theirishtimes--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Cork nursing home the first to pilot new symptom alert software

A Cork nursing home has become the first in the country to pilot an innovative piece of remote temperature checking software that can detect early Covid-19 warning symptoms in staff .
This week Taoiseach Leo Varadkar acknowledged those in nursing homes , being elderly and infirm , were at particular risk of contracting the disease which has claimed 730 lives in Ireland .
Mr Varadkar said Covid-19 was going to exact a significant toll on the nursing home population and the government ’ s job was to minimise that by safeguarding those in nursing homes and other care homes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Mater Hospital , Dr Jack Lambert told RTÉ ’ s Today with Sean O ’ Rourke the number of Covid-19 clusters in nursing homes had grown from the mid-20s in March to more than 200 .
But now , Oaklodge Nursing Home , in Cloyne in East Cork , has begun to address the issue for its 65 residents and 83 staff by piloting the Covid-19 Remote Early Warning System ( CREW ) which has just been developed .
The Crew warning system was developed by software development company , 8 West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Health at University College Cork , The Assert centre and Tyndall Institute at UCC .
The system , which was initially trialled at Cork University Hospital over the past two weeks , focuses on the fact that the most common symptom in cases of Covid-19 is a rise in body temperature .
The CREW system remotely checks the temperature of staff with a digital thermometer sensor and an alarm is triggered if their temperature gets too high , which is a warning to stay at home and self-isolate .
Owner of Oaklodge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were thrilled to be the first nursing home in Ireland to trial the CREW software which is still in the test phase before it can be rolled out nationally .
“ Covid-19 presents unparalleled challenges for nursing home staffing throughout the country , so technology like this that helps to protect our frontline workers is critical , ” he said .
“ We are delighted to be the first nursing home into trial the CREW software .
Thankfully , we currently have no Coronavirus cases , and hope this will help to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alike over the coming months.
” Professor Barry O ’ Reilly , director of the Assert Research Centre at UCC , said a huge amount of diagnosed cases of Covid-19 are occurring among the healthcare community working to halt the spread of the disease .
“ The single common variable in most cases is a rise in body temperature so 8 West decided to repurpose some of its existing SafeTrx technology to build a Covid-19 Remote Early Warning System ( CREW ) for frontline workers.
” John Murphy , chief executive of 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partnership with a strong project team that includes Sony , emergency medicine clinicians , medical researchers and Cambridge Wireless , said initial results were positive .
“ Including care homes has always being part of the vision and we are delighted to be working with Oaklodge as our first implementation in that sector , ” said Mr Murphy , adding the CREW platform is showing good functionality .
“ Preliminary data analysis is showing good usability , positive encouraging and consistent temperature recording results , with close alignment of the sensor data to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperature data .
”

A Cork nursing home has become the first in the country to pilot an innovative piece of remote temperature checking software. Photograph: Getty
A Cork nursing home has become the first in the country to pilot an innovative piece of remote temperature checking software that can detect early Covid-19 warning symptoms in staff.
This week Taoiseach Leo Varadkar acknowledged those in nursing homes, being elderly and infirm, were at particular risk of contracting the disease which has claimed 730 lives in Ireland.
Mr Varadkar said Covid-19 was going to exact a significant toll on the nursing home population and the government’s job was to minimise that by safeguarding those in nursing homes and other care homes.
And a specialist in infectious diseases at the Mater Hospital, Dr Jack Lambert told RTÉ's Today with Sean O'Rourke the number of Covid-19 clusters in nursing homes had grown from the mid-20s in March to more than 200.
READ MORE
But now, Oaklodge Nursing Home, in Cloyne in East Cork, has begun to address the issue for its 65 residents and 83 staff by piloting the Covid-19 Remote Early Warning System (CREW) which has just been developed.
The Crew warning system was developed by software development company, 8 West Consulting, with the College of Medicine and Health at University College Cork, The Assert centre and Tyndall Institute at UCC.
The system, which was initially trialled at Cork University Hospital over the past two weeks, focuses on the fact that the most common symptom in cases of Covid-19 is a rise in body temperature.
The CREW system remotely checks the temperature of staff with a digital thermometer sensor and an alarm is triggered if their temperature gets too high, which is a warning to stay at home and self-isolate.
Owner of Oaklodge nursing home, Diarmuid Ó Dálaigh said they were thrilled to be the first nursing home in Ireland to trial the CREW software which is still in the test phase before it can be rolled out nationally.
“Covid-19 presents unparalleled challenges for nursing home staffing throughout the country, so technology like this that helps to protect our frontline workers is critical,” he said.
"We are delighted to be the first nursing home into trial the CREW software. Thankfully, we currently have no Coronavirus cases, and hope this will help to continue to protect our staff and residents alike over the coming months."
Professor Barry O'Reilly, director of the Assert Research Centre at UCC, said a huge amount of diagnosed cases of Covid-19 are occurring among the healthcare community working to halt the spread of the disease.
“The single common variable in most cases is a rise in body temperature so 8 West decided to repurpose some of its existing SafeTrx technology to build a Covid-19 Remote Early Warning System (CREW) for frontline workers.”
John Murphy, chief executive of 8 West, which developed the software in partnership with a strong project team that includes Sony, emergency medicine clinicians, medical researchers and Cambridge Wireless, said initial results were positive.
“Including care homes has always being part of the vision and we are delighted to be working with Oaklodge as our first implementation in that sector,” said Mr Murphy, adding the CREW platform is showing good functionality.
“Preliminary data analysis is showing good usability, positive encouraging and consistent temperature recording results, with close alignment of the sensor data to that from tympanic membrane (ear) temperature data.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-22--Summer has been cancelled? Well, not really - check out the forecast

The announcement that mass gatherings would be cancelled until September prompted some to declare that summer had effectively been cancelled .
Nobody told the weather forecasters .
While many are finding it tough to lift their mood at the moment , some have noted that at least the weather has been kind to us over the last month or so .
And things are expected to get even better this week .
Temperatures are set to rise to 21 degrees on Thursday with clear , sunny spells forecast for the coming days .
Wednesday will be a dry day with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breezes .
Cloudier intervals will occur too with highest temperatures between 15 and 19 degrees .
Not bad for April even if a walk around the garden is more likely than a trip to the beach during the current coronavirus restrictions .
Thursday will be very mild with highest temperatures ranging between 15 and 21 degrees .
It will be another dry day with bright spells , though it will be cooler along parts of the east coast .
There will be some patches of mist on Thursday night with lowest temperatures between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easterly or variable breezes .
Friday is set to be dry and sunny with local sea breezes .
It is expected to be another very mild day with highest temperatures ranging between 16 and 20 degrees , with warmest conditions inland .
Met Éireann said some scattered showers will move up from the south on Saturday with a mix of cloud and sunny spells during the day .
Highest temperatures will be between 14 and 19 degrees with spells of rain breaking out on Saturday night .
Showery spells of rain will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest temperatures ranging from 13 to 17 degrees .

The announcement that mass gatherings would be cancelled until September prompted some to declare that summer had effectively been cancelled. Nobody told the weather forecasters.
While many are finding it tough to lift their mood at the moment, some have noted that at least the weather has been kind to us over the last month or so. And things are expected to get even better this week.
Temperatures are set to rise to 21 degrees on Thursday with clear, sunny spells forecast for the coming days. Wednesday will be a dry day with spells of hazy sunshine and light easterly breezes. Cloudier intervals will occur too with highest temperatures between 15 and 19 degrees.
Not bad for April even if a walk around the garden is more likely than a trip to the beach during the current coronavirus restrictions.
READ MORE
Thursday will be very mild with highest temperatures ranging between 15 and 21 degrees. It will be another dry day with bright spells, though it will be cooler along parts of the east coast.
There will be some patches of mist on Thursday night with lowest temperatures between 3 and 7 degrees, in light easterly or variable breezes.
Friday is set to be dry and sunny with local sea breezes. It is expected to be another very mild day with highest temperatures ranging between 16 and 20 degrees, with warmest conditions inland.
Met Éireann said some scattered showers will move up from the south on Saturday with a mix of cloud and sunny spells during the day.
Highest temperatures will be between 14 and 19 degrees with spells of rain breaking out on Saturday night.
Showery spells of rain will continue on Sunday with occasional sunny spells and highest temperatures ranging from 13 to 17 degrees.


theirishtimes--2020-04-22--Irish couple finally home after weeks stranded in Peru

