theirishtimes--2020-04-02--Coronavirus: UCD researchers using 3D printing to make medical face shields

An advanced manufacturing research facility based in University College Dublin ( UCD ) has designed a face shield for medical staff working on the Covid-19 frontline in the space of a week , and is already scaling up production .
Using its expertise in 3D printing , known as additive manufacturing , I-Form is aiming to provide much-needed PPE ( personal protective equipment ) to healthcare staff in Dublin .
Its researchers have been focused on meeting that need since last Friday , starting with the 3D printing of a face shield prototype , which has now gone into production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engineering colleagues at UCD , were responding to a direct request for this particular item of PPE from Tallaght University Hospital ( TUH ) .
They spent all weekend in their lab – taking it in shifts to ensure physical distancing – and “ by Sunday night we had produced 300 face shields for TUH ” , said postdoctoral research Dr Andrew Dickson .
“ We took existing designs and optimised them to produce one part every 17 minutes .
We are continuing this work and , as of today ( Thursday ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face shields to frontline staff across Dublin , ” he added .
Prof Denis Dowling , the director of I-Form , a Science Foundation Ireland research centre , said additive manufacturing was a highly adaptable technology that can be quickly harnessed to meet an immediate need .
I-Form is also donating face shields to other hospitals in Dublin and to HSE coronavirus testing centres around the greater Dublin area .
Discussions are also underway with two nursing homes to provide the equipment , Prof Dowling said .
Other areas under investigation by its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ventilator-related technological aids .
Many Irish third-level institutions have been responding to a call-out for assistance in the national effort to counter coronavirus .
CALT Dynamics , based in Kilcoole , Co Wicklow , and founded by UCD research engineers Ross Lawless , Colin Keogh and Irene Villafane , has developed a prototype protective visor that can be produced rapidly , again using 3D printing .
The company has already donated prototypes to a Dublin hospital for testing and validation and is sharing its design with companies in the US and Spain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in multiple locations .
Impact Gumshields in Sandyford , Co Dublin , set up by former Leinster rugby player Gary Brown , is redeploying its 3D printers to produce hands-free door handles for distribution to GP surgeries , pharmacies , nursing homes and other healthcare providers .

A number of face shields produced in the I-Form Lab at UCD.
An advanced manufacturing research facility based in University College Dublin (UCD) has designed a face shield for medical staff working on the Covid-19 frontline in the space of a week, and is already scaling up production.
Using its expertise in 3D printing, known as additive manufacturing, I-Form is aiming to provide much-needed PPE (personal protective equipment) to healthcare staff in Dublin.
Its researchers have been focused on meeting that need since last Friday, starting with the 3D printing of a face shield prototype, which has now gone into production.
The I-Form team, along with engineering colleagues at UCD, were responding to a direct request for this particular item of PPE from Tallaght University Hospital (TUH).
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Distancing
They spent all weekend in their lab – taking it in shifts to ensure physical distancing – and "by Sunday night we had produced 300 face shields for TUH", said postdoctoral research Dr Andrew Dickson.
“We took existing designs and optimised them to produce one part every 17 minutes. We are continuing this work and, as of today (Thursday), we have produced and donated 600 face shields to frontline staff across Dublin,” he added.
Prof Denis Dowling, the director of I-Form, a Science Foundation Ireland research centre, said additive manufacturing was a highly adaptable technology that can be quickly harnessed to meet an immediate need.
I-Form is also donating face shields to other hospitals in Dublin and to HSE coronavirus testing centres around the greater Dublin area. Discussions are also underway with two nursing homes to provide the equipment, Prof Dowling said.
Other areas under investigation by its researchers include the production of protective goggles and ventilator-related technological aids.
National effort
Many Irish third-level institutions have been responding to a call-out for assistance in the national effort to counter coronavirus.
CALT Dynamics, based in Kilcoole, Co Wicklow, and founded by UCD research engineers Ross Lawless, Colin Keogh and Irene Villafane, has developed a prototype protective visor that can be produced rapidly, again using 3D printing.
The company has already donated prototypes to a Dublin hospital for testing and validation and is sharing its design with companies in the US and Spain with a view to it being produced in multiple locations.
Impact Gumshields in Sandyford, Co Dublin, set up by former Leinster rugby player Gary Brown, is redeploying its 3D printers to produce hands-free door handles for distribution to GP surgeries, pharmacies, nursing homes and other healthcare providers.


theirishtimes--2020-04-02--Students: How has the Covid-19 crisis affected you?

