof Philip Nolan , chairman of an advisory group to the National Public Health Emergency Team .
He said it was “ almost inevitable ” there had been some level of community transmission around the midlands clusters .
The rate at which the outbreaks developed was “ quite unusual ” .

The National Public Health Emergency Team has said it was ‘almost inevitable’ there had been some level of community transmission around the midlands clusters. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
There have been no new deaths reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre on Sunday.
There has now been a total of 1,772 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland.
As of midnight Saturday August 8th, the centre has been notified of 68 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 26,712 confirmed cases in Ireland.
Meanwhile, repeat blanket testing for Covid-19 is to be provided for the 15,000 meat industry workers, according to Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary.
READ MORE
Initially, the programme will focus on 2,500 workers in plants in the midlands, where there have been four large outbreaks of the virus.
Mr Calleary said his officials would be meeting the Health Service Executive on Monday to scope out the provision of blanket testing in the sector.
He indicated he would like to see the industry cover the cost of the testing programme.
Defending the Government’s response on the issue, he said Ireland was the first country globally to introduce a protocol on Covid-19 and meat processing plants on May 15th.
There had been 1,100 cases across the plants but this had been reduced “to virtually zero by the end of June”.
Mr Calleary said he wanted to draw on experience internationally in trying to strengthen the protocol and making sure every effort is made to ensure outbreaks do not reoccur.
Benefits are in place for any worker experiencing symptoms of Covid-19, he said.
Blanket testing of workers in the meat industry needs to be introduced immediately, according to the main union representing workers in the sector.
Siptu also says plants where Covid-19 outbreaks occur should immediately shut down without loss of earning for staff.
‘Industry crisis’
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week programme, Siptu area organiser Greg Ennis called on the Government to lead on the issue and said workers needed a voice.
“We have a serious crisis in this industry where we here 11 per cent testing positive,” he said.
Union representatives are due to meet Meat Industry Ireland on Monday to discuss the mass outbreaks of the virus in several plants.
Meanwhile, a leading public health official has warned the reopening of schools and colleges in the autumn could have been threatened if the restrictions in counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly had not been introduced on Friday.
A "short, sharp intervention could save us a great deal of difficulty in two to three weeks' time", said Prof Philip Nolan, chairman of an advisory group to the National Public Health Emergency Team.
He said it was “almost inevitable” there had been some level of community transmission around the midlands clusters. The rate at which the outbreaks developed was “quite unusual”.


theirishtimes--2020-08-09--Financial support for Kildare, Laois and Offaly should be considered, says Minister

Financial support may be offered to businesses in Kildare , Laois and Offaly forced to close under the latest restrictions , the Minister for Agriculture has said .
Dara Calleary said the Government should consider a “ specific package ” to assist businesses and people in the three midlands communities who have been forced to close their doors because of the resurgence of Covid-19 cases in their counties .
Mr Calleary told RTÉ ’ s This Week programme he was conscious that the restrictions were “ incredibly difficult ” on communities and that he planned to discuss with Government colleagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The goal is to avoid further community transition through increased testing across the three counties , he said .
Speaking on the same programme , professor Philip Nolan , chair of the Nationall Public Health Emergency Team , said he was very concerned by the rise in coronavirus cases and underlined that 777 cases had been reported over the past fortnight , a five fold increase on the previous two weeks .
Of these 777 cases , 419 were in Kildare , Laois and Offaly , he said .
“ A short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great deal of difficulty in two or three weeks time , ” he said , adding that it was “ almost inevitable ” that a small level of community transmission would have already occurred in the three counties .
The Government ’ s decision to reimpose restrictions in certain parts of the country was “ exactly the right thing to do ” , said Prof Nolan .
Had these not been introduced , the opening of schools and universities would “ almost certainly have been threatened ” .
Head of the HSE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken learnings ” from the mistakes it made early in the pandemic and was “ reflecting ” on previous actions when moving forward .
“ We have done a mighty job across the country in terms of the public support , the public engagement and the public coordination in terms of where we are with the virus , ” he said .
Asked to comment on the HSE ’ s decision to spend €100 million per month for the use of private hospitals , Mr Reid said they had done right thing at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfolding in Italian and Spanish hospitals .
“ The country was scared , every hospital system in Europe was overwhelmed .
We needed capacity because we operate at 95 per cent capacity every day.
” Negotiations with private hospital groups are now focused on creating a healthcare model that is “ more agile ” and that may be county specific , he said .
Professor Anthony Staines , professor of health systems at Dublin City University , told RTÉ ’ s Brendan O ’ Connor show that Ireland was capable of achieving zero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circulation of the virus by the end of the year .
Prof Staines called on the Government to move away from its strategy of living with the virus and instead focus on reducing cases to zero .
This can be done through proper use of masks , hand-washing , social distancing and significantly more testing , he said .
Prof Staines is one of a group of leading Irish scientists who warned last week that there is a “ small and narrowing ” window to bring Covid-19 cases to zero .
He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including testing before and after travelling , to prevent the disease spreading through international travel .
“ We have a pretend system which pretends to track you and pretends that you ’ re isolating and actually does nothing about it effectively , ” he said .
“ Maybe if we take €1,000 off your credit card and if you ’ re not where you say you are we keep that.
” People should be wearing masks “ practically everywhere indoors ” , he said , adding that he wears a mask before he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it as soon as he has finished his meal .
The DCU professor warned that the HSE was facing into its worst ever winter given the “ huge queue ” of people waiting for treatment for diseases unrelated to Covid-19 and said there should be no non-essential travel across county borders in order to reduce the number of cases .
He also warned that the continued housing of people in direct provision centres , and the construction of shared living spaces across in Dublin in response to the housing crisis , would only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , warning that shared living centres were “ potential disaster areas ” .
The Irish public health system is designed to deal with disease outbreaks and has the training to respond to a crisis like Covid-19 , said Prof Staines , who underlined that there are professionals working in Irish hospitals who have dealt with cholera epidemics “ on a continental scale ” in other countries .
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly tweeted on Sunday morning that his department was “ preparing options for Government on how to restrict non-essential travel from third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates of Covid ” .
Mr Donnelly said he was “ concerned about high rates in some places ” and that options would be “ finalised as soon as possible ” .
“ While travel related cases here remain small , some countries are seeing a rapid rise in cases so the risk is increasing , ” he tweeted .
“ Once proposals are finalised they will be presented to Gov for discussion.
” There were 174 new cases of coronavirus and one death due to Covid-19 reported by the Health Protection Surveillance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,772 the total number of Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland .
The number of confirmed cases now stands at 26,644 .
The figure for new cases reported on Saturday was the highest one-day total since the middle of May and up from the 98 reported on Friday .
Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said the sharp increase in coronavirus cases reported on Saturday was not unexpected and that significant numbers of infections are likely to be identified over the coming days .
Dr Glynn said 118 of the new cases are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Laois and Offaly – where restrictions on movement were reintroduced at midnight following a virus surge there .
Dr Glynn said testing was being carried out on hundreds and hundreds of employees and close contacts of people confirmed as having the virus in one of a series of clusters in factories in these three counties .
However , he sounded a note of caution for the rest of the country and appealed to people to be cautious and heed the public health advice .
Over the past 14 days , several hundred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three counties representing about half of all cases detected in the State during that time .
Most of the cases are linked to food-processing plants in the region , with two factories having more than 80 cases .
Gardaí will police the new regional travel restrictions in the same way as they approached the national lockdown earlier this year , with checkpoints and requests to return home where people are found to be in breach of the regulations .