A retired Irish doctor who has been stranded in Peru with his wife since early March and who contracted Covid-19 while in Latin America has arrived back in Dublin .
Dr Ian Lindsay and his wife Mary McCarron managed to fly from Cusco to Lima at the weekend and then caught a flight back to Europe organised by the German government .
The couple were unable to fly home to Ireland on the emergency repatriation flight organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs on March 29th because he had tested positive for coronavirus .
Dr Lindsay , his wife , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stuck in quarantine since .
Shortly after he tested positive for the virus , local health authorities in Cusco extended the mandatory quarantine period from 14 to 28 days .
As a result , the couples were unable to leave the city for a British Airways repatriation flight from Lima last week .
They were also stopped last week from boarding a military plane arranged by the Peruvian government to bring tourists from Cusco to Lima after the local health ministry announced that any people who had contracted the virus , including those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The couples managed to reach Lima in a plane also commissioned by the German government in time to board the flight back to Europe .
They arrived into Frankfurt on Monday , flew on to Amsterdam and reached Dublin on Monday night .
Dr Lindsay said local Peruvian airlines would not transport any tourists who had contracted the virus making it almost impossible for the group to get out of Cusco .
“ They just refused to take anybody who either had the coronavirus infection in the past or even had close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lindsay said .
“ It didn ’ t matter how long ago that had happened – simple blanket ban .
It reminded me of the attitude towards Aids in the 80s.
” “ The biggest problem in Cusco was just getting the authorities to agree anything .
Everything had to be agreed by several local and national ministries .
It was painfully slow .
Dr Lindsay said he was relieved to be home and hugely grateful for the support he received from the Irish ambassador in Chile and the British ambassador in Peru @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what was expected and help an awful lot of people because we were not the only ones stuck in Cusco , ” he said .
“ There were dozens of backpackers in hotels with little money and very often quarantined in one room on their own for four weeks at a time .
They were the ones who cheered the loudest as that plane left Lima .
”

A retired Irish doctor who has been stranded in Peru with his wife since early March and who contracted Covid-19 while in Latin America has arrived back in Dublin.
Dr Ian Lindsay and his wife Mary McCarron managed to fly from Cusco to Lima at the weekend and then caught a flight back to Europe organised by the German government. The couple were unable to fly home to Ireland on the emergency repatriation flight organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs on March 29th because he had tested positive for coronavirus.
Dr Lindsay, his wife, his sister-in-law and her partner had been stuck in quarantine since. Shortly after he tested positive for the virus, local health authorities in Cusco extended the mandatory quarantine period from 14 to 28 days. As a result, the couples were unable to leave the city for a British Airways repatriation flight from Lima last week.
They were also stopped last week from boarding a military plane arranged by the Peruvian government to bring tourists from Cusco to Lima after the local health ministry announced that any people who had contracted the virus, including those who had recovered, could not travel.
READ MORE
The couples managed to reach Lima in a plane also commissioned by the German government in time to board the flight back to Europe. They arrived into Frankfurt on Monday, flew on to Amsterdam and reached Dublin on Monday night.
Dr Lindsay said local Peruvian airlines would not transport any tourists who had contracted the virus making it almost impossible for the group to get out of Cusco.
“They just refused to take anybody who either had the coronavirus infection in the past or even had close contact with the virus,” Dr Lindsay said. “It didn’t matter how long ago that had happened – simple blanket ban. It reminded me of the attitude towards Aids in the 80s.”
“The biggest problem in Cusco was just getting the authorities to agree anything. Everything had to be agreed by several local and national ministries. It was painfully slow.
Dr Lindsay said he was relieved to be home and hugely grateful for the support he received from the Irish ambassador in Chile and the British ambassador in Peru.
“They both went way above what was expected and help an awful lot of people because we were not the only ones stuck in Cusco,” he said. “There were dozens of backpackers in hotels with little money and very often quarantined in one room on their own for four weeks at a time. They were the ones who cheered the loudest as that plane left Lima.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Lack of childcare for health workers creating staffing problems

Health workers have expressed dismay at the Government ’ s failure to act on its promise to provide childcare support for essential medical staff during the coronavirus crisis .
Forsa , the trade union representing over 30,000 hospital and community health workers , said the lack of progress on the issue six weeks after the closure of schools and crèches was creating additional staffing problems in the healthcare sector .
HSE chief executive , Paul Reid , revealed earlier this week that around 7,000 healthcare workers had indicated they needed some form of childcare support to allow them to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forsa said a meeting of senior HSE officials on Tuesday for the fifth week in a row had failed to agree measures to deal with the issue .
The head of the union ’ s health and welfare division , Éamonn Donnelly , said there was growing evidence that the failure to act was forcing essential healthcare staff to stay at home to look after their children at a time when the virus was depleting the number of workers available for work in hospitals and other care settings .
Mr Donnelly said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and carers and families where both parents were employed in the health sector .
He said staffing pressures had worsened while zero progress on the provision of childcare was being made as significant numbers of healthcare workers had contracted the virus or had to self-isolate .
“ Increasing numbers of health workers have been forced to take annual leave to cover gaps in their temporary childcare arrangements and a growing number are telling us that they simply have to prioritise their children in the absence of promised supports , ” Mr Donnelly observed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health workers had contracted Covid-19 by last week .
While the union recognised there were public health challenges associated with the provision of childcare for health workers , it said they had been given reassurance by the Government when schools and crèches were closed on March 12th that supports would be put in place .
Speaking on Tuesday night , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar acknowledged the provision of childcare for healthcare staff was a problem that the Government wanted to resolve .
The main proposal is that qualified childcare workers will become childminders in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Varadkar said the solution would require clearance from the National Public Health Emergency Team , which acts as the main advisory body for the Government on dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic .
In an interview on RTÉ ’ s Prime Time , Mr Varadkar said public health experts were concerned that the proposal would be “ mixing households again ” which could contribute to the spread of the corona virus .
Mr Varadkar said the government was awaiting a report from NPHET which he understood was being finalised on Tuesday .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to do it in days or weeks .
If they don ’ t , then we can ’ t unfortunately , ” he said .
Another union representing healthcare workers , Siptu , said it was aware of staff taking annual leave and calling in sick in order to mind their children , while some grandparents , who should be ‘ cocooning ’ , were looking after the children of healthcare staff as no alternatives were available .
The Minister for Children , Katherine Zappone , recently informed TDs that intensive work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe and pragmatic solution that meets the needs of essential workers , is child centred , and protects any childcare practitioners who might volunteer .
”

About 7,000 health service staff have indicated they need some form of childcare support. Photograph: Frank Miller.
Health workers have expressed dismay at the Government’s failure to act on its promise to provide childcare support for essential medical staff during the coronavirus crisis.
Forsa, the trade union representing over 30,000 hospital and community health workers, said the lack of progress on the issue six weeks after the closure of schools and crèches was creating additional staffing problems in the healthcare sector.
HSE chief executive, Paul Reid, revealed earlier this week that around 7,000 healthcare workers had indicated they needed some form of childcare support to allow them to continue working during the current Covid-19 pandemic.
Forsa said a meeting of senior HSE officials on Tuesday for the fifth week in a row had failed to agree measures to deal with the issue.
READ MORE
The head of the union’s health and welfare division, Éamonn Donnelly, said there was growing evidence that the failure to act was forcing essential healthcare staff to stay at home to look after their children at a time when the virus was depleting the number of workers available for work in hospitals and other care settings.
Mr Donnelly said the problem was particularly acute for single parents and carers and families where both parents were employed in the health sector.
He said staffing pressures had worsened while zero progress on the provision of childcare was being made as significant numbers of healthcare workers had contracted the virus or had to self-isolate.
“Increasing numbers of health workers have been forced to take annual leave to cover gaps in their temporary childcare arrangements and a growing number are telling us that they simply have to prioritise their children in the absence of promised supports,” Mr Donnelly observed.
Forsa pointed out that over 2,500 health workers had contracted Covid-19 by last week.
While the union recognised there were public health challenges associated with the provision of childcare for health workers, it said they had been given reassurance by the Government when schools and crèches were closed on March 12th that supports would be put in place.
Speaking on Tuesday night, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar acknowledged the provision of childcare for healthcare staff was a problem that the Government wanted to resolve.
The main proposal is that qualified childcare workers will become childminders in the homes of healthcare staff but Mr Varadkar said the solution would require clearance from the National Public Health Emergency Team, which acts as the main advisory body for the Government on dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an interview on RTÉ’s Prime Time, Mr Varadkar said public health experts were concerned that the proposal would be “mixing households again” which could contribute to the spread of the corona virus.
Mr Varadkar said the government was awaiting a report from NPHET which he understood was being finalised on Tuesday.
“If they clear it, we will be able to do it in days or weeks. If they don’t, then we can’t unfortunately,” he said.
Another union representing healthcare workers, Siptu, said it was aware of staff taking annual leave and calling in sick in order to mind their children, while some grandparents, who should be ‘cocooning’, were looking after the children of healthcare staff as no alternatives were available.
The Minister for Children, Katherine Zappone, recently informed TDs that intensive work was being done to deliver “a safe and pragmatic solution that meets the needs of essential workers, is child centred, and protects any childcare practitioners who might volunteer.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-22--Covid-19: Questions raised over Garda response to Debenhams and Four Courts protests