Most colleges and universities have cancelled or postponed this summer ’ s exams and have moved their teaching programme online @ @ @ @ @ might not suit everyone .
Some will not have access to broadband while others will @ @ @ @ @ available on campus .
We want to hear from you about your experience .
How @ @ @ @ @ your ability to study ?
Do you think all students should get a pass ?
@ @ @ @ @ , or are you worried about your finances , accommodation , or ability to pay @ @ @ @ @ crisis affected you as a student in any other way ?
You can share your @ @ @ @ @ Please attach a photograph of yourself if you wish .
If you would like to @ @ @ @ @ this in your submission .
A selection of responses may be published online and/or in @ @

We want to hear from you about your experience. Join the conversation and have your say - and we’ll publish a selection of entries over the coming days.
Most colleges and universities have cancelled or postponed this summer’s exams and have moved their teaching programme online. However, this shift might not suit everyone. Some will not have access to broadband while others will miss the various resources usually available on campus. We want to hear from you about your experience.
How is working from home affecting your ability to study? Do you think all students should get a pass? Have you lost your job, or are you worried about your finances, accommodation, or ability to pay rent? Has the Covid-19 crisis affected you as a student in any other way?
You can share your story using this form. Please attach a photograph of yourself if you wish. If you would like to remain anonymous, please indicate this in your submission.
A selection of responses may be published online and/or in print.
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Thank you.


theirishtimes--2020-04-02--Court overturns order preventing extradition of man to Lithuania

The Supreme Court has overturned an order preventing , on family life grounds , the extradition of a man to Lithuania to complete a sentence for offences , mainly theft , carried out by him as a teenager .
On Thursday , the five-judge court granted the Minister for Justice ’ s appeal against the surrender refusal and ordered his surrender .
Aged in his early 30s , the man was described as “ well settled ” here with a partner and two young children , both Irish citizens , aged four and 12 .
He is father to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one .
He came to Ireland while on parole having served almost half of a composite sentence of five years and eight months imposed in 2006 for more than 40 convictions between 2004 and 2006 when aged between 15 and 17 .
He lived openly here under his real name and has two convictions since coming here , for driving without insurance and depositing grass cuttings in a place not designated for that .
Lithuania ’ s Ministry for Justice issued a European Arrest Warrant for him in late 2013 .
Following a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU in late 2016 the Ministry for Justice was not a “ judicial authority ” under the EC Framework Decision on extradition , a fresh EAW issued in late 2016 which was sent to Ireland for execution in April 2018 .
In March 2019 , the High Court ’ s Mr Justice Tony Hunt refused surrender for reasons including it would infringe the private and family life rights of the man , his partner and the children , under article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights .
These “ exceptional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest , which would normally compel surrender , was heavily compromised having regard to the adverse effects of such an order , including the children losing contact with their father for three years .
He was also critical of delay by the Lithuanian authorities .
The Supreme Court later agreed to hear an appeal by the Minister over the High Court decision .
Giving its unanimous judgment on Thursday , Mr Justice John MacMenamin said it was “ natural that there would be human sympathy in a case like this ” .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to the courts ’ duty under the Framework Decision and the EAW Warrant Act .
All the factors concerning the man ’ s position as fully outlined in the High Court decision , including the impact on the children , his age at the time of the offences , the nature of those offences and delays in this matter , will doubtless be considered by the Lithuanian courts , he outlined .
The High Court had misapprehended the legal test to be applied and then took into account features which are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
While any surrender decision must be compatible with the protection afforded under the ECHR , the process “ does not involve a general proportionality test ” , he ruled .
The Supreme Court must carry out an assessment and determine , having applied the correct test , whether the man should be surrendered , he said .
Having done so , he concluded there were no “ truly exceptional ” article 8 factors in this case to warrant a refusal to surrender .
The potential effect on the children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of the loss of contact with their father for almost three years was undoubtedly something the Lithuania court would take into account .
For those reasons , he allowed the Minister ’ s appeal .
In concluding remarks , he said the information produced by the Lithuanian authorities to explain any delay by them was insufficient and the absence of proper and necessary information was “ not conducive to mutual trust and confidence ” .