Some 118 of the new cases announced on Saturday are linked to the three counties – Kildare, Laois and Offaly – where restrictions on movement were reintroduced at midnight following a virus surge there. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell/The Irish Times
Financial support may be offered to businesses in Kildare, Laois and Offaly forced to close under the latest restrictions, the Minister for Agriculture has said.
Dara Calleary said the Government should consider a “specific package” to assist businesses and people in the three midlands communities who have been forced to close their doors because of the resurgence of Covid-19 cases in their counties.
Mr Calleary told RTÉ’s This Week programme he was conscious that the restrictions were “incredibly difficult” on communities and that he planned to discuss with Government colleagues what level of supports would be needed.
The goal is to avoid further community transition through increased testing across the three counties, he said.
READ MORE
Speaking on the same programme, professor Philip Nolan, chair of the Nationall Public Health Emergency Team, said he was very concerned by the rise in coronavirus cases and underlined that 777 cases had been reported over the past fortnight, a five fold increase on the previous two weeks.
Of these 777 cases, 419 were in Kildare, Laois and Offaly, he said. “A short, sharp intervention now could save us a great deal of difficulty in two or three weeks time,” he said, adding that it was “almost inevitable” that a small level of community transmission would have already occurred in the three counties.
The Government’s decision to reimpose restrictions in certain parts of the country was “exactly the right thing to do”, said Prof Nolan. Had these not been introduced, the opening of schools and universities would “almost certainly have been threatened”.
Head of the HSE Paul Reid said the executive had “taken learnings” from the mistakes it made early in the pandemic and was “reflecting” on previous actions when moving forward. “We have done a mighty job across the country in terms of the public support, the public engagement and the public coordination in terms of where we are with the virus,” he said.
Asked to comment on the HSE’s decision to spend €100 million per month for the use of private hospitals, Mr Reid said they had done right thing at the right time based on the crisis unfolding in Italian and Spanish hospitals. “The country was scared, every hospital system in Europe was overwhelmed. We needed capacity because we operate at 95 per cent capacity every day.”
Negotiations with private hospital groups are now focused on creating a healthcare model that is “more agile” and that may be county specific, he said.
Zero cases
Professor Anthony Staines, professor of health systems at Dublin City University, told RTÉ's Brendan O'Connor show that Ireland was capable of achieving zero cases of Covid-19 and stopping the domestic circulation of the virus by the end of the year.
Prof Staines called on the Government to move away from its strategy of living with the virus and instead focus on reducing cases to zero. This can be done through proper use of masks, hand-washing, social distancing and significantly more testing, he said.
Prof Staines is one of a group of leading Irish scientists who warned last week that there is a “small and narrowing” window to bring Covid-19 cases to zero.
He also suggested more stringent controls in airports, including testing before and after travelling, to prevent the disease spreading through international travel.
“We have a pretend system which pretends to track you and pretends that you’re isolating and actually does nothing about it effectively,” he said. “Maybe if we take €1,000 off your credit card and if you’re not where you say you are we keep that.”
People should be wearing masks “practically everywhere indoors”, he said, adding that he wears a mask before he starts eating in a restaurant and replaces it as soon as he has finished his meal.
The DCU professor warned that the HSE was facing into its worst ever winter given the “huge queue” of people waiting for treatment for diseases unrelated to Covid-19 and said there should be no non-essential travel across county borders in order to reduce the number of cases.
He also warned that the continued housing of people in direct provision centres, and the construction of shared living spaces across in Dublin in response to the housing crisis, would only further exacerbate the spread of the virus, warning that shared living centres were “potential disaster areas”.
The Irish public health system is designed to deal with disease outbreaks and has the training to respond to a crisis like Covid-19, said Prof Staines, who underlined that there are professionals working in Irish hospitals who have dealt with cholera epidemics “on a continental scale” in other countries.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly tweeted on Sunday morning that his department was “preparing options for Government on how to restrict non-essential travel from third countries (outside EU/UK) with high rates of Covid”.
Mr Donnelly said he was “concerned about high rates in some places” and that options would be “finalised as soon as possible”.
“While travel related cases here remain small, some countries are seeing a rapid rise in cases so the risk is increasing,” he tweeted. “Once proposals are finalised they will be presented to Gov for discussion.”
Sharp increase
There were 174 new cases of coronavirus and one death due to Covid-19 reported by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre on Saturday. This brings to 1,772 the total number of Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. The number of confirmed cases now stands at 26,644.
The figure for new cases reported on Saturday was the highest one-day total since the middle of May and up from the 98 reported on Friday.
Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said the sharp increase in coronavirus cases reported on Saturday was not unexpected and that significant numbers of infections are likely to be identified over the coming days.
Dr Glynn said 118 of the new cases are linked to the three counties – Kildare, Laois and Offaly – where restrictions on movement were reintroduced at midnight following a virus surge there.
Dr Glynn said testing was being carried out on hundreds and hundreds of employees and close contacts of people confirmed as having the virus in one of a series of clusters in factories in these three counties.
However, he sounded a note of caution for the rest of the country and appealed to people to be cautious and heed the public health advice.
Over the past 14 days, several hundred cases of Covid-19 have emerged in these three counties representing about half of all cases detected in the State during that time.
Most of the cases are linked to food-processing plants in the region, with two factories having more than 80 cases.
Gardaí will police the new regional travel restrictions in the same way as they approached the national lockdown earlier this year, with checkpoints and requests to return home where people are found to be in breach of the regulations.


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--‘I can’t really breathe . . . but you have to wear it’: Cork shoppers comply with new face covering

‘I can’t really breathe . . . but you have to wear it’: Cork shoppers comply with new face covering rules

A bookshop owner who received backlash earlier this summer when she asked customers to wear masks , says that public opinion has changed to such an extent that she is now selling large amounts of cotton which are being used to make home-made face coverings .
Joan Lucey , who owns Vibes and Scribes in Cork city , reopened her shop in June .
She asked customers to wear masks for their own safety .
If they didn ’ t have one the shop provided a face covering .
The shop ’ s Facebook page received a negative reaction online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to blacklist the retailer arising out of her decision .
However , Ms Lucey says that in the last two months face masks have quickly become part of the new normal as society adjusts to the fight against Covid-19 .
“ Generally now everyone is wearing the masks .
We are not having anybody objecting to it .
All the staff and customers feel as safe as they can in these times .
“ There was a bit of a strain when we first opened up .
People felt stressed .
We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am not seeing people complaining .
“ People are making the effort .
They realise that it is worth the effort .
That they are not just wearing the mask for themselves but for their neighbour and the person next to them.
” Ms Lucey is selling a large amount of fabric with customers endeavouring to make home-made individualised face masks .
“ They are definitely personalising them .
We are selling cotton with musical notes .
Or cotton with flowers which are being sold to gardeners .
“ We are selling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choosing what they like .
They are not just saying that anything will do .
“ They are looking at what suits them .
You are seeing people moving away from buying masks in the supermarket and chemist to home made personalised masks.
” ‘ People need to keep their masks on ’ Meanwhile , shoppers in Cork city centre seemed to be in main complying with the now mandatory wearing of masks in stores which came into effect today .
Young Italian tourist Nina Mpoonsah was wearing a mask as she headed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Cork for a week , she said that she was very vigilant about the wearing of masks having gone through a strict lockdown in her home town of Verona .
“ It is important to wear masks .
We went through a difficult time in Italy .
Covid really hit our economy .
We lost more people in Italy to Covid-19 than was reported .
“ Initially to go to the supermarket you needed a medical certificate .
It was really strict .
We were in lockdown for four months .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think now the virus is a little bit suppressed because it is summer .
But once the summer is finished I think there will be a second wave ( at home in Italy ) .
“ We need a vaccine .
But that will take a long time .
People need to keep their masks on.
” On Patrick Street sisters Marian Travers , Yvonne Boylan and Deirdre Lynch were all wearing masks having travelled from Dublin to Cork to visit a relative in hospital .
Marian said she felt more safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You do feel safer but my glasses are a big problem .
I am falling over myself because they are getting misted up !
The three of us have chest problems and we all feel the same .
We feel like we are suffocating .
But you have to wear them.
” Marian urged everyone to wear masks saying she hadn ’ t anticipated a lockdown happening in the likes of Kildare .
“ Look at Kildare .
It is not that highly populated .
Well Newbridge would be .
And they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wear masks.
” Yvonne Boylan was getting special marks from her siblings for having a stylish blue mask which colour co-ordinated with her oufit .
All three sisters emphasised that face coverings were now a reality and that people had to get used to wearing them .
In the English Market , shoppers Christina Donovan and Bill Rogers from Killeens , Co Cork said that the wearing of face masks in shops should have been made mandatory weeks ago .
Christina admits she is sometimes shocked by the complacency of members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We were in Paul Street Shopping Centre a few minutes ago and there was a family of five and not one of them was wearing a face mask .
“ The masks should have been mandatory a lot sooner .
The rising numbers is scary but maybe its not too late yet if everyone starts obeying the rules .
It is not over at all .
Hopefully we are going in the right direction though.
” Her husband Bill , who suffers from asthma , was also wearing a mask .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of my asthma .
But you have to wear it.
” Orla Lannin , who manages the Market , was sporting a stylish flowery mask as she grabbed a quick cup of coffee on her break .
She is hopeful that the public will make more of an effort to wear masks shopping now that it is mandatory .
“ The enforcement issue is difficult .
I would just hope that people would adhere to the Government rules .
We haven ’ t closed at all so it has been a tough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were restricted to having 60 people in and now we have got it up to 80 .
“ You would normally have a lot of tourists here this time but obviously they aren ’ t around this summer .
“ I hope people have the cop on to know that they have to wear the masks.
” Pensioner Catherine O ’ Brien from Bishopstown in Cork comes in to the city centre once a month to pick up a prescription from a chemist .
She says the days of wandering around and browsing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the shops I need to go to .
Everybody needs to look after themselves and wear their masks .
“ Lockdown was difficult .
I really feel the wrong instructions were given out .
People misunderstood them .
Elderly people thought it was illegal to go out and they if they went out they thought they would end up being fined .
“ In my age group there was a fear that if they went outside the door they would end up in jail .
“ I went out every day with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my own area .
I chose my time .
“ I don ’ t feel I did anything wrong because mentally I needed that .
I get out now but I don ’ t mix with people that much .
“ Coming out of cocooning was more difficult than cocooning itself .
Because you had this fear of meeting people and the consequences .
“ We have got to take precautions and live the best way we can .
That means masks .
”