Questions have been raised about the enforcement of Covid-19 restrictions after a Debenhams workers ’ protest was broken up by gardaí , while a gathering of activists was allowed to proceed in the Four Courts for three hours .
Just before 11am on Tuesday gardaí told five former Debenhams workers demonstrating in Dublin city centre to end their protest because it was deemed “ a non-essential journey ” .
Saying that while they supported the former workers ’ right to protest , the gardaí said they could not do so while the Government ’ s Covid-19 pandemic restrictions remain in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an hour earlier , dozens of people gathered in the Round Hall of the Four Courts in support of journalist-activists Gemma O ’ Doherty and John Waters who have challenged the legality of the movement restriction .
People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith said it was “ disgusting ” that Garda powers were used against the “ small and safe ” Debenhams protest while the larger group in the Four Courts were allowed to remain .
“ The two incidents stand in stark contrast to each other , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on this [ Debenhams ] protest , and it should not fall to the whim of the Garda to decide that workers protesting against the loss of their jobs and income after decades of service is non-essential and not allowed.
” A small number of gardaí monitored the group in the Four Courts but made no apparent effort to disperse them , eyewitnesses said .
Under supporting guidelines to the legislation on controlling the spread of the coronavirus , the Garda has been instructed to deal with people travelling for non-essential reasons in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engagement and culminating in arrest – but it has no specific guidelines on how to deal with demonstrations .
By the time the High Court case started , about 100 people had gathered .
Some entered the courtroom where the case was being heard , before they were directed to leave by the judge .
However , they continued to congregate outside in the Round Hall until about 1pm .
Few , if any , of the group adhered to social distancing guidelines .
Solicitor Gareth Noble , whose firm had received permission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a special needs child before the courts on Tuesday morning , expressed concern over the gathering .
“ When we went down to bring the application we realised it would have been dangerous to move through the group .
There was no social distancing and people were blocking the entrance.
” Mr Noble said they made a decision not to proceed with the application on health grounds because of the group .
The court granted permission to hear the application on Wednesday instead .
Barrister Tony McGillicuddy said there seems to have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Four Courts : “ I would have thought it is problematic [ that ] any litigant would have a big band of supports coming in .
It makes life very difficult for practitioners who are doing their best in trying to mind their own affairs and their own family ’ s health , ” he said .
A Courts Service spokesman said it is “ disappointed and appalled that people chose , or organised , today to attend in large numbers , despite not being required to be there – and thus endangered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and court users to infection.
” The Garda had not yet responded to requests for comment .

Debenhams staff were moved on by gardaí in Dublin after gathering at the Henry Street Debenhams store, to demand better treatment from the company, which has announced that it would not re-open after the Covid-19 pandemic. Video: Bryan O'Brien
Questions have been raised about the enforcement of Covid-19 restrictions after a Debenhams workers' protest was broken up by gardaí, while a gathering of activists was allowed to proceed in the Four Courts for three hours.
Just before 11am on Tuesday gardaí told five former Debenhams workers demonstrating in Dublin city centre to end their protest because it was deemed “a non-essential journey”.
Saying that while they supported the former workers’ right to protest, the gardaí said they could not do so while the Government’s Covid-19 pandemic restrictions remain in operation, and in law.
Debenhams workers gathered to protest outside the store on Henry Street, Dublin who were asked to move on by the Garda. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
However, an hour earlier, dozens of people gathered in the Round Hall of the Four Courts in support of journalist-activists Gemma O'Doherty and John Waters who have challenged the legality of the movement restriction .
READ MORE
People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith said it was “disgusting” that Garda powers were used against the “small and safe” Debenhams protest while the larger group in the Four Courts were allowed to remain. “The two incidents stand in stark contrast to each other,” she said.
“There was no public health issue on this [Debenhams] protest, and it should not fall to the whim of the Garda to decide that workers protesting against the loss of their jobs and income after decades of service is non-essential and not allowed.”
A small number of gardaí monitored the group in the Four Courts but made no apparent effort to disperse them, eyewitnesses said.
Under supporting guidelines to the legislation on controlling the spread of the coronavirus, the Garda has been instructed to deal with people travelling for non-essential reasons in a four-step graduated response – starting with engagement and culminating in arrest – but it has no specific guidelines on how to deal with demonstrations.
100 people
By the time the High Court case started, about 100 people had gathered. Some entered the courtroom where the case was being heard, before they were directed to leave by the judge.
However, they continued to congregate outside in the Round Hall until about 1pm. Few, if any, of the group adhered to social distancing guidelines.
Solicitor Gareth Noble, whose firm had received permission to bring an emergency application relating to a special needs child before the courts on Tuesday morning, expressed concern over the gathering.
“When we went down to bring the application we realised it would have been dangerous to move through the group. There was no social distancing and people were blocking the entrance.”
‘Problematic’
Mr Noble said they made a decision not to proceed with the application on health grounds because of the group. The court granted permission to hear the application on Wednesday instead.
Barrister Tony McGillicuddy said there seems to have been a difficulty enforcing the regulations at the Four Courts: “I would have thought it is problematic [that] any litigant would have a big band of supports coming in. It makes life very difficult for practitioners who are doing their best in trying to mind their own affairs and their own family’s health,” he said.
A Courts Service spokesman said it is “disappointed and appalled that people chose, or organised, today to attend in large numbers, despite not being required to be there – and thus endangered themselves, gardaí, court staff, and court users to infection.”
The Garda had not yet responded to requests for comment.


theirishtimes--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Up to 400 people on waiting list for call confirming diagnosis

Large numbers of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 have yet to receive a call confirming the diagnosis which would set in train efforts to trace their contacts .
The number of people due to be called over a positive test result has varied between 100 and more than 400 over the past 10 days , and on Monday stood at 250 , according to sources , who said about 100 of those due to be called had been on the list for at least two days .
The HSE has yet to publish any data on the performance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times or time taken to trace all contacts , but is said to be developing an appropriate metric .
The initial call that precedes the contract tracing process is made by a clinician , who provides medical advice to the person who has tested positive .
Contact tracing can not begin until this call is made .
The second call is made by a contact tracer – a non-clinician – who asks the person who has tested positive details of all their close contacts .
While up to 100 people have at times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the process , it is not subject to significant delays , according to people familiar with the process .
The third set of calls , made by non-clinicians working from a call centre , is made to the contacts of the confirmed case , who are asked to self-isolate whether they have symptoms or not , and to contact a GP if they have symptoms .
Any delays here too are relatively minor .
Due to delays in the testing process over the past month , many confirmed cases had recovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been hospitalised or died – by the time they received their test results .
This has had knock-on effects for the contact tracing process as confirmed cases struggled to remember their close contacts over periods of up to three weeks .
“ One guy told me to eff off and asked why he should answer our call when we never contacted him when he was sick , ” one contact tracer told The Irish Times .
But with the turnaround time for tests now reducing , it is expected contact tracing should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down contacts more quickly .
The delays in testing also led to many of those engaged to carry out contact tracing being stood down .
Of more than 1,400 trained to trace contacts , only 200-300 are being used at present , but this number is expected to increase along with a move to shift working as the operation is widened .
Eventually , 4,000 people will work on contract tracing , HSE chief executive Paul Reid has said .
At the start of April , contact tracing was expanded to include contacts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prior to the onset of their symptoms .
This was in recognition of the major role asymptomatic transmission plays in spreading the virus .
The tracing of contacts of the 4,000 healthcare workers who have contracted the virus is treated differently from other positive cases .
Such cases are handled by clinicians working in occupational health in the HSE rather than the public health division .
This is because of the more complex clinical issues that may be involved , including the application of derogations that allow for healthcare workers to return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been contacts .
The World Health Organisation says “ painstaking ” contact tracing and rigorous quarantine of close contacts , along with exhaustive case finding , immediate testing and isolation are essential strategies to control Covid-19 .
However , it is estimated at least 70-90 per cent of contacts need to be traced quickly in order to stop a new outbreak of the virus .
In late March , the HSE said it was working on a smartphone app to aid contact tracing that would be rolled out within 10 days .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Apps have formed part of the strategy deployed by some Asian countries which have successfully suppressed the virus but take-up of the technology has been lower than optimum .