The Supreme Court has overturned an order preventing, on family life grounds, the extradition of a man to Lithuania to complete a sentence for offences, mainly theft, carried out by him as a teenager.
On Thursday, the five-judge court granted the Minister for Justice’s appeal against the surrender refusal and ordered his surrender.
Aged in his early 30s, the man was described as “well settled” here with a partner and two young children, both Irish citizens, aged four and 12. He is father to the younger child and stepfather to the older one.
He came to Ireland while on parole having served almost half of a composite sentence of five years and eight months imposed in 2006 for more than 40 convictions between 2004 and 2006 when aged between 15 and 17.
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He lived openly here under his real name and has two convictions since coming here, for driving without insurance and depositing grass cuttings in a place not designated for that.
Lithuania’s Ministry for Justice issued a European Arrest Warrant for him in late 2013. Following a judgment of the court of Justice of the EU in late 2016 the Ministry for Justice was not a “judicial authority” under the EC Framework Decision on extradition, a fresh EAW issued in late 2016 which was sent to Ireland for execution in April 2018.
In March 2019, the High Court’s Mr Justice Tony Hunt refused surrender for reasons including it would infringe the private and family life rights of the man, his partner and the children, under article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
These “exceptional” factors were such that the public interest, which would normally compel surrender, was heavily compromised having regard to the adverse effects of such an order, including the children losing contact with their father for three years. He was also critical of delay by the Lithuanian authorities.
The Supreme Court later agreed to hear an appeal by the Minister over the High Court decision.
Giving its unanimous judgment on Thursday, Mr Justice John MacMenamin said it was “natural that there would be human sympathy in a case like this”.
However, that must take “second place” to the courts’ duty under the Framework Decision and the EAW Warrant Act.
All the factors concerning the man’s position as fully outlined in the High Court decision, including the impact on the children, his age at the time of the offences, the nature of those offences and delays in this matter, will doubtless be considered by the Lithuanian courts, he outlined.
The High Court had misapprehended the legal test to be applied and then took into account features which are not permissible in an assessment of this type, he said.
While any surrender decision must be compatible with the protection afforded under the ECHR, the process “does not involve a general proportionality test”, he ruled.
The Supreme Court must carry out an assessment and determine, having applied the correct test, whether the man should be surrendered, he said.
Having done so, he concluded there were no “truly exceptional” article 8 factors in this case to warrant a refusal to surrender. The potential effect on the children, at this time in their lives, of the loss of contact with their father for almost three years was undoubtedly something the Lithuania court would take into account.
For those reasons, he allowed the Minister’s appeal.
In concluding remarks, he said the information produced by the Lithuanian authorities to explain any delay by them was insufficient and the absence of proper and necessary information was “not conducive to mutual trust and confidence”.


theirishtimes--2020-04-02--Sweetman wins order striking down regulations diluting protection for mussel

An environmental activist has won a High Court order , on consent , striking down regulations removing certain protections from a rare and protected species of freshwater pearl mussel .
Peter Sweetman brought proceedings aimed at preventing any legislation or administrative act removing the freshwater pearl mussel as a “ qualifying interest ” from any part of the Munster Blackwater Special Area of Conservation ( SAC ) .
He also sought to quash a September 2018 Statutory Instrument made by the Minister for Culture , Heritage and the Gaeltacht , the 2018 EU Environmental Objectives ( Freshwater Pearl Mussel Amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State ’ s decision related to the population of freshwater pearl mussels in the main river channel of the Blackwater , which flows through counties Waterford and Cork , and is a designated site of European importance .
The freshwater pearl mussel is a designated protected species , the conservation of which is of global importance given that Ireland has 43 per cent of the EU ’ s population of adult fresh water pearl mussels .
Mr Sweetman claimed the new regulations were flawed and breached EU directives on environmental protection , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulations effectively removed a legal obligation to put in place certain conservation measures that lessened the chances of conserving the species .
The regulations removed certain obligations including the setting of ecological quality objectives for the entire length of the Blackwater river , he argued .
The regulations also removed obligations on emission limits values for discharges into the river , he claimed .
The action was against the Minister , Ireland and the Attorney General .
The High Court had in 2018 granted Mr Sweetman , represented by solicitor Brian Harrington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussions between the parties , it was agreed earlier this year the court could make an order quashing the statutory instrument on the basis the regulations were made in breach of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive .
The State respondents will also pay Mr Sweetman ’ s legal costs .
The orders were granted by Mr Justice Charles Meenan .