A bookshop owner who received backlash earlier this summer when she asked customers to wear masks, says that public opinion has changed to such an extent that she is now selling large amounts of cotton which are being used to make home-made face coverings.
Joan Lucey, who owns Vibes and Scribes in Cork city, reopened her shop in June. She asked customers to wear masks for their own safety. If they didn’t have one the shop provided a face covering.
The shop's Facebook page received a negative reaction online with some consumers claiming they were going to blacklist the retailer arising out of her decision.
However, Ms Lucey says that in the last two months face masks have quickly become part of the new normal as society adjusts to the fight against Covid-19.
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“Generally now everyone is wearing the masks. We are not having anybody objecting to it. All the staff and customers feel as safe as they can in these times.
“There was a bit of a strain when we first opened up. People felt stressed. We are all a lot more relaxed now. I am not seeing people complaining.
“People are making the effort. They realise that it is worth the effort. That they are not just wearing the mask for themselves but for their neighbour and the person next to them.”
Ms Lucey is selling a large amount of fabric with customers endeavouring to make home-made individualised face masks.
“They are definitely personalising them. We are selling cotton with musical notes. Or cotton with flowers which are being sold to gardeners.
“We are selling huge amounts of cotton. People are choosing what they like. They are not just saying that anything will do.
“They are looking at what suits them. You are seeing people moving away from buying masks in the supermarket and chemist to home made personalised masks.”
‘People need to keep their masks on’
Meanwhile, shoppers in Cork city centre seemed to be in main complying with the now mandatory wearing of masks in stores which came into effect today.
Young Italian tourist Nina Mpoonsah was wearing a mask as she headed towards the main thoroughfare of Patrick Street.
In Cork for a week, she said that she was very vigilant about the wearing of masks having gone through a strict lockdown in her home town of Verona.
“It is important to wear masks. We went through a difficult time in Italy. Covid really hit our economy. We lost more people in Italy to Covid-19 than was reported.
“Initially to go to the supermarket you needed a medical certificate. It was really strict. We were in lockdown for four months.
“I am not a scientist but I think now the virus is a little bit suppressed because it is summer. But once the summer is finished I think there will be a second wave (at home in Italy).
“We need a vaccine. But that will take a long time. People need to keep their masks on.”
On Patrick Street sisters Marian Travers, Yvonne Boylan and Deirdre Lynch were all wearing masks having travelled from Dublin to Cork to visit a relative in hospital.
Marian said she felt more safe wearing the mask while shopping.
“You do feel safer but my glasses are a big problem. I am falling over myself because they are getting misted up! The three of us have chest problems and we all feel the same. We feel like we are suffocating. But you have to wear them.”
Marian urged everyone to wear masks saying she hadn’t anticipated a lockdown happening in the likes of Kildare.
“Look at Kildare. It is not that highly populated. Well Newbridge would be. And they are back in lockdown. We just have to wear masks.”
Yvonne Boylan was getting special marks from her siblings for having a stylish blue mask which colour co-ordinated with her oufit. All three sisters emphasised that face coverings were now a reality and that people had to get used to wearing them.
‘Mandatory a lot sooner’
In the English Market, shoppers Christina Donovan and Bill Rogers from Killeens, Co Cork said that the wearing of face masks in shops should have been made mandatory weeks ago.
Christina Donovan and Bill Rogers of Killeens, Co Cork
Christina admits she is sometimes shocked by the complacency of members of the public during a pandemic.
“We were in Paul Street Shopping Centre a few minutes ago and there was a family of five and not one of them was wearing a face mask.
“The masks should have been mandatory a lot sooner. The rising numbers is scary but maybe its not too late yet if everyone starts obeying the rules. It is not over at all. Hopefully we are going in the right direction though.”
Her husband Bill, who suffers from asthma, was also wearing a mask.
“I can’t really breathe with them because of my asthma. But you have to wear it.”
Orla Lannin, who manages the Market, was sporting a stylish flowery mask as she grabbed a quick cup of coffee on her break. She is hopeful that the public will make more of an effort to wear masks shopping now that it is mandatory.
Orla Lannin manager of the English Market
“The enforcement issue is difficult. I would just hope that people would adhere to the Government rules. We haven’t closed at all so it has been a tough five or six months. Initially we were restricted to having 60 people in and now we have got it up to 80.
“You would normally have a lot of tourists here this time but obviously they aren’t around this summer.
“I hope people have the cop on to know that they have to wear the masks.”
Pensioner Catherine O’Brien from Bishopstown in Cork comes in to the city centre once a month to pick up a prescription from a chemist.
She says the days of wandering around and browsing are gone.
“I only go to the shops I need to go to. Everybody needs to look after themselves and wear their masks.
“Lockdown was difficult. I really feel the wrong instructions were given out. People misunderstood them. Elderly people thought it was illegal to go out and they if they went out they thought they would end up being fined.
“In my age group there was a fear that if they went outside the door they would end up in jail.
“I went out every day with a walk with the dog. In my own area. I chose my time.
“I don’t feel I did anything wrong because mentally I needed that. I get out now but I don’t mix with people that much.
“Coming out of cocooning was more difficult than cocooning itself. Because you had this fear of meeting people and the consequences.
“We have got to take precautions and live the best way we can. That means masks.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--Teddy’s Ice-Cream among businesses issued with closure order by food safety body