It is estimated at least 70-90 per cent of contacts need to be traced quickly in order to stop a new outbreak of the virus. Photograph: Francesca Volpi/Bloomberg
Large numbers of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 have yet to receive a call confirming the diagnosis which would set in train efforts to trace their contacts.
The number of people due to be called over a positive test result has varied between 100 and more than 400 over the past 10 days, and on Monday stood at 250, according to sources, who said about 100 of those due to be called had been on the list for at least two days.
The HSE has yet to publish any data on the performance of contract tracing in terms of wait times or time taken to trace all contacts, but is said to be developing an appropriate metric.
The initial call that precedes the contract tracing process is made by a clinician, who provides medical advice to the person who has tested positive. Contact tracing cannot begin until this call is made.
READ MORE
The second call is made by a contact tracer – a non-clinician – who asks the person who has tested positive details of all their close contacts. While up to 100 people have at times been queued to be called in this part of the process, it is not subject to significant delays, according to people familiar with the process.
The third set of calls, made by non-clinicians working from a call centre, is made to the contacts of the confirmed case, who are asked to self-isolate whether they have symptoms or not, and to contact a GP if they have symptoms. Any delays here too are relatively minor.
Struggle to remember
Due to delays in the testing process over the past month, many confirmed cases had recovered – or, in some cases, been hospitalised or died – by the time they received their test results. This has had knock-on effects for the contact tracing process as confirmed cases struggled to remember their close contacts over periods of up to three weeks.
“One guy told me to eff off and asked why he should answer our call when we never contacted him when he was sick,” one contact tracer told The Irish Times.
But with the turnaround time for tests now reducing, it is expected contact tracing should be able to operate more efficiently by tracking down contacts more quickly.
The delays in testing also led to many of those engaged to carry out contact tracing being stood down. Of more than 1,400 trained to trace contacts, only 200-300 are being used at present, but this number is expected to increase along with a move to shift working as the operation is widened. Eventually, 4,000 people will work on contract tracing, HSE chief executive Paul Reid has said.
At the start of April, contact tracing was expanded to include contacts of confirmed cases for the 48 hours prior to the onset of their symptoms. This was in recognition of the major role asymptomatic transmission plays in spreading the virus.
Healthcare workers
The tracing of contacts of the 4,000 healthcare workers who have contracted the virus is treated differently from other positive cases. Such cases are handled by clinicians working in occupational health in the HSE rather than the public health division.
This is because of the more complex clinical issues that may be involved, including the application of derogations that allow for healthcare workers to return to work in certain circumstances even where they have been contacts.
The World Health Organisation says "painstaking" contact tracing and rigorous quarantine of close contacts, along with exhaustive case finding, immediate testing and isolation are essential strategies to control Covid-19.
However, it is estimated at least 70-90 per cent of contacts need to be traced quickly in order to stop a new outbreak of the virus.
In late March, the HSE said it was working on a smartphone app to aid contact tracing that would be rolled out within 10 days. The app is still being worked on.
Apps have formed part of the strategy deployed by some Asian countries which have successfully suppressed the virus but take-up of the technology has been lower than optimum.


theirishtimes--2020-04-22--Private hospitals accused of putting pressure on consultants to sign Covid-19 State contract

Some consultants working fully in the private sector are coming under pressure from private hospitals to sign up to the Government ’ s proposed new contract , a leading medical specialist has said .
Consultant ophthalmologist Michael O ’ Keeffe said he had been informed about some private hospitals seeking to employ “ strong-arm tactics ” – including warnings about future rights to see patients – to encourage doctors to accept a proposed new State contract .
The Government several weeks ago agreed a deal to take over 19 private hospitals for a three-month period during the Covid-19 crisis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ other facilities and most staff , it did not , however , encompass up to 600 consultants who work exclusively in the private sector .
These doctors were offered a locum contract – known technically as an A-type contract – under which they could see only public patients and would be paid between €141,000 and €195,000 per year .
Last Sunday , Health Service Executive chief Paul Reid said some private consultants had signed up but the HSE has not released any details on the numbers involved .
The Irish Times has spoken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they had accepted the new contract .
Mr O ’ Keeffe said on Tuesday that he would not sign the proposed new public-only contract .
However , he said if there was a crisis he would be prepared to volunteer to work without a salary .
He said he had a large volume of patients on his books who he would not be in a position to treat if he took up the contract .
Mr O ’ Keeffe also expressed concern that signing a HSE contract would restrict his ability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said he had received no advance notification of the State ’ s deal to take over the private hospitals .
He was told he could no longer treat private patients and they would be considered as public patients , and was also informed that his laser eye clinic would have to close , he said .
After he went public and warned that some of his patients could go blind , there was a change of heart to some degree , he added .
Now he was allowed to treat urgent patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his rooms but could not charge them , he said .
Dr Stephen Fröhlich , an intensive care consultant at Beacon Hospital said he also had not signed the contract .
He along with 14 consultant colleagues worked for a partnership in a corporate structure .
He said it would have been illegal for him to step away from this partnership to sign a contract with the State as an individual , he said .
He said he had proposed to the HSE that it enter into an agreement with the partnership rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be done at an equal cost to the proposed contract .
Dr Fröhlich said most consultant practices would be run at a huge loss if they were to take the proposed contract without a parallel agreement for the State to cover costs .
He suggested that fully private consultants ’ operating costs were about €20,000-€30,000 per month .
“ This amount includes professional indemnity insurance , staff and office and administrative costs .
They are expected to provide normal service to existing patients for €6,000 per month ( net after tax HSE salary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a monthly loss of €14,000-€24,000 , or up to a €72,000 loss over the course of the deal .
“ Few small businesses can withstand that , nor would they be expected to , ” he said .
Dr Jonathan Lyne , consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist , said it had not been possible for him to sign the contract “ because basic issues are yet to have been properly addressed in its drafting ” .
“ For instance it doesn ’ t state basics such as the duration , or clarify continuity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The integration with current public hospitals for the ongoing care and responsibility for these patients once the Private Hospitals ’ Association and employment contract finishes is undefined .
Also one section in the contract even states it ’ s to be reviewed by the HSE in 2013.
” He said in the interim many private consultants were volunteering where they could and were working pro bono in the absence of a workable contract .

Some consultants working fully in the private sector are coming under pressure from private hospitals to sign up to the Government’s proposed new contract, a specialist has said. File photograph: Hugh Macknight/PA Wire
Some consultants working fully in the private sector are coming under pressure from private hospitals to sign up to the Government’s proposed new contract, a leading medical specialist has said.
Consultant ophthalmologist Michael O’Keeffe said he had been informed about some private hospitals seeking to employ “strong-arm tactics” – including warnings about future rights to see patients – to encourage doctors to accept a proposed new State contract.
The Government several weeks ago agreed a deal to take over 19 private hospitals for a three-month period during the Covid-19 crisis.
While the deal covered 2,000 beds, other facilities and most staff, it did not, however, encompass up to 600 consultants who work exclusively in the private sector.
READ MORE
These doctors were offered a locum contract – known technically as an A-type contract – under which they could see only public patients and would be paid between €141,000 and €195,000 per year.
Last Sunday, Health Service Executive chief Paul Reid said some private consultants had signed up but the HSE has not released any details on the numbers involved.
The Irish Times has spoken to some doctors who have privately confirmed that they had accepted the new contract.
Mr O’Keeffe said on Tuesday that he would not sign the proposed new public-only contract. However, he said if there was a crisis he would be prepared to volunteer to work without a salary.
Laser eye clinic
He said he had a large volume of patients on his books who he would not be in a position to treat if he took up the contract.
Mr O’Keeffe also expressed concern that signing a HSE contract would restrict his ability to speak out on health service issues.
He said he had received no advance notification of the State’s deal to take over the private hospitals. He was told he could no longer treat private patients and they would be considered as public patients, and was also informed that his laser eye clinic would have to close, he said.
After he went public and warned that some of his patients could go blind, there was a change of heart to some degree, he added. Now he was allowed to treat urgent patients and see patients requiring follow-on care in his rooms but could not charge them, he said.
Dr Stephen Fröhlich, an intensive care consultant at Beacon Hospital said he also had not signed the contract.
He along with 14 consultant colleagues worked for a partnership in a corporate structure. He said it would have been illegal for him to step away from this partnership to sign a contract with the State as an individual, he said.
He said he had proposed to the HSE that it enter into an agreement with the partnership rather than individual doctors, adding this could be done at an equal cost to the proposed contract.
Operating costs
Dr Fröhlich said most consultant practices would be run at a huge loss if they were to take the proposed contract without a parallel agreement for the State to cover costs .
He suggested that fully private consultants’ operating costs were about €20,000-€30,000 per month.
“This amount includes professional indemnity insurance, staff and office and administrative costs. They are expected to provide normal service to existing patients for €6,000 per month (net after tax HSE salary). This is leaving private consultants with a monthly loss of €14,000-€24,000, or up to a €72,000 loss over the course of the deal.
“Few small businesses can withstand that, nor would they be expected to,” he said.
Dr Jonathan Lyne, consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist, said it had not been possible for him to sign the contract "because basic issues are yet to have been properly addressed in its drafting".
“ For instance it doesn’t state basics such as the duration, or clarify continuity of care for our existing patients. The integration with current public hospitals for the ongoing care and responsibility for these patients once the Private Hospitals’ Association and employment contract finishes is undefined. Also one section in the contract even states it’s to be reviewed by the HSE in 2013.”
He said in the interim many private consultants were volunteering where they could and were working pro bono in the absence of a workable contract .


theirishtimes--2020-04-23--Doctors seek new solutions for helping seriously ill Covid-19 patients