Peter Sweetman claimed the State’s decision related to the population of freshwater pearl mussels in the main river channel of the Blackwater, which flows through counties Waterford and Cork, and is a designated site of European importance. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill / The Irish Times
An environmental activist has won a High Court order, on consent, striking down regulations removing certain protections from a rare and protected species of freshwater pearl mussel.
Peter Sweetman brought proceedings aimed at preventing any legislation or administrative act removing the freshwater pearl mussel as a “qualifying interest” from any part of the Munster Blackwater Special Area of Conservation (SAC). He also sought to quash a September 2018 Statutory Instrument made by the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the 2018 EU Environmental Objectives (Freshwater Pearl Mussel Amendment) Regulations.
Mr Sweetman claimed the State’s decision related to the population of freshwater pearl mussels in the main river channel of the Blackwater, which flows through counties Waterford and Cork, and is a designated site of European importance.
The freshwater pearl mussel is a designated protected species, the conservation of which is of global importance given that Ireland has 43 per cent of the EU’s population of adult fresh water pearl mussels.
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Mr Sweetman claimed the new regulations were flawed and breached EU directives on environmental protection, including the habitats directive. He claimed the regulations effectively removed a legal obligation to put in place certain conservation measures that lessened the chances of conserving the species.
The regulations removed certain obligations including the setting of ecological quality objectives for the entire length of the Blackwater river, he argued.
The regulations also removed obligations on emission limits values for discharges into the river, he claimed.
The action was against the Minister, Ireland and the Attorney General. The High Court had in 2018 granted Mr Sweetman, represented by solicitor Brian Harrington, permission to bring his challenge. Following discussions between the parties, it was agreed earlier this year the court could make an order quashing the statutory instrument on the basis the regulations were made in breach of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive.
The State respondents will also pay Mr Sweetman’s legal costs. The orders were granted by Mr Justice Charles Meenan.


theirishtimes--2020-04-02--Call for jails to release more prisoners due to coronavirus crisis

The release of prisoners from Irish jails has stalled and more should be set free to prepare for the surge in Covid-19 cases , social justice campaign Fr Peter McVerry has said .
He has pointed out that the number of Covid-19 cases in the prison system in England and Wales has almost trebled in the past five days , adding a decision to bring to an end the release of prisoners in Ireland was a mistake .
To date no prisoners in Ireland have tested positive , though some have been placed into isolation as they have shown Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of cases among prison officers .
The Irish Times understands at least one officer is among the HSE ’ s confirmed cases and sources believed a second officer has also contracted the virus .
However , it is not clear where they contracted the virus .
The Irish Prison Service and Prison Officers ’ Association both declined to comment on whether the two officers were suffering from the virus .
Neither has any plans to confirm or comment on any specific cases that may arise during the crisis .
Homelessness campaigner Fr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice advocate with the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice , said while hundreds of prisoners had been granted temporary release over the past three weeks , the process had now stalled and temporary release numbers were no longer increasing .
“ This decrease does not go far enough , deep enough or fast enough to address the current crisis , ” he said .
The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice has recommended that in order to prevent prisons becoming “ cluster-zones for the Covid-19 virus ” , Minister for Justice Charlie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with less than six months to serve at present .
The centre said the Irish Prison Service should look to England and Wales where there had been “ hesitancy ” in releasing prisoners temporarily and now 69 prisoners and 14 staff members had tested positive .
It added about one in four prison staff were absent from work due to Covid-19 related issues in England and Wales .
In that context , it said , it was “ a grave error of judgement ” for the Irish Prison Service to be “ reactive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Social policy advocate at the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice , Keith Adams , believed the measures taken to date by the prison service were not sufficient .
“ A small surplus of cells for isolating symptomatic prisoners is not the level of preparedness required for a closed institution in a public health crisis , ” he said .
“ Continuing with temporary releases to bring the population to ‘ one cell , one person ’ should be the goal.
” The Irish Prison Service said it had 3,500 employees and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and measures set down by the Government on Covid-19 .
“ It can only be expected that out of a staffing cohort of that size , there will be a certain number of staff who have been advised to self-isolate at any given time .
However , the vast majority of staff continue to report for duty as normal , ” it said in reply to queries .
The Irish Prison Service has released almost 300 prisoners temporarily in recent weeks , adding to some 300 prisoners generally on temporary release at any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ granted temporary release are non-violent criminals nearing the end of sentences or those who were in prison to serve short sentences .
A unit in Cloverhill Prison , Dublin , has been assigned as an isolation facility and any prisoners showing symptoms of Covid-19 have been tested and isolated in that area of Cloverhill .
Prison visits have also been cancelled in a bid to stop the spread of the virus .
The prison service is currently working on plans to put in place screening for Covid-19 for all staff and other people @ @ @ @ @ @ @