A closure order was served on part of Teddy ’ s Ice-Cream on the East Pier in Dun Laoghaire last month after rodent droppings were found in a storage area .
The order was served on a food and packaging storage unit at the side of the premises by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland ( FSAI ) on July 14th and has not been lifted .
“ Food packaging and foodstuffs were stored in the [ storage ] area leaving them exposed to contamination by rodents , ” the closure order states .
“ The storage area was very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gaps and defects noted in the structure allowing potential access to rodents .
Disturbed rodent poison was scattered onto the floor .
“ A grave and immediate danger to foodstuffs exists in the storage unit because rodents can transmit harmful pathogens to foodstuffs and food packaging through their droppings and urine.
” A closure order , which has since been lifted , was also served on all food sales at the AIM Cash & Carry in Clondalkin industrial estate in west Dublin .
Inspectors found there was evidence of “ recent rat activity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Photographic evidence taken at the time of inspection shows an open chocolate bar under shelving in the rear store and rat droppings on the floor beside this partially eaten product , ” the closure order states .
“ There was evidence of packaging having been gnawed by rats and poison bait trays having been disturbed .
The building is not adequately pest proofed .
There were gaps and holes in the external wall of the premises and at the shutter door in the rear store.
” Closure orders were also served on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WW Poultry in Ballycoolen , west Dublin and the deli counter and food preparation areas of Londis on Fassaugh Avenue in Cabra in Dublin .
The orders on the Indian Prince and Londis have since been lifted .
Dr Pamela Byrne , chief executive of the FSAI , said recent inspections have also identified some food businesses operating outside of the law that were not registered or approved and therefore “ selling food with no regulatory oversight for food safety and consumer protection ” .
“ A number of serious incidents have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of food premises or vehicles where no adherence to basic food safety and hygiene practices where in place , ” she said .
“ A food business was found transporting unrefrigerated meat and meat products in the boot and back seat of a car .
On another occasion , a wholesale business was operating in filthy conditions with unfit and out of date food , whilst another establishment had a significant level of unlabelled and untraceable food on its premises.
” Dr Byrne said enforcement powers were used to mitigate the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these cases but that the FSAI is concerned that it “ could be reflective of a growing level of unscrupulous operators seeking to make a profit , at the expense of public health ” .
“ We would urge consumers to question anyone offering them food for sale that seems unusual or that has no food labels on the packaging , ” Dr Byrne added .
“ We would also ask food businesses not to purchase food from unregistered/unapproved suppliers .
Larger food businesses should ensure , when selling commercial quantities of food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or approved food business operator .
”

The closure order on part of Teddy’s Ice Cream on the East Pier in Dún Laoghaire has not yet been lifted. Photograph: iStock
A closure order was served on part of Teddy's Ice Cream on the East Pier in Dún Laoghaire last month after rodent droppings were found in a storage area.
The order was served on a food and packaging storage unit at the side of the premises by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) on July 14th and has not been lifted.
“Food packaging and foodstuffs were stored in the [storage] area leaving them exposed to contamination by rodents,” the closure order states.
“The storage area was very poorly pest-proofed, with numerous holes, gaps and defects noted in the structure allowing potential access to rodents. Disturbed rodent poison was scattered on to the floor.
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“A grave and immediate danger to foodstuffs exists in the storage unit because rodents can transmit harmful pathogens to foodstuffs and food packaging through their droppings and urine.”
In a statement, Teddy’s said the closure order was served on a storage unit for its concession at Dun Laoghaire’s East Pier.
“ This concession has been closed since the middle of March, to adhere to the Covid-19 Government recommendations. Before its closure, the unit was not used to store food for service. The issues outlined are being dealt with and the unit will not be used in the future,” it said.
“As a family business, we are heartbroken that there has been so much confusion as to the location of this storage unit and want to offer reassurance that this was not in an area that ever served or stored food.”
A closure order, which has since been lifted, was also served on all food sales at the AIM Cash & Carry in Clondalkin industrial estate in west Dublin. Inspectors found there was evidence of "recent rat activity" in the rear store area.
“Photographic evidence taken at the time of inspection shows an open chocolate bar under shelving in the rear store and rat droppings on the floor beside this partially eaten product,” the closure order states.
“There was evidence of packaging having been gnawed by rats and poison bait trays having been disturbed. The building is not adequately pest-proofed. There were gaps and holes in the external wall of the premises and at the shutter door in the rear store.”
Closure orders were also served on Indian Prince takeaway in Portlaoise; WW Poultry in Ballycoolen, west Dublin; and the deli counter and food preparation areas of Londis on Fassaugh Avenue in Cabra, Dublin. The orders on Indian Prince and Londis have since been lifted.
Unregistered businesses
Dr Pamela Byrne, chief executive of the FSAI, said recent inspections had also identified some food businesses operating outside the law that were not registered or approved and therefore "selling food with no regulatory oversight for food safety and consumer protection".
“A number of serious incidents have been identified where authorised officers found people operating out of food premises or vehicles where no adherence to basic food safety and hygiene practices were in place,” she said.
“A food business was found transporting unrefrigerated meat and meat products in the boot and back seat of a car. On another occasion, a wholesale business was operating in filthy conditions with unfit and out-of-date food, whilst another establishment had a significant level of unlabelled and untraceable food on its premises.”
Dr Byrne said enforcement powers were used to mitigate the risk in all of these cases but that the FSAI was concerned that it “could be reflective of a growing level of unscrupulous operators seeking to make a profit at the expense of public health”.
“We would urge consumers to question anyone offering them food for sale that seems unusual or that has no food labels on the packaging,” she added.
“We would also ask food businesses not to purchase food from unregistered/unapproved suppliers. Larger food businesses should ensure, when selling commercial quantities of food, that the buyer is a registered or approved food business operator.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--Incidence of Covid-19 in Ireland surpasses UK rate for first time

The incidence of Covid-19 in the State has surpassed that of the UK for the first time since the pandemic started , according to official data .
The 14-day incidence of the disease has increased sevenfold in the State in the space of three weeks , to reach 16.9 cases per 100,000 of population , the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said in an update on Monday .
This compares to a figure of 16.5 in the UK , which a month ago had an incidence almost eight times that of Ireland .
Since then , case numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although on Sunday they exceeded 1,000 for the first time since June .
The spike in cases in the State has largely been driven by clusters involving staff working in meat processing factories in Kildare and Offaly and has prompted the introduction of local movement restrictions in the counties as well as in Laois .
Figures provided to The Irish Times on Monday by the Department of Health show the 14-day incidence of Covid-19 in Co Kildare stands at 138.4 cases per 100,000 of population , almost eight times the national average .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 109 and 83.8 respectively while the national rate for the period was 17.5 cases per 100,000 people , the department said .
There were calls on Monday for one of the affected meat plants , Carroll ’ s Cuisine in Tullamore , Co Offaly , to voluntarily close its doors while a cluster there is handled .
Nine workers at the plant have tested positive for the disease and more than 200 of its staff were tested on Sunday .
Minister of State Seán Fleming , a Laois-Offaly TD , said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do the right thing ” and close then the State should take action .
“ I am calling on them to close , to show solidarity with the local community , ” he told RTÉ Radio ’ s Today with Sarah McInerney show .
“ I expect that before this day is out that this factory will close .
Three out of the four have done the right thing.
” Kildare Chilling in Kildare town , which had registered 150 cases , and O ’ Brien Fine Foods in Timahoe , with 86 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irish Dog Foods in Naas , where 53 cases have been reported , has delayed plans to reopen .
Carroll ’ s Cuisine said on Sunday that it would remain open but is being “ constantly vigilant on every possible front ” regarding the outbreak .
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said politicians calling for businesses to close was not helpful and that a culture of blame should be avoided in relation to the pandemic .
Siptu and Meat Industry Ireland on Monday agreed to contact the health service about putting in place improvements to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sector .
Meanwhile , regulations making face coverings mandatory in shops and other indoor public settings such as hairdressers and museums are now in force .
Similar to the regulations requiring people to wear face masks on public transport , those in breach of the rules can be fined up to €2,500 or face six months imprisonment .
The regulations apply to shops , supermarkets , shopping centres , retail outlets , hairdressers , nail bars , museums , libraries , and cinemas .
The requirement does not extend to restaurants , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , credit unions and banks .
Premises providing healthcare services such as opticians or dentists are also exempt .