“ The single most important thing we have done is to restrict population movement and introduce social distancing early .
This bought Ireland ’ s healthcare system extra time in preparing for this pandemic , especially relative to the UK , ” respiratory consultant Oisin O ’ Connell stresses .
However , even when serious cases occur , doctors increasingly have a variety of treatment options as their understanding of the disease , and international learning on it , broadens .
“ We expect the disease to come in waves , and with each wave we want to be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” O ’ Connell says .
About 15 per cent of patients will require hospitalisation , and 5 per cent will need to be admitted to ICU .
In countries where systems were overloaded , over half of the ICU patients have died but Irish figures could be better if we can remain within our surge capacity .
“ Patients are referred to the ICU because they fail to maintain adequate levels of oxygen in their blood despite having an oxygen mask , ” explains Dr Michael O ’ Dwyer , head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital .
These patients then require mechanical ventilation in an ICU .
“ Our experience is that patients with Covid-19 coming to an ICU require a period of 7-14 days , at least , on a ventilator before their lung function improves substantially.
” While many patients improve with this standard treatment , given the vast numbers involved researchers have been searching for additional treatments to shorten the length of the disease and improve death rates .
“ Whilst most of the motivation in this field is altruistic , undoubtedly financial gain and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” O ’ Dwyer cautions .
Doctors have learned Covid-19 can manifest itself in different ways among different groups of seriously ill patients .
Many patients will show the classic signs of oxygen depletion known as “ hypoxia ” and respiratory distress associated with various subtypes of pneumonitis , which are a form of inflammatory condition of the lung tissue .
They are increasingly recognising patients can display several patterns of pneumonitis .
Furthermore , doctors are learning therapies may have to vary according to the different “ phenotypes ” , or patterns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to O ’ Connell .
Many of these therapies will be undergoing international trials that Ireland hopes to join such as the World Health Organisation-endorsed “ Solidarity ” trial , but due to the international emergency specific therapies are also being used in a more limited fashion in medical settings across the world .
While the peer review of research is being expedited , O ’ Dwyer says a potential downside is the administration of treatments “ that have no real beneficial effects but do have poorly understood detrimental effects ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trials more difficult to perform because all patients want the widely advertised cure ( despite the lack of evidence and potential for harm ) and are therefore unwilling to participate when they may end up in the placebo arm of a trial.
” “ There simply can not be any trade-off in standards for drug development and testing , ” says Dr Liz O ’ Brien , chief medical officer of Befins Healthcare and a former pharmaceutical regulator .
“ These rules are there for a reason .
You pose a real risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put something out that millions of people could be exposed to.
” Nonetheless , doctors continue to search for new options , while drug companies are researching products that could prove highly lucrative .
Some of these drugs are new , and others are existing drugs for which new uses are being tested .
Remdesivir , an anti-viral tried out during the Ebola epidemic , is the drug that has attracted most attention , not hindered by the way very limited – and positive – results of a trial were leaked last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditionally used to treat rheumatoid arthritis , can be repurposed to decrease an extreme inflammatory response .
“ In some patients , it may be beneficial if introduced at the right time , and in the right context , ” O ’ Connell says .
Another approach tried in China for some patients with a poor immune function is a form of immunoglobulin therapy involving the use of pooled plasma from recovered patients to treat seriously ill patients .
“ This could prove beneficial , but it needs to be done in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side-effects , ” he says .
The recently established National Research Ethics Committee for Covid-19 is providing supports for expedited study and clinical trials in this context .
Other seriously ill Covid-19 patients have developed tiny lung clots ( known as micro-thrombi ) which can cause local damage either in the lungs or other areas of the body .
There are several international research studies examining blood thinners and clot-busting medications for some of these patients .
Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine , traditionally used to treat malaria and lupus respectively , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internationally also , but they may pose a serious risk of heart arrhythmia .
Beyond individual treatments , scientists have observed that genetic factors may predispose particular patients – such as those with high blood pressure , obesity and other genetic innate immunity factors – to the disease .
O ’ Dwyer ’ s view is that there are lots of “ interesting ” potential treatments available but they remain experimental because of the lack of good trial data .
“ Because of this we should be much more aggressive in enrolling patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process of generating useful information.
” He urges caution about advocating treatment outside of a trial because of the potential for harm .
“ Our best treatment option today is high-quality supportive ICU care in a well-resourced environment whilst participating in the ongoing clinical trials where these are available.
” Most hopes are pinned on a vaccine , of which many prototypes are currently in development .
But it may take years for a vaccine to be properly tested and even then , virus mutation could pose a further challenge .
O ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ there is no solution to the virus other than supportive therapy , societal changes and ‘ taking the hit ’ .
”

About 15 per cent of Covid-19 patients will require hospitalisation, and 5 per cent will need to be admitted to ICU.
“The single most important thing we have done is to restrict population movement and introduce social distancing early. This bought Ireland’s healthcare system extra time in preparing for this pandemic, especially relative to the UK,” respiratory consultant Oisin O’Connell stresses.
However, even when serious cases occur, doctors increasingly have a variety of treatment options as their understanding of the disease, and international learning on it, broadens.
“We expect the disease to come in waves, and with each wave we want to be able to have learned from previous ones,” O’Connell says.
About 15 per cent of patients will require hospitalisation, and 5 per cent will need to be admitted to ICU. In countries where systems were overloaded, over half of the ICU patients have died but Irish figures could be better if we can remain within our surge capacity.
READ MORE
“Patients are referred to the ICU because they fail to maintain adequate levels of oxygen in their blood despite having an oxygen mask,” explains Dr Michael O’Dwyer, head of critical care at St Vincent’s Hospital.
These patients then require mechanical ventilation in an ICU. “Our experience is that patients with Covid-19 coming to an ICU require a period of 7-14 days, at least, on a ventilator before their lung function improves substantially.”
While many patients improve with this standard treatment, given the vast numbers involved researchers have been searching for additional treatments to shorten the length of the disease and improve death rates.
“Whilst most of the motivation in this field is altruistic, undoubtedly financial gain and academic progression also plays a role,” O’Dwyer cautions.
Hypoxia
Doctors have learned Covid-19 can manifest itself in different ways among different groups of seriously ill patients. Many patients will show the classic signs of oxygen depletion known as “hypoxia” and respiratory distress associated with various subtypes of pneumonitis, which are a form of inflammatory condition of the lung tissue. They are increasingly recognising patients can display several patterns of pneumonitis.
Furthermore, doctors are learning therapies may have to vary according to the different "phenotypes", or patterns, the disease displays in individual patients, according to O'Connell. Many of these therapies will be undergoing international trials that Ireland hopes to join such as the World Health Organisation-endorsed "Solidarity" trial, but due to the international emergency specific therapies are also being used in a more limited fashion in medical settings across the world.
While the peer review of research is being expedited, O’Dwyer says a potential downside is the administration of treatments “that have no real beneficial effects but do have poorly understood detrimental effects”.
“It also makes robust randomised trials more difficult to perform because all patients want the widely advertised cure (despite the lack of evidence and potential for harm) and are therefore unwilling to participate when they may end up in the placebo arm of a trial.”
"There simply cannot be any trade-off in standards for drug development and testing," says Dr Liz O'Brien, chief medical officer of Befins Healthcare and a former pharmaceutical regulator. "These rules are there for a reason. You pose a real risk to society if you lower standards and put something out that millions of people could be exposed to."
Highly lucrative
Nonetheless, doctors continue to search for new options, while drug companies are researching products that could prove highly lucrative. Some of these drugs are new, and others are existing drugs for which new uses are being tested.
Remdesivir, an anti-viral tried out during the Ebola epidemic, is the drug that has attracted most attention, not hindered by the way very limited – and positive – results of a trial were leaked last week.
For specific patients, Tocilizumab, traditionally used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, can be repurposed to decrease an extreme inflammatory response. “In some patients, it may be beneficial if introduced at the right time, and in the right context,” O’Connell says.
Another approach tried in China for some patients with a poor immune function is a form of immunoglobulin therapy involving the use of pooled plasma from recovered patients to treat seriously ill patients.
"This could prove beneficial, but it needs to be done in an evidence-based setting, with proper monitoring for side-effects," he says. The recently established National Research Ethics Committee for Covid-19 is providing supports for expedited study and clinical trials in this context.
Other seriously ill Covid-19 patients have developed tiny lung clots (known as micro-thrombi) which can cause local damage either in the lungs or other areas of the body. There are several international research studies examining blood thinners and clot-busting medications for some of these patients.
Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, traditionally used to treat malaria and lupus respectively, as well as the antibiotic azithromycin, are being studied internationally also, but they may pose a serious risk of heart arrhythmia.
Genetic factors
Beyond individual treatments, scientists have observed that genetic factors may predispose particular patients – such as those with high blood pressure, obesity and other genetic innate immunity factors – to the disease.
O’Dwyer’s view is that there are lots of “interesting” potential treatments available but they remain experimental because of the lack of good trial data.
“Because of this we should be much more aggressive in enrolling patients into trials so that we expedite the process of generating useful information.”
He urges caution about advocating treatment outside of a trial because of the potential for harm. “Our best treatment option today is high-quality supportive ICU care in a well-resourced environment whilst participating in the ongoing clinical trials where these are available.”
Most hopes are pinned on a vaccine, of which many prototypes are currently in development. But it may take years for a vaccine to be properly tested and even then, virus mutation could pose a further challenge.
O’Brien says it may be that that “there is no solution to the virus other than supportive therapy, societal changes and ‘taking the hit’.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-23--HSE concerned at transfer of refugees during coronavirus pandemic