To date no prisoners in Ireland have tested positive, though some have been placed into isolation as they have shown Covid-19 symptoms. Photograph: iStock
The release of prisoners from Irish jails has stalled and more should be set free to prepare for the surge in Covid-19 cases, social justice campaign Fr Peter McVerry has said.
He has pointed out that the number of Covid-19 cases in the prison system in England and Wales has almost trebled in the past five days, adding a decision to bring to an end the release of prisoners in Ireland was a mistake.
To date no prisoners in Ireland have tested positive, though some have been placed into isolation as they have shown Covid-19 symptoms.
There have been a small number of cases among prison officers. The Irish Times understands at least one officer is among the HSE’s confirmed cases and sources believed a second officer has also contracted the virus. However, it is not clear where they contracted the virus.
READ MORE
The Irish Prison Service and Prison Officers’ Association both declined to comment on whether the two officers were suffering from the virus. Neither has any plans to confirm or comment on any specific cases that may arise during the crisis.
Homelessness campaigner Fr McVerry, who is also a social justice advocate with the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, said while hundreds of prisoners had been granted temporary release over the past three weeks, the process had now stalled and temporary release numbers were no longer increasing.
“This decrease does not go far enough, deep enough or fast enough to address the current crisis,” he said.
The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice has recommended that in order to prevent prisons becoming “cluster-zones for the Covid-19 virus”, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan should approve the release of prisoners with less than six months to serve at present.
The centre said the Irish Prison Service should look to England and Wales where there had been “hesitancy” in releasing prisoners temporarily and now 69 prisoners and 14 staff members had tested positive.
It added about one in four prison staff were absent from work due to Covid-19 related issues in England and Wales. In that context, it said, it was “a grave error of judgement” for the Irish Prison Service to be “reactive at a time like this”.
Social policy advocate at the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, Keith Adams, believed the measures taken to date by the prison service were not sufficient.
“A small surplus of cells for isolating symptomatic prisoners is not the level of preparedness required for a closed institution in a public health crisis,” he said.
“Continuing with temporary releases to bring the population to ‘one cell, one person’ should be the goal.”
The Irish Prison Service said it had 3,500 employees and that it was following all of the guidance and measures set down by the Government on Covid-19.
“It can only be expected that out of a staffing cohort of that size, there will be a certain number of staff who have been advised to self-isolate at any given time. However, the vast majority of staff continue to report for duty as normal,” it said in reply to queries.
The Irish Prison Service has released almost 300 prisoners temporarily in recent weeks, adding to some 300 prisoners generally on temporary release at any one time.
Those who have been granted temporary release are non-violent criminals nearing the end of sentences or those who were in prison to serve short sentences.
A unit in Cloverhill Prison, Dublin, has been assigned as an isolation facility and any prisoners showing symptoms of Covid-19 have been tested and isolated in that area of Cloverhill.
Prison visits have also been cancelled in a bid to stop the spread of the virus. The prison service is currently working on plans to put in place screening for Covid-19 for all staff and other people whose work takes them into prisons.