Dr Ronan Glynn, acting chief medical officer, said while the number of cases was lower than on some days over the past fortnight, it was too early to tell if this was the beginning of a sustained trend downwards. Video: RTE
Another 57 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the State as the incidence of the virus in the Republic surpassed that of the UK for the first time since the pandemic started.
The National Public Health Emergency Team reported no further coronavirus-related deaths on Monday, leaving the death toll in the Republic at 1,772.
The 57 further cases bring the total number of confirmed cases here to 26,768.
The 14-day incidence of the disease has increased sevenfold in the State in the space of three weeks, to reach 16.9 cases per 100,000 of population, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said in an update on Monday.
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This compares to a figure of 16.5 in the UK, which a month ago had an incidence almost eight times that of Ireland. Since then, case numbers in the UK have been steady, although on Sunday they exceeded 1,000 for the first time since June.
The spike in cases in the State has largely been driven by clusters involving staff working in meat processing factories in Kildare and Offaly and has prompted the introduction of local movement restrictions in the counties as well as in Laois.
Figures provided to The Irish Times on Monday by the Department of Health show the 14-day incidence of Covid-19 in Co Kildare stands at 138.4 cases per 100,000 of population, almost eight times the national average. The rates in Offaly and Laois stood at 109 and 83.8 respectively while the national rate for the period was 17.5 cases per 100,000 people, the department said.
Dr Ronan Glynn, acting chief medical officer, said while the number of cases was lower than on some days over the past fortnight, it was too early to tell if this was the beginning of a sustained trend downwards.
The pandemic continued to be a national problem and while NPHET was not considering any other localised lockdowns at present, there was no way of knowing what the trends in cases would be in the days and weeks ahead.
“We’re going to have ups and downs in the next week, and it’s really only after that we can assess the effectiveness of the measures,” he said of the three-county lockdown.
Blame
While there were no new cases in Laois over the past 24 hours, there had been 71 new cases in the county over the past 14 days, or 83 cases per 100,000 people. He also cautioned against the “blame narrative” he had witnessed of late around the spread of the virus.
“There is no blame attached to contracting or spreading the virus. We are still in control of this,” he said, adding the infection could spread very quickly but people in Ireland could still “take measures to arrest that”.
Asked about reports of charges of up to €50, for out of hours Covid-19 testing, Dr Glynn said “no-one should have to pay… they should be able to get tested without any charge.”
While the rate of infection in Ireland was set to pass that of the UK, Dr Glynn said if counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly were removed from the national figures, Ireland’s rate was “less than 10 per 100,000” over the past 14 days “which is significantly lower than that of the UK”.
Asked why four food processing plants, where clusters have been confirmed, were allowed to remain open or choose themselves to close while hundreds of other businesses in the counties of Kildare, Laois and Offaly had been forced to close, Dr Glynn said he accepted the lockdown measures were “a blunt instrument” and were “not nuanced”.
He also accept that ordering many businesses to close while not including the process plants in list of companies told to close could be seen as undermining the public health messaging being directed at over 400,000 in the three counties.
Dr Glynn said he could “fully appreciate the frustration of other businesses in the region” but we have to “rely on the local knowledge and the expertise” of public health teams that had been in situ at the plants and were working closely with them. In the case of one plant, there had been just nine cases of infection.
Meat plants
One of the affected meat plants, Carroll’s Cuisine in Tullamore, Co Offaly, announced on Monday it was suspending operations. Nine workers at the plant have tested positive for the disease and more than 200 of its staff were tested on Sunday.
“We note that a number of Government and health service sources have said factories should close wherever there are any cases of Covid. However, it’s essential that while closures may be envisaged, the industry will need to continue in operation to supply food and facilities will need to reopen once any particular situation is contained and brought under control,” the company’s chief executive Kieran Carolan said in a statement. “Clear guidance is required on the measures, procedures and roadmap envisaged by the Government in this regard.”
Earlier, Minister of State Seán Fleming, a Laois-Offaly TD, said that if the company “doesn’t do the right thing” and close then the State should take action.
“I am calling on them to close, to show solidarity with the local community,” he told RTÉ Radio’s Today with Sarah McInerney show. “I expect that before this day is out that this factory will close. Three out of the four have done the right thing.”
Kildare Chilling in Kildare town, which had registered 150 cases, and O’Brien Fine Foods in Timahoe, with 86 cases, have suspended production, while Irish Dog Foods in Naas, where 53 cases have been reported, has delayed plans to reopen.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said politicians calling for businesses to close was not helpful and that a culture of blame should be avoided in relation to the pandemic.
Siptu and Meat Industry Ireland on Monday agreed to contact the health service about putting in place improvements to the Covid-19 testing system for staff in the sector.
Face coverings
Meanwhile, regulations making face coverings mandatory in shops and other indoor public settings such as hairdressers and museums are now in force.
Similar to the regulations requiring people to wear face masks on public transport, those in breach of the rules can be fined up to €2,500 or face six months imprisonment.
The regulations apply to shops, supermarkets, shopping centres, retail outlets, hairdressers, nail bars, museums, libraries, and cinemas. The requirement does not extend to restaurants, bars, cafes, or post offices, credit unions and banks. Premises providing healthcare services such as opticians or dentists are also exempt.


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--Knock Shrine closing for feast of Assumption of Mary due to Covid-19

Knock Shrine in Co Mayo will be closed next Saturday , August 15th , on what is generally one of its busiest days of the year .
August 15th is feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary to heaven and , on average , more than 20,000 pilgrims visit Knock on that day .
It was previously announced that this year ’ s novena at the shrine , which was scheduled to run from next Friday until August 22nd , had been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
In a statement on Monday , Fr Richard Gibbons , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ not to travel to Knock for the 15th August as the Shrine and grounds will be closed off to everyone in order to prevent large gatherings ” .
Fr Gibbons said the decision followed “ detailed discussions with Church and State bodies ” .
He said the “ unprecedented and heart-breaking decision ” was made “ in the light of the current escalation of Covid-19 cases around the country together with the sheer impossibility of having the resources necessary to deal with the potential of large numbers of people gathering ” at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be closed from 8pm on Friday to 7am on Sunday .
Masses will be celebrated online only and behind closed doors at noon , 3pm and 7.30pm .
“ As the National Marian Shrine , we have been extra vigilant in living up to our responsibilities amid this pandemic in placing people ’ s physical and spiritual wellbeing to the fore , ” Fr Gibbons said .
“ I would ask for your understanding and patience at this time.
” In previous years the shrine would be open from 5am on August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6am for people who would traditionally have walked to Knock from surrounding counties during the previous night and early morning .
Masses would then continue practically every hour until evening for those coming from across the country and beyond .