The Health Service Executive raised concerns with the Department of Justice regarding the transfer of more than 100 refugees to a new direct provision centre in Kerry in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic .
The refugees , who were sent to the former Skellig Star Hotel in Caherciveen from different locations around the country , were initially welcomed by locals .
However , the mood in the Co Kerry town has turned after four cases of coronavirus , also known as Covid-19 , were diagnosed , and new information has come to light about the circumstances surrounding their transfer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ councillor Michael Cahill , the chief officer of Cork Kerry Community Healthcare ( a division of the HSE ) Ger Reaney wrote that the decision to open the centre and transfer people there “ at a time of pandemic was entirely a decision of the Department of Justice ” .
“ The HSE received limited notice in regard to the opening of the centre and voiced its concern at the time in regard to the timing of the move and the access of the centre ’ s residents to health services at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being stretched to their limit.
” Earlier this week , The Irish Times reported that the international protection applicants were moved from a Dublin hotel where a guest was recently confirmed as suffering from the coronavirus .
The travelling party associated with the guest were self-isolating in the hotel , a branch of Travelodge near Dublin Airport , up until and after the asylum seekers were transferred .
Several staff members at the hotel later were confirmed as having contracted the coronavirus .
However , none of the confirmed cases at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who relocated from the Travelodge .
Widespread testing of those in the Cahersiveen centre was undertaken earlier this week .
Cllr Cahill criticised the department for a lack of transparency around the transfer of refugees to the town .
“ There ’ s numerous questions we need them to answer at this stage , ” he said .
“ We ’ re talking about a community here at the moment that are terrified , there ’ s outrage and anger and they ’ re extremely worried.
” In a statement , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 600 people as part of its response to the pandemic .
The first moves took place in early March and continued up until about two weeks ago .
A spokesman said the moves were deemed “ not only appropriate , but an essential element of our work to protect our residents , and the staff in our centres , to the best of our ability during this pandemic ” .
Meanwhile the Ombudsman , Peter Tyndall , has said that direct provision accommodation is particularly unsuitable in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published his annual commentary on people ’ s experiences of the direct provision system , said the highly contagious nature of the virus highlighted “ how unsustainable it is to have three or more people who are not from the same family living in the same room for a significant amount of time ” .
That situation , he said , exists for many people in direct provision centres , and particularly for many living in emergency accommodation .
The ombudsman ’ s report reveals that his office saw a 10.5 per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct provision .
“ Current direct provision accommodation is not appropriate for anything other than short-term stay .
Emergency accommodation is even more inappropriate .
It is unacceptable that people who have sought refuge here can find themselves in accommodation that is entirely unsuitable for a prolonged period – up to 16 months and longer in some cases.
” He commended , however , the work of the department in moving people out of emergency accommodation in response to the threat from the virus .

The refugees, who were sent to the former Skellig Star Hotel in Caherciveen from different locations around the country, were initially welcomed by locals. Photograph: Google Maps
The Health Service Executive raised concerns with the Department of Justice regarding the transfer of more than 100 refugees to a new direct provision centre in Kerry in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
The refugees, who were sent to the former Skellig Star Hotel in Caherciveen from different locations around the country, were initially welcomed by locals.
However, the mood in the Co Kerry town has turned after four cases of coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, were diagnosed, and new information has come to light about the circumstances surrounding their transfer.
In a letter to Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Cahill, the chief officer of Cork Kerry Community Healthcare ( a division of the HSE) Ger Reaney wrote that the decision to open the centre and transfer people there "at a time of pandemic was entirely a decision of the Department of Justice".
READ MORE
Protection
“The HSE received limited notice in regard to the opening of the centre and voiced its concern at the time in regard to the timing of the move and the access of the centre’s residents to health services at a time when all of our healthcare services are being stretched to their limit.”
Earlier this week, The Irish Times reported that the international protection applicants were moved from a Dublin hotel where a guest was recently confirmed as suffering from the coronavirus. The travelling party associated with the guest were self-isolating in the hotel, a branch of Travelodge near Dublin Airport, up until and after the asylum seekers were transferred. Several staff members at the hotel later were confirmed as having contracted the coronavirus.
However, none of the confirmed cases at the Skellig Star are thought to be among those who relocated from the Travelodge. Widespread testing of those in the Cahersiveen centre was undertaken earlier this week.
Cllr Cahill criticised the department for a lack of transparency around the transfer of refugees to the town. "There's numerous questions we need them to answer at this stage," he said. "We're talking about a community here at the moment that are terrified, there's outrage and anger and they're extremely worried."
In a statement, the department confirmed that it had relocated over 600 people as part of its response to the pandemic. The first moves took place in early March and continued up until about two weeks ago. A spokesman said the moves were deemed “not only appropriate, but an essential element of our work to protect our residents, and the staff in our centres, to the best of our ability during this pandemic”.
Unsuitable
Meanwhile the Ombudsman, Peter Tyndall, has said that direct provision accommodation is particularly unsuitable in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr Tyndall, who on Thursday published his annual commentary on people's experiences of the direct provision system, said the highly contagious nature of the virus highlighted "how unsustainable it is to have three or more people who are not from the same family living in the same room for a significant amount of time".
That situation, he said, exists for many people in direct provision centres, and particularly for many living in emergency accommodation. The ombudsman’s report reveals that his office saw a 10.5 per cent increase in the number of complaints regarding direct provision. “Current direct provision accommodation is not appropriate for anything other than short-term stay. Emergency accommodation is even more inappropriate. It is unacceptable that people who have sought refuge here can find themselves in accommodation that is entirely unsuitable for a prolonged period – up to 16 months and longer in some cases.”
He commended, however, the work of the department in moving people out of emergency accommodation in response to the threat from the virus.


theirishtimes--2020-04-23--Media urged to avoid ageist language in describing older people

A group of medical , healthcare and social care practitioners and advocates have criticised inappropriate language used by some media outlets in relation to older people in their coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic .
More than 150 specialists working in the area of nursing , public health , medicine , social care as well as social policy and advocacy have signed a joint letter to express their “ utmost concern ” at ageist terms being used in some media reports .
The group has complained that terms such as “ elderly ” , “ seniors ” , “ pensioners ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to describe older people are “ stereotypical , ageist and disrespectful ” .
In the letter , which was issued to all print , TV , radio and online outlets , the group asked that “ those in a position to shape the narrative of older people ’ s experiences in our media do so carefully ” .
During recent media reports , they claimed one national newspaper has used the term “ nappies ” to describe continence management , while one RTÉ journalist had made reference to older people “ dropping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly unacceptable and upsetting .
Among those who signed the letter were Éidín Ní Shé , research fellow at the UCD School of Nursing , Midwifery and Health Systems ; Seán Moynihan , chief executive of Alone ; Deirdre Lang , director of nursing and national lead of Older Persons Services at the HSE , and Tadhg Daly , chief executive of Nursing Homes Ireland .
The group also argue that overuse of the phrase “ underlying condition ” diminishes the lives and deaths of people who died from Covid-19 .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some lives are more expendable than others , ” they added .
The group warned that using such discriminatory language about older people reinforced prejudicial attitudes and stereotypes .
“ It may also be quite emotionally damaging and disempowering for some older people who feel misrepresented and demeaned by such terms , ” they observed .
According to the group , ageist stereotypes negate the common humanity and dignity of all individuals , regardless of their age , and ran contrary to Ireland ’ s achievement last year of being the first country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organisation .
The group said it wished to remind the media of the power they wielded through the choice of language used in reporting on older people during the current crisis , as such language could shape our culture , values and social relations .
It called on print and broadcast media to revise their editorial guidelines to ensure that more inclusive language was used in relation to older people in future coverage .
Where necessary , the group said , the term “ older people ” should be used but stressed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that no two people aged the same way .