theirishtimes--2020-04-02--PSNI investigating ‘potential domestic murders’ during coronavirus crisis

Police in Northern Ireland are witnessing an increase in domestic violence and in domestic murders during the coronavirus pandemic , the Assembly ’ s justice committee has heard .
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said police were investigating “ potential domestic murders ” that occured during the coronavirus crisis .
He previously predicted a rise in domestic violence and told MLAs that this had “ regrettably ” come to pass .
“ Some of those are likely to come before the courts today or tomorrow , ” he said .
Meanwhile , six more people have died from Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest data from the North ’ s Public Health Agency ( PHA ) , bringing the number of fatalities in the North to 36 .
The PHA also reported that 85 additional confirmed cases , with the total number now at 774 with 6,899 people having been tested .
The North ’ s chief nursing officer Charlotte McArdle said the tower block of Belfast City Hospital is to become Northern Ireland first “ Nightingale ” hospital .
These temporary facilities also being established in Britain to try to cope with the expected surge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 230-bed critical care unit and similar facilities are to be developed at Altnagelvin in Derry and at the Ulster Hospital in east Belfast .
The Eikon Exhibition Centre near Lisburn would be converted into a critical care hospital if needed , Ms McArdle said .
At a meeting of the Assembly health committee , Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan asked health Minister Robin Swann how , if the British government said there were 400 million items of personal protection equipment ( PPE ) distributed in the past fortnight , none of it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Swann said that currently there was no shortage of PPE in the North and the problem was with the supply chain and getting the kit to where it was needed .
He said the North had not been denied supplies .
Dr Cathy Jack , chief executive of the Belfast Health Trust , told the committee while there were sufficient stocks it was proving difficult to obtain specialist equipment such as high quality masks .
She said the trust was doing everything it could to “ have the right equipment at the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked Mr Swann had he sought Covid-19 test kits from Randox Laboratories , which is manufacturing them in Northern Ireland .
Mr Swann said a small amount of kits were obtained at the very start of the crisis but were now tied into Randox ’ s UK-wide contract to supply kit , some of which would be delivered to the North .
Mr Gildernew asked “ why should a local company that is manufacturing kit that we need be allowed to send those out ” particularly when the company had received investment from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contract they have negotiated with the United Kingdom is without my scope , ” responded Mr Swann .
During a Stormont press conference , Finance Minister Conor Murphy said it did “ not seem logical ” that product from Randox should be sent to England , and then to have some of it brought back to Northern Ireland .
“ We need to ensure that we can secure sufficient test ( kits ) for our purposes , ” he said .
Mr Gildernew also referred to the modelling which found in a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients would require oxygen while 180 would require ventilation ” .
The modelling in this scenario also forecast 3,000 deaths in the North in the coming 20 weeks .
Mr Swann said the North had 165 ventilators and an additional “ 190 are coming as part of the UK allocation ” .
There were 650-700 breathing support apparatuses on order as well .