Knock Shrine in Co Mayo will be closed next Saturday, August 15th, on what is generally one of its busiest days of the year. Photograph: Michael McLaughlin.
Knock Shrine in Co Mayo will be closed next Saturday, August 15th, on what is generally one of its busiest days of the year.
August 15th is feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary to heaven and, on average, more than 20,000 pilgrims visit Knock on that day.
It was previously announced that this year’s novena at the shrine, which was scheduled to run from next Friday until August 22nd, had been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement on Monday, Fr Richard Gibbons, rector at Knock, appealed to people "not to travel to Knock for the 15th August as the Shrine and grounds will be closed off to everyone in order to prevent large gatherings".
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Fr Gibbons said the decision followed “detailed discussions with Church and State bodies”.
He said the “unprecedented and heart-breaking decision” was made “in the light of the current escalation of Covid-19 cases around the country together with the sheer impossibility of having the resources necessary to deal with the potential of large numbers of people gathering” at the shrine.
The shrine and grounds will be closed from 8pm on Friday to 7am on Sunday. Masses will be celebrated online only and behind closed doors at noon, 3pm and 7.30pm.
"As the National Marian Shrine, we have been extra vigilant in living up to our responsibilities amid this pandemic in placing people's physical and spiritual wellbeing to the fore," Fr Gibbons said. "I would ask for your understanding and patience at this time."
In previous years the shrine would be open from 5am on August 15th for confessions with first Mass at 6am for people who would traditionally have walked to Knock from surrounding counties during the previous night and early morning. Masses would then continue practically every hour until evening for those coming from across the country and beyond.


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--Aaron Brady found guilty of involvement in robbery that led to garda’s death

Aaron Brady has been found guilty of involvement in the robbery that led to Det Garda Adrian Donohoe being shot @ @ @ @ @ five men and seven women will continue their deliberations on Tuesday at the Central Criminal @ @ @ @ @ the capital murder of Det Garda Donohoe , which Mr Brady has denied .
At @ @ @ @ @ jury announced they had reached a unanimous verdict on count number two - relating to @ @ @ @ @ verdict , Mr Justice Michael White said he will accept a majority verdict in relation @ @ @ @ @ if at least 10 of the 12 jurors agree .
He asked the jury to @ @ @ @ @ considering their verdict .
Mr Brady ( 29 ) , from New Road , Crossmaglen @ @ @ @ @ denied involvement in the robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan , Co @ @ @ @ @ 2013 .
He has also pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Garda @ @ @ @ @ during the robbery .

Aaron Brady has been found guilty of involvement in the robbery that led to Det Garda Adrian Donohoe being shot dead in Co Louth more than seven years ago.
The jury of five men and seven women will continue their deliberations on Tuesday on the charge of capital murder which Brady has denied.
At 1.33pm, after 12 hours and 35 minutes considering their verdict since last Wednesday, the foreman of the jury announced that it had reached a unanimous verdict that Brady is guilty of robbery.
Mr Justice Michael White asked the jury to return to the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday, and said he will accept a majority verdict in relation to the capital murder charge if at least 10 of the 12 jurors agree.
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Brady (29), from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, had denied involvement in the robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25th, 2013.
He has also pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Garda Donohoe at the same location during the robbery.
During the trial the jury heard that four men jumped over a wall surrounding the credit union car park as employees prepared to leave with the day’s takings from several rural credit unions.
The prosecution has alleged that Brady was the gunman who fired a single shot that fatally wounded the detective.
Brady told the trial that he was at a diesel laundering yard on Concession Road in south Armagh when the robbery took place.
Verdicts
Mr Justice White has previously told the trial that there are several possible verdicts in relation to the capital murder charge.
If they are satisfied that the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that Brady was the gunman, for capital murder it must also be proven that he knew he was shooting a member of An Garda Síochána acting in accordance with his duty or was reckless as to whether it was a garda.
If they accept that he was the gunman but are not satisfied that capital murder is proven they can find him guilty of murder or guilty of manslaughter.
Manslaughter, the judge said, is an unlawful killing where the accused person did not intend to kill or cause serious injury.
The defence raised the possibility of manslaughter on the grounds that the shooter may have been attempting to fire a warning shot.


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--Covid-19 cases in Co Kildare running at almost eight times national average

More than 300 cases of Covid-19 were recorded in Co Kildare in the past fortnight , almost twice as many as any other county , new figures show .
The Department of Health has released figures showing the county-by-county incidence of the disease across the State for the first time .
Nine counties - Kerry , Kilkenny , Leitrim , Longford , Monaghan , Roscommon , Sligo , Tipperary and Waterford - currently have minimal spread of the disease , according to the data supplied on request to The Irish Times .
In contrast , the 14-day incidence of Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per 100,000 of population , almost eight times the national average .
Movement restrictions have been imposed in Co Kildare to try to control the spread of the disease , with significant clusters recorded at three meat factories .
The other two counties on which regional restrictions were imposed last Friday , Offaly and Laois , have 14-day incidences of 109 and 83.8 respectively .
The next highest incidence is in Co Clare , at 26.1 , followed by Co Cavan ( 18.4 ) and Limerick , at 14.9 .
The lowest figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has eight new cases and an incidence rate of 3.1 .
However , the number of new cases is not provided for nine counties that recorded fewer than five case over the two-week period , in order to protect patient confidentiality .
This means their incidence , which is low , can not be calculated .
In total , 833 new cases of the disease were recorded between July 26th and midnight on August 8th , giving a national incidence of 17.5 .
This is almost eight times higher than in figures recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not currently published though daily epidemiological reports do provide information on the cumulative incidence of the disease in counties .
The National Public Health Emergency Team has said it plans to publish daily , localised incidence figures soon .

Business owners on the Dublin border in Kildare feel 'conned' over the latest lockdown measures. Video: Enda O'Dowd
More than 300 cases of Covid-19 were recorded in Co Kildare in the past fortnight, almost twice as many as any other county.
The Department of Health has released figures showing the county-by-county incidence of the disease across the State for the first time.
Nine counties – Kerry, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Longford, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary and Waterford – currently have minimal spread of the disease, according to the data supplied on request to The Irish Times.
In contrast, the 14-day incidence of Covid-19 in Co Kildare stands at 138.4 cases per 100,000 of population, almost eight times the national average.
READ MORE
Movement restrictions have been imposed in Co Kildare to try to control the spread of the disease, with significant clusters recorded at three meat factories.
The other two counties on which regional restrictions were imposed last Friday, Offaly and Laois, have 14-day incidences of 109 and 83.8 respectively.
The next highest incidence is in Co Clare at 26.1, followed by Co Cavan at 18.4 and Limerick at 14.9. Dublin has a rate of 11.7.
The lowest figure provided is for Co Galway, which has eight new cases and an incidence rate of 3.1.
Five cases
The number of new cases is not provided for nine counties that recorded fewer than five case over the two-week period in order to protect patient confidentiality. This means their incidence, which is low, cannot be calculated.
In total, 833 new cases of the disease were recorded between July 26th and midnight on August 8th, giving a national incidence of 17.5. This is almost eight times higher than figures recorded in June.
Fourteen-day incidence figures are not currently published, though daily epidemiological reports do provide information on the cumulative incidence of the disease in counties. The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has said it plans to publish daily localised incidence figures soon.


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--Covid-19: Politicians calling for meat plant closures ‘not helpful’, Varadkar says