The group has complained that terms such as ‘elderly’, ‘seniors’, ‘pensioners’, ‘elders’ and ‘OAPs to describe older people are ‘stereotypical, ageist and disrespectful’. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
A group of medical, healthcare and social care practitioners and advocates have criticised inappropriate language used by some media outlets in relation to older people in their coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic.
More than 150 specialists working in the area of nursing, public health, medicine, social care as well as social policy and advocacy have signed a joint letter to express their “utmost concern” at ageist terms being used in some media reports.
The group has complained that terms such as “elderly”, “seniors”, “pensioners”, “elders” and “OAPs” to describe older people are “stereotypical, ageist and disrespectful”.
In the letter, which was issued to all print, TV, radio and online outlets, the group asked that “those in a position to shape the narrative of older people’s experiences in our media do so carefully”.
READ MORE
Upsetting
During recent media reports, they claimed one national newspaper has used the term "nappies" to describe continence management, while one RTÉ journalist had made reference to older people "dropping like flies" which they said was particularly unacceptable and upsetting.
Among those who signed the letter were Éidín Ní Shé, research fellow at the UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems; Seán Moynihan, chief executive of Alone; Deirdre Lang, director of nursing and national lead of Older Persons Services at the HSE, and Tadhg Daly, chief executive of Nursing Homes Ireland.
The group also argue that overuse of the phrase “underlying condition” diminishes the lives and deaths of people who died from Covid-19.
“It also contributes to a creeping narrative that some lives are more expendable than others,” they added.
The group warned that using such discriminatory language about older people reinforced prejudicial attitudes and stereotypes.
“It may also be quite emotionally damaging and disempowering for some older people who feel misrepresented and demeaned by such terms,” they observed.
Common humanity
According to the group, ageist stereotypes negate the common humanity and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their age, and ran contrary to Ireland's achievement last year of being the first country recognised as age-friendly by the World Health Organisation.
The group said it wished to remind the media of the power they wielded through the choice of language used in reporting on older people during the current crisis, as such language could shape our culture, values and social relations.
It called on print and broadcast media to revise their editorial guidelines to ensure that more inclusive language was used in relation to older people in future coverage.
Where necessary, the group said, the term “older people” should be used but stressed that it should always be understood and acknowledged that no two people aged the same way.


theirishtimes--2020-04-23--Coronavirus: Proposed HSE app sparks concern over privacy

The Government has been criticised for its failure to provide “ even rudimentary information ” about its proposed Covid-19 smartphone application .
The app , which would allow for the rapid identification of close contacts of confirmed cases of Covid-19 , is seen as a key element of the State ’ s plan to relax onerous restrictions on the public designed to curb the spread of coronavirus .
However , privacy and transparency advocates have raised concerns over the manner in which the app is being developed .
In a letter to the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked for further clarity on several aspects of the app .
The group said that despite previous letters , the HSE “ haven ’ t provided even rudimentary information about the app you propose to put on the market ” .
Antoin O Lachtnain , a director of the group , told The Irish Times that he had received no reply to this letter , or another one sent to the HSE ’ s chief information officer earlier this month .
“ The big concern at this point is the lack of transparency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how it will actually work ... Could it turn into something else , like a Covid-19 status app , ” he said .
“ It ’ s not that that is necessarily a bad thing , that might be the thing to do , but we have to be open and transparent about it.
” The HSE has said that the app will be opt-in , effectively relying on people to download it and give permission for it to gather information from their smartphone .
While little is known about the precise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is likely it will use Bluetooth to identify other nearby phones .
When someone is diagnosed with the virus , their phone data can be used to send a notification to those devices , which are likely to be owned by someone they have been in close contact with .
Mr O Lachtnain said his group and others in the civil liberties space were anxious that the app achieve its public health goals , but that they were concerned over a lack of disclosure from the HSE .
“ The priority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solutions to these problems , to combat the growth of this disease , but we have to be open and transparent about the measures we are taking.
” The privacy advocates are asking that the source code of the app , as well as a report known as a Data Protection Impact Assessment ( DPIA ) be made public in advance of the app ’ s launch .
The HSE has said it will do so once the app is live .
Aside from privacy issues , the success of the app may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For example , Apple phones do not allow apps to use a phone ’ s Bluetooth function in the “ background ” , meaning the app must be open at all times for this function to be active .
Large numbers of people will also have to download and use the app for it to be effective at rapid contact tracing .
The Government is in informal consultation with the Data Protection Commission ( DPC ) .
A spokesman for the DPC said it had not received a formal impact assessment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identified by the HSE which can not be mitigated , or if new legislation is required , the DPC must be formally consulted .

While little is known about the precise detail of how the app would work, it is likely it will use Bluetooth to identify other nearby phones. Photograph: iStock
The Government has been criticised for its failure to provide “even rudimentary information” about its proposed Covid-19 smartphone application.
The app, which would allow for the rapid identification of close contacts of confirmed cases of Covid-19, is seen as a key element of the State’s plan to relax onerous restrictions on the public designed to curb the spread of coronavirus.
However, privacy and transparency advocates have raised concerns over the manner in which the app is being developed.
In a letter to the Health Service Executive (HSE), advocacy group Digital Rights Ireland this week asked for further clarity on several aspects of the app. The group said that despite previous letters, the HSE "haven't provided even rudimentary information about the app you propose to put on the market".
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Antoin O Lachtnain, a director of the group, told The Irish Times that he had received no reply to this letter, or another one sent to the HSE's chief information officer earlier this month.
“The big concern at this point is the lack of transparency about what the purpose of this is and how it will actually work... Could it turn into something else, like a Covid-19 status app,” he said. “It’s not that that is necessarily a bad thing, that might be the thing to do, but we have to be open and transparent about it.”
Opt-in
The HSE has said that the app will be opt-in, effectively relying on people to download it and give permission for it to gather information from their smartphone.
While little is known about the precise detail of how the app would work, it is likely it will use Bluetooth to identify other nearby phones. When someone is diagnosed with the virus, their phone data can be used to send a notification to those devices, which are likely to be owned by someone they have been in close contact with.
The priority should be to come up with workable solutions to these problems, to combat the growth of this disease
Mr O Lachtnain said his group and others in the civil liberties space were anxious that the app achieve its public health goals, but that they were concerned over a lack of disclosure from the HSE.
“The priority should be to come up with workable solutions to these problems, to combat the growth of this disease, but we have to be open and transparent about the measures we are taking.”
Source code
The privacy advocates are asking that the source code of the app, as well as a report known as a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) be made public in advance of the app’s launch. The HSE has said it will do so once the app is live.
Aside from privacy issues, the success of the app may by held back by several technical issues.
For example, Apple phones do not allow apps to use a phone’s Bluetooth function in the “background”, meaning the app must be open at all times for this function to be active. Large numbers of people will also have to download and use the app for it to be effective at rapid contact tracing.
The Government is in informal consultation with the Data Protection Commission (DPC). A spokesman for the DPC said it had not received a formal impact assessment of the app.
If privacy issues are identified by the HSE which cannot be mitigated, or if new legislation is required, the DPC must be formally consulted.


theirishtimes--2020-04-23--Room with a view – bringing nature home

Room with a view – bringing nature home

Prior to the Covid-19 restrictions we were free to roam at will , and could find walking , running or cycling routes as far away as our resources , transport and available time could take us .
Now the area that people can use to exercise has been severely reduced .
For most people this has dwindled to a circle with a radius of 2km .
For those that live in urban areas their opportunity to walk in or near green areas may have been severely reduced .
Living in an increasingly urban environment has been shown to result in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature that people experience .
This matters because authors of a UK study found that this lower dose of nature in urban areas was correlated with poorer health across multiple domains .
However , in those same urban areas increasing the nature dose could have the greatest effects as the benefits of nature accrue quickly from low levels and only more slowly if you are already surrounded by nature .
Social distancing restrictions have brought into sharp focus the inequitable distribution of green or blue space available in different parts of the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which highlights green spaces Ireland within a 2km radius of different points and see how the area of green space changes depending on where you put the pointer .
Those who live in rural areas may experience greater “ incidental nature ” doses as they go about their daily lives surrounded by green space even if they do not have a local park close by .
For those who are cocooned their ability to interact with nature has been reduced to their house or apartment , and for those who are self-isolating it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Views from those rooms are important , with researchpublished by the Economic and Social Research Institute ( ESRI ) in Ireland showing that a greater view of the sea from someone ’ s house was associated with lower risk of depression in older people .
Being able to see a tree , green grass , flowers or a view of water from a window is unequally distributed , with many homes having restricted or heavily urbanised views .
The public health benefits of nature are clear , and in the long term the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widening access to nature for all .
So during the Covid-19 confinement can we maximise the benefits of nature for people living with very different degrees of access to physical nature ?
There is an increasing body of research on the effects of nature documentaries on people ’ s wellbeing and attitudes to environmental issues .
Watching nature documentaries like Plant Earth II can increase positive emotions , and has been shown to generate awareness of the species featured .
By analysing trends on twitter and engagement with Wikipediaresearchers were able to detect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that went beyond the duration of the show .
An open window can let in light , air and birdsong even if a view is not available .
With the reduction in traffic noise due to Covid-19 restrictions coinciding with bird breeding season , there are good opportunities to hear the songs and calls of common bird species from the coos of pigeons through to the lilting songs of blackbirds and robins .
Birdsong has been shown to increase mental wellbeing .
If you don ’ t have many local birds or a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birdsong recorded in natural areas like this dawn chorus from Co Laois .
Researchers are working on how to identify those elements of nature which are responsible for the benefits to our physical and mental health , and see if they can be packaged up and delivered to us for maximum benefit .
It may be difficult to replicate the full experience of nature through videos and recordings as being in real nature engages so many of our senses at once .
However , for those living in areas of nature deprivation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits of nature may be very valuable .
The increased localisation of our nature experiences right now may make us more aware of what we have around us .
Yvonne Buckley is an ecologist professor of zoology at Trinity College Dublin