Táiniste Leo Varadkar has said it is not “ helpful ” for politicians to be “ falling all over each other ” in calling for the closure of meat plants in the midlans in the wake of Covid-19 clusters at factories in Kildare , Laois and Offaly .
Three of four affected plants remained closed on Monday , with a fourth - the Carroll ’ s Cuisine facility in Tullamore , Co Offaly - remaining open .
The decision to remain open prompted calls from Minister of State Seán Fleming for the State to take action if the company “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
“ I am calling on them to close , to show solidarity with the local community , ” the Laois-Offaly TD told RTÉ Radio ’ s Today with Sarah McInerney show .
“ I expect that before this day is out that this factory will close .
Three out of the four have done the right thing.
” The company on Sunday said it would remain open but is being “ constantly vigilant on every possible front ” regarding the outbreak .
Asked about Mr Fleming ’ s comments later on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of meat plants or otherwise would be a decision for local public health authorities .
“ I don ’ t really think it ’ s helpful for individual politicians to be falling over each other to tell people to close their businesses , or tell people what to do or what not to do , ” he said .
“ The decisions have to be led by those people who are experts in the field.
” Siptu and the meat industry are to contact the health service about putting in place improvements to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the meat processing sector .
Following talks with the trade union on Monday , Meat Industry Ireland is to bring a proposed charter for the sector , which was put forward by Siptu and includes new arrangements on pay , conditions and sick leave , to its members .
Further talks are expected to take place in the next two or three weeks .
Siptu organiser Greg Ennis said there had been “ robust and frank discussions ” with representatives of the processing sector on Monday .
It is understood that the union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the HSE to discuss improvements to the Covid-19 testing system including the provision of quicker tests and faster access to results to ensure the continuity of production and the safety of workers .
Mr Varadkar said it was important not to engender a “ culture of blame ” regarding outbreaks of the disease .
“ We don ’ t want people to be afraid to report their symptoms or to say that they may be infected .
We don ’ t want businesses to be afraid , if they ’ ve a cluster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can act , ” he said .
“ It ’ s important we know the facts and understand the facts before we start finger pointing , and I do know that the meat industry has done a huge amount in the past couple of months , had no cases for a prolonged period and now there ’ s been an outbreak in a number of plants.
” Three other factories in the midlands have closed following the discovery of clusters of Covid-19 among staff .
The spread of the virus in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being introduced in counties Kildare , Offaly and Laois .
Kildare Chilling in Kildare town , which has registered 150 cases , and O ’ Brien Fine Foods in Timahoe , with 86 cases , have suspended production , while Irish Dog Foods in Naas , where 53 cases have been reported , has delayed plans to reopen .
Some 210 employees at the Carroll ’ s meat plant in Tullamore were tested on Sunday for coronavirus as part of two testing programmes carried out at the factory in the last week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ own specific situation has not escalated further ” but that they were “ doubling and redoubling our efforts to stop any spread of the virus and staying constantly vigilant ” and keeping the situation under review on “ an hourly and day by day basis ” .
The plant is also undergoing a deep-clean , it said .
The company welcomed proposals for 14 day recurring testing within the meat sector and said it would fully participate in any such initiative .
An outbreak team is currently working to assess measures needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Minister for Business , was speaking at a shoe shop on Dublin ’ s Grafton Street to mark the launch of a “ restart grant plus ” that will see grants of up to €25,000 offered to businesses to help with costs associated with reopening and adapting their premises .
He said applications were now open , with a target time for decisions by local authorities administering the scheme of two weeks .
Mr Varadkar said he would meet with chambers of commerce in the affected counties this afternoon , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from them about perhaps additional things we can do that are specific to these three counties and that would set a precedent of course for future local lockdowns that might happen in other places as well.
” He said that the existing schemes for business support , however , were “ already calibrated to help those businesses that need it the most ” .

Extra Covid-19 testing of workers at all of the State's meat processing plants are to be put in place "with rapid results" in the wake of a sharp rise in the number of cases, following a meeting between Meat Industry Ireland and Siptu.
Mandatory temperature testing arrangements are also to be examined, said Siptu official Greg Ennis, who added that both the union and Meat Industry Ireland will now hold talks with the Health Service Executive to organise the new test rules.
Meanwhile, the last of the four plants affected by the latest upsurge in cases, Tullamore-based Carroll’s Cuisine, has suspended operations following earlier decisions by the other three to shut.
Despite saying on Sunday it would remain open but “constantly vigilant”, Carroll’s yesterday afternoon said it had decided to suspend operations to support public health efforts to stop the spread of the virus.
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The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases among its workers remains "low", it said, but added: "We believe that the best approach is to take this break in operations over the days ahead until we can evaluate the results of comprehensive tests," said Kieran Carolan, the company's chief executive.
Independent testing carried out at Carroll’s last week revealed that nine of its 330 workers had the virus, an infection rate of 2.4 per cent. Those workers were now in isolation and are being paid, he said.
Noting that public health and Government advice was that businesses should close when Covid-19 cases occurred, Mr Carolan said it was “essential” that plants were able to supply customers and that they could reopen “once any particular situation is contained and brought under control”.
State intervention
Earlier, Laois-Offaly TD and Minister of State Seán Fleming said the State would have to intervene if Carroll’s “doesn’t do the right thing”, saying he expected the plant would shut “before this day is out”.
However, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said closure decisions were primarily a matter for public health doctors. "I don't really think it's helpful for individual politicians to be falling over each other to tell people to close their businesses, or tell people what to do or what not to do," he said.
Meanwhile, Migrant Rights Centre Ireland said the Government should examine the practices in the State’s meat plants: “This is low-wage work – dirty, difficult, and dangerous – with a long history of health and safety violations,” said Edel McGinley, the centre’s director.
More than half of all those working in meat plants were foreign workers, she said, and are particularly over-represented in jobs on the factory floor. The centre had received “ongoing complaints” from workers since the March lockdown.
“It is not logical that a factory can run such labour-intensive production at the same pace as prior to the pandemic; it is not business as usual,” she said. “It’s time that workers lives are valued more than profits.”
Every plant with a Covid-19 case should be immediately closed for a fortnight, while deep cleaning took place, she added. All workers should receive full pay, while plants should only reopen gradually with a full role for the Health and Safety Authority and the HSE.
Meanwhile, the centre joined Siptu’s calls for higher pay for all workers, sick pay entitlements, rapid result testing for Covid-19 and regular and unannounced inspections at meat factories by State officials.
The Government should order the immediate closure of affected meat plants, said Labour Senator Jack Wall. “Labour have consistently warned about working conditions in the meat industry and that we cannot rely on the word of Meat Industry Ireland to keep workers safe.”
Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary should immediately establish a working group to examine conditions at meat factories, he said.


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--Radical road plan for Sandymount could be ‘fantastic’ or ‘disastrous’

Plans to restrict Strand Road in Sandymount to one-way traffic were branded “ brave ” , “ fantastic ” and “ disastrous ” by those enjoying the sunshine on the south Dublin coast this weekend , with some holding all three opinions at once .
Dublin City Council intends to turn half of the road into a two-way cycle track with traffic reduced to one lane from Sean Moore Road to the Merrion Gates .
The radical plan , the latest in a series of measures to requisition roadspace from cars for cyclists , found favour with many dodging the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday .
“ I would be in favour of it , as long as it is done in a thoughtful manner , ” Sandymount resident Penny Kyle said .
“ My only concern would be that the smaller residential roads would become rat runs , but if they can manage to develop it in such a way that that wouldn ’ t happen , I think it could be fantastic.
” Vivienne Ahern , who had travelled to Sandymount from Rathfarnham , thought the idea of a fully segregated cycle lane could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Where we live cyclepaths have been put in which are just painted down have of a road lane , so there is not enough physical space for cyclists and cars .
This is a much better idea .
Where there is proper separation so the cyclists are not going to get mixed in with the traffic.
” One man who lives on Strand Road described himself as “ cautiously positive ” about the proposals .
“ I would be happy provided it is implemented in a sensible way .
We live in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried they might take away our parking outside the house .
We have two small kids and the parking is a great barrier between us and the traffic.
” However , he would like to see changes to the road .
“ Trucks speed along here every day so overall I would be cautiously positive about something that would reduce that .
But I do feel funny about it being pushed through as a Covid-19 emergency measure , it doesn ’ t seem appropriate.
” Geraldine O ’ Flaherty , who lives on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the proposal .
“ It ’ s ridiculous !
” she said .
“ I would be very concerned about the effect this could have on Park Avenue .
If Strand Road is made one way , Park Avenue will be the only other option for people apart from the Merrion Road , which is already choked with traffic .
There will be a surge of traffic onto Park Avenue , it will be absolute mayhem.
” She also questioned whether there would be much call for a cyclepath after the summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that many people using it in the winter , particularly women , are they going to want to turn up in the office with their hair and clothes ruined ?
” Jamie Kennedy and Dermot Hughes , members of the Blackrock Athletics Club , who were running to the Phoenix Park and back to train for marathons that are no longer happening , had many and varied views on the wisdom of the proposals .
“ I think it ’ s a good idea , a great idea , I think they should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be disastrous , ” Mr Kennedy said .
The just-over-2.5km journey from the Merrion Gates to Sean Moore Road already takes 40 minutes , he said .
“ In the long run what they should do is have a board walk on the other side of the sea wall and put the cycle path there.
” Mr Hughes said the one-way system recently introduced in Blackrock had transformed the village .
“ Blackrock was soulless , it never had the atmosphere of Dalkey or Ranelagh , but the one-way system , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been a radical improvement .
This [ Strand Road ] needs a radical plan as well , and by God is this radical !
” Mr Hughes was sceptical that the cyclepath was a temporary measure .
“ They ’ re saying it ’ s temporary ?
That ’ s the greatest load of bulls**t !
I say give it a lash for three months , and remove it if it ’ s not working , and don ’ t be bulls**tting us.
” Mr Kennedy said he was in favour of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a brave plan , it ’ s a good idea , but it ’ s not going to work .
”

Plans to restrict Strand Road in Sandymount to one-way traffic were branded "brave", "fantastic" and "disastrous" by those enjoying the sunshine on the south Dublin coast this weekend, with some holding all three opinions at once.
Dublin City Council intends to turn half of the road into a two-way cycle track with traffic reduced to one lane from Sean Moore Road to the Merrion Gates.
The radical plan, the latest in a series of measures to requisition roadspace from cars for cyclists, found favour with many dodging the heavy traffic to get to the seaside on Saturday.
“I would be in favour of it, as long as it is done in a thoughtful manner,” Sandymount resident Penny Kyle said. “My only concern would be that the smaller residential roads would become rat runs, but if they can manage to develop it in such a way that that wouldn’t happen, I think it could be fantastic.”
READ MORE
Vivienne Ahern, who had travelled to Sandymount from Rathfarnham, thought the idea of a fully segregated cycle lane could work well on Strand Road.
“Where we live cyclepaths have been put in which are just painted down have of a road lane, so there is not enough physical space for cyclists and cars. This is a much better idea. Where there is proper separation so the cyclists are not going to get mixed in with the traffic.”
One man who lives on Strand Road described himself as “cautiously positive” about the proposals.
“I would be happy provided it is implemented in a sensible way. We live in a cottage there, and I would be worried they might take away our parking outside the house. We have two small kids and the parking is a great barrier between us and the traffic.”
However, he would like to see changes to the road. “Trucks speed along here every day so overall I would be cautiously positive about something that would reduce that. But I do feel funny about it being pushed through as a Covid-19 emergency measure, it doesn’t seem appropriate.”
Geraldine O'Flaherty, who lives on Park Avenue in Sandymount is less ambivalent about the proposal.
“It’s ridiculous!” she said. “I would be very concerned about the effect this could have on Park Avenue. If Strand Road is made one way, Park Avenue will be the only other option for people apart from the Merrion Road, which is already choked with traffic. There will be a surge of traffic onto Park Avenue, it will be absolute mayhem.”
She also questioned whether there would be much call for a cyclepath after the summer. “I can’t see that many people using it in the winter, particularly women, are they going to want to turn up in the office with their hair and clothes ruined?”
Jamie Kennedy and Dermot Hughes, members of the Blackrock Athletics Club, who were running to the Phoenix Park and back to train for marathons that are no longer happening, had many and varied views on the wisdom of the proposals.
“I think it’s a good idea, a great idea, I think they should do it, but it’s going to be disastrous,” Mr Kennedy said. The just-over-2.5km journey from the Merrion Gates to Sean Moore Road already takes 40 minutes, he said.
“In the long run what they should do is have a board walk on the other side of the sea wall and put the cycle path there.”
Mr Hughes said the one-way system recently introduced in Blackrock had transformed the village. "Blackrock was soulless, it never had the atmosphere of Dalkey or Ranelagh, but the one-way system, while the lay out needs some adjustment has been a radical improvement. This [Strand Road] needs a radical plan as well, and by God is this radical!"
Mr Hughes was sceptical that the cyclepath was a temporary measure. “They’re saying it’s temporary? That’s the greatest load of bulls**t! I say give it a lash for three months, and remove it if it’s not working, and don’t be bulls**tting us.”
Mr Kennedy said he was in favour of the plan in principle. “It’s a brave plan, it’s a good idea, but it’s not going to work.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--Face coverings now mandatory in shops and other indoor settings

Regulations making face coverings mandatory in shops and other indoor public settings such as hairdressers and museums are in force from today .
Similar to the regulations requiring people to wear face masks on public transport , those in breach of the rules can be fined up to €2,500 or face six months imprisonment .
The move to make face coverings mandatory in shops and other retail outlets was announced three weeks ago , with regulations enforcing the measures coming into effect from today .
The regulations apply to shops , supermarkets , shopping centres , retail outlets , hairdressers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and cinemas .
The requirement does not extend to restaurants , bars , cafes , or post offices , credit unions and banks .
Premises providing healthcare services such as opticians or dentists are also exempt .
Children under 13 years of age are exempt from the regulations , as are people who can not wear face coverings due to a physical or mental illness .
All retail staff will be required to wear face coverings at work , unless they are separated from customers by a partition , or can maintain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic public health officials played down the usefulness of face masks , however they introduced the mandatory measures as the country began to reopen from lockdown .
Officials had feared the use of masks would lead to a slippage in compliance with other measures , such as frequent hand washing and social distancing , which are more effective in preventing the spread of Covid-19 .
Disposable face coverings should not be worn more than once , and reusable cloth masks should be washed after use at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McEntee has said if an individual remains inside a shop or other outlet without a mask , the owner or staff would engage with them in the first instance .
Only as a “ last resort ” would gardaí be called to deal with the matter , she said .
Ms McEntee said gardaí had only been required to be called in a small number of cases where people refused to wear face coverings on public transport .
The regulations around face coverings in shops come into force as the number of coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in part due to several large outbreaks in food processing plants .
The death toll from Covid-19 in the Republic now stands at 1,772 and there are 26,712 confirmed cases .

Regulations making face coverings mandatory in shops and other indoor public settings such as hairdressers and museums are in force from today.
Similar to the regulations requiring people to wear face masks on public transport, those in breach of the rules can be fined up to €2,500 or face six months imprisonment.
The move to make face coverings mandatory in shops and other retail outlets was announced three weeks ago, with regulations enforcing the measures coming into effect from today.
The regulations apply to shops, supermarkets, shopping centres, retail outlets, hairdressers, nail bars, museums, libraries, and cinemas.
READ MORE
The requirement does not extend to restaurants, bars, cafes, or post offices, credit unions and banks. Premises providing healthcare services such as opticians or dentists are also exempt.
Children under 13 years of age are exempt from the regulations, as are people who cannot wear face coverings due to a physical or mental illness.
All retail staff will be required to wear face coverings at work, unless they are separated from customers by a partition, or can maintain a 2m distance at all times.
In the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic public health officials played down the usefulness of face masks, however they introduced the mandatory measures as the country began to reopen from lockdown.
Officials had feared the use of masks would lead to a slippage in compliance with other measures, such as frequent hand washing and social distancing, which are more effective in preventing the spread of Covid-19.
Disposable face coverings should not be worn more than once, and reusable cloth masks should be washed after use at 60 degrees.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has said if an individual remains inside a shop or other outlet without a mask, the owner or staff would engage with them in the first instance. Only as a “last resort” would gardaí be called to deal with the matter, she said.
Ms McEntee said gardaí had only been required to be called in a small number of cases where people refused to wear face coverings on public transport.
The regulations around face coverings in shops come into force as the number of coronavirus cases has increased over the last week, in part due to several large outbreaks in food processing plants. The death toll from Covid-19 in the Republic now stands at 1,772 and there are 26,712 confirmed cases.