Prior to the Covid-19 restrictions we were free to roam at will, and could find walking, running or cycling routes as far away as our resources, transport and available time could take us.
Now the area that people can use to exercise has been severely reduced. For most people this has dwindled to a circle with a radius of 2km. For those that live in urban areas their opportunity to walk in or near green areas may have been severely reduced.
Living in an increasingly urban environment has been shown to result in a rapid decline in the dose of nature that people experience. This matters because authors of a UK study found that this lower dose of nature in urban areas was correlated with poorer health across multiple domains.
However, in those same urban areas increasing the nature dose could have the greatest effects as the benefits of nature accrue quickly from low levels and only more slowly if you are already surrounded by nature.
READ MORE
Social distancing restrictions have brought into sharp focus the inequitable distribution of green or blue space available in different parts of the country. Take a look at a map which highlights green spaces Ireland within a 2km radius of different points and see how the area of green space changes depending on where you put the pointer.
Those who live in rural areas may experience greater “incidental nature” doses as they go about their daily lives surrounded by green space even if they do not have a local park close by.
Single room
For those who are cocooned their ability to interact with nature has been reduced to their house or apartment, and for those who are self-isolating it may just be a single room.
Views from those rooms are important, with researchpublished by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) in Ireland showing that a greater view of the sea from someone's house was associated with lower risk of depression in older people.
Being able to see a tree, green grass, flowers or a view of water from a window is unequally distributed, with many homes having restricted or heavily urbanised views.
The public health benefits of nature are clear, and in the long term the design of urban areas is critical to widening access to nature for all. So during the Covid-19 confinement can we maximise the benefits of nature for people living with very different degrees of access to physical nature?
There is an increasing body of research on the effects of nature documentaries on people’s wellbeing and attitudes to environmental issues. Watching nature documentaries like Plant Earth II can increase positive emotions, and has been shown to generate awareness of the species featured.
By analysing trends on twitter and engagement with Wikipediaresearchers were able to detect a response in people's attitudes that went beyond the duration of the show.
Open window
An open window can let in light, air and birdsong even if a view is not available. With the reduction in traffic noise due to Covid-19 restrictions coinciding with bird breeding season, there are good opportunities to hear the songs and calls of common bird species from the coos of pigeons through to the lilting songs of blackbirds and robins.
Birdsong has been shown to increase mental wellbeing. If you don't have many local birds or a window to open you can listen to birdsong recorded in natural areas like this dawn chorus from Co Laois.
Researchers are working on how to identify those elements of nature which are responsible for the benefits to our physical and mental health, and see if they can be packaged up and delivered to us for maximum benefit.
It may be difficult to replicate the full experience of nature through videos and recordings as being in real nature engages so many of our senses at once. However, for those living in areas of nature deprivation, finding out how best to replicate the benefits of nature may be very valuable.
The increased localisation of our nature experiences right now may make us more aware of what we have around us.
Yvonne Buckley is an ecologist professor of zoology at Trinity College Dublin


theirishtimes--2020-04-22--Government to consider ‘tapering’ €350 Covid-19 payment

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said the Government will consider “ tapering and changing ” the special €350 pandemic payment when the initial 12-week period runs out in mid-June .
There is growing concern in the Department of Finance that current unprecedented State supports are unsustainable in the medium term .
The 12-week special Covid-19 welfare measures are expected to cost between €4 billion and €4.5 billion .
Political sources also said that the Government would have to bring the spending estimates to the Dáil in June as the general election meant that the Dáil had not yet approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can only legally spend money with the approval of the Dáil .
At present the Government continues to spend money under a rule which allows it to spend four-fifths of the previous year ’ s budget while it waits for Dáil approval .
However , The Irish Times reported earlier this week that because of the huge increase in social welfare spending the Department of Social Protection will reach its authorised expenditure level in mid-June .
The health service would effectively reach a ceiling on its authorised spending in September under the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have to vote to allow the Government to continue spending , and some Government sources are concerned that plans to taper off or reduce the special Covid welfare payments could mean opposition parties holding up the estimates .
Government sources were also tight-lipped about the prospects for the final instalment of the public sector pay deal as the public finances deteriorate rapidly .
Mr Donohoe said on Wednesday that both he and the Taoiseach had indicated they wanted to avoid cuts to core social welfare payments and to protect public service pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not comment on future pay rises due to public service personnel .
At the start of October more than 300,0000 public service staff are to receive a 2 per cent increase , the largest individual rise in the three-year agreement .
Asked on Friday whether the Government was committed to paying this scheduled increase , a spokeswoman for the Minister said : “ The focus of Government right now is responding effectively to the public health emergency while supporting the economy , jobs and business .
Public servants are leading this effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Broader fiscal strategy will continue to evolve as the situation develops and the economic impact becomes clearer.
” Union sources said there had been no contact with the Government on the pay issue .

The 12-week special Covid-19 welfare measures are expected to cost between €4bn and €4.5bn. Photograph: Getty Images
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said the Government will consider "tapering and changing" the special €350 pandemic payment when the initial 12-week period runs out in mid-June.
There is growing concern in the Department of Finance that current unprecedented State supports are unsustainable in the medium term. The 12-week special Covid-19 welfare measures are expected to cost between €4 billion and €4.5 billion.
Political sources also said that the Government would have to bring the spending estimates to the Dáil in June as the general election meant that the Dáil had not yet approved these for this year.
The Government can only legally spend money with the approval of the Dáil. At present the Government continues to spend money under a rule which allows it to spend four-fifths of the previous year’s budget while it waits for Dáil approval.
READ MORE
However, The Irish Times reported earlier this week that because of the huge increase in social welfare spending the Department of Social Protection will reach its authorised expenditure level in mid-June.
The health service would effectively reach a ceiling on its authorised spending in September under the same rules.
This means that the Dáil would have to vote to allow the Government to continue spending, and some Government sources are concerned that plans to taper off or reduce the special Covid welfare payments could mean opposition parties holding up the estimates.
Welfare payments
Government sources were also tight-lipped about the prospects for the final instalment of the public sector pay deal as the public finances deteriorate rapidly.
Mr Donohoe said on Wednesday that both he and the Taoiseach had indicated they wanted to avoid cuts to core social welfare payments and to protect public service pay as it currently stood.
The Minister did not comment on future pay rises due to public service personnel.
At the start of October more than 300,0000 public service staff are to receive a 2 per cent increase, the largest individual rise in the three-year agreement.
Asked on Friday whether the Government was committed to paying this scheduled increase, a spokeswoman for the Minister said: “The focus of Government right now is responding effectively to the public health emergency while supporting the economy, jobs and business. Public servants are leading this effort in our healthcare system and civil administration. Broader fiscal strategy will continue to evolve as the situation develops and the economic impact becomes clearer.”
Union sources said there had been no contact with the Government on the pay issue.


theirishtimes--2020-04-22--Man to face charges for allegedly spitting at garda in Drogheda

A man is due in court on Thursday morning to face charges of assaulting a garda by spitting at him @ @ @ @ @ in Drogheda on Wednesday afternoon .
The alleged assault occurred at around 3.30pm in Moneymore @ @ @ @ @ responding to a separate incident in the area .
A male ( 30s ) approached @ @ @ @ @ interfered with an officer who was conducting an arrest .
The man then proceeded to @ @ @ @ @ A man was subsequently arrested and taken to Drogheda Garda station where he was detained @ @ @ @ @ Criminal Justice Act 1984 .
The man is due to appear before Dundalk District Court @ @ @ @ @ he will face a charge of assaulting of a garda .
Separately , a male @ @ @ @ @ centre of the initial public order incident is also due before the same court .
@ @ @ @ @ , who was reported to be in possession of a knife , had evaded gardaí @ @ @ @ @ distance away by gardaí who gave chase on foot .

A man was subsequently arrested and taken to Drogheda Garda station. File photograph: Stephen Collins
A man is due in court on Thursday morning to face charges of assaulting a garda by spitting at him during a public order incident in Drogheda on Wednesday afternoon.
The alleged assault occurred at around 3.30pm in Moneymore, Drogheda as gardaí were responding to a separate incident in the area.
A male (30s) approached gardaí at the scene and interfered with an officer who was conducting an arrest.
The man then proceeded to spit at the garda.
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A man was subsequently arrested and taken to Drogheda Garda station where he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
The man is due to appear before Dundalk District Court on Thursday at 10.30am where he will face a charge of assaulting of a garda.
Separately, a male who was allegedly at the centre of the initial public order incident is also due before the same court.
A man in his 20s, who was reported to be in possession of a knife, had evaded gardaí but was arrested a short distance away by gardaí who gave chase on foot.