Police in Northern Ireland are witnessing an increase in domestic violence and in domestic murders during the coronavirus pandemic, the Assembly’s justice committee has heard.
Police in Northern Ireland are witnessing an increase in domestic violence and in domestic murders during the coronavirus pandemic, the Assembly's justice committee has heard.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said police were investigating "potential domestic murders" that occured during the coronavirus crisis. He previously predicted a rise in domestic violence and told MLAs that this had "regrettably" come to pass.
“Some of those are likely to come before the courts today or tomorrow,” he said.
Meanwhile, six more people have died from Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, according to the latest data from the North's Public Health Agency (PHA), bringing the number of fatalities in the North to 36.
READ MORE
The PHA also reported that 85 additional confirmed cases, with the total number now at 774 with 6,899 people having been tested.
The North's chief nursing officer Charlotte McArdle said the tower block of Belfast City Hospital is to become Northern Ireland first "Nightingale" hospital. These temporary facilities also being established in Britain to try to cope with the expected surge in coronavirus patients.
It will be a 230-bed critical care unit and similar facilities are to be developed at Altnagelvin in Derry and at the Ulster Hospital in east Belfast. The Eikon Exhibition Centre near Lisburn would be converted into a critical care hospital if needed, Ms McArdle said.
At a meeting of the Assembly health committee, Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan asked health Minister Robin Swann how, if the British government said there were 400 million items of personal protection equipment (PPE) distributed in the past fortnight, none of it had come to Northern Ireland.
Mr Swann said that currently there was no shortage of PPE in the North and the problem was with the supply chain and getting the kit to where it was needed. He said the North had not been denied supplies.
Dr Cathy Jack, chief executive of the Belfast Health Trust, told the committee while there were sufficient stocks it was proving difficult to obtain specialist equipment such as high quality masks. She said the trust was doing everything it could to "have the right equipment at the right time".
Committee chairman Colm Gildernew asked Mr Swann had he sought Covid-19 test kits from Randox Laboratories, which is manufacturing them in Northern Ireland.
Mr Swann said a small amount of kits were obtained at the very start of the crisis but were now tied into Randox’s UK-wide contract to supply kit, some of which would be delivered to the North.
Mr Gildernew asked “why should a local company that is manufacturing kit that we need be allowed to send those out” particularly when the company had received investment from local agencies
"The commerciality of the contract they have negotiated with the United Kingdom is without my scope," responded Mr Swann.
During a Stormont press conference, Finance Minister Conor Murphy said it did "not seem logical" that product from Randox should be sent to England, and then to have some of it brought back to Northern Ireland.
“We need to ensure that we can secure sufficient test (kits) for our purposes,” he said.
Mr Gildernew also referred to the modelling which found in a “reasonable worst case scenario” 400 hospitalised patients would require oxygen while 180 would require ventilation”. The modelling in this scenario also forecast 3,000 deaths in the North in the coming 20 weeks.
Mr Swann said the North had 165 ventilators and an additional “190 are coming as part of the UK allocation”. There were 650-700 breathing support apparatuses on order as well.


theirishtimes--2020-04-03--Private hospital consultants urged not to sign up to working in public system

Hospital consultants in fulltime practice in private hospitals are being advised by their representative body not to sign up at present to the Government ’ s new initiative for them to work in the public system during the current Covid-19 crisis .
The Irish Hospital Consultants Association ( IHCA ) said on Friday that there were “ a large number of significant issues ” concerning proposed new State contracts for these consultants that needed to be clarified .
It said it could not advise members to sign such new contracts until these issues were addressed .
The Government on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deal to effectively take over 19 private hospitals around the country for a three-month period to provide additional capacity to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic .
As part of this initiative consultants working fulltime in private hospitals were to be offered locum contracts - known technically as category A contracts -to work exclusively in the public system .
They would paid on a scale ranging from €141,000 to €195,000 .
However the Department of Health subsequently briefed medical organisations and health insurers on Wednesday that while there would be no private work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights to see fee-paying patients in public hospitals could continue to do so as long as they did not have Covid 19 .
Public hospitals could also bill insurers for accommodating non Covid-19 patients who opted to use their private insurance .
This revelation led to strong concern among some private hospitals who have now sought clarification from the HSE on the issue .
In a memo to members on Friday the general secretary of the IHCA Matin Varley said : “ Despite agreements on Wednesday , senior health service management has failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a draft template of the temporary contract to be offered to whole-time private practice consultants ( WTPP ) and arrangements for other consultants .
It was agreed the draft template contract would be provided for assessment and further discussions prior to it being issued to consultants , with a view to finalising it when all outstanding matters were resolved .
“ A large number of very significant issues concerning these contracts and practice terms for all consultants have not been clarified despite them being discussed in a meeting on Wednesday and commitments having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ management with the IHCA .
“ This is unacceptable given the commitments provided at our meeting and accordingly the IHCA is advising private practice consultants that we can not recommend that you sign any contract provided to you until the outstanding matters are clarified and the IHCA provides you with a further update .
”

Hospital consultants in fulltime practice in private hospitals are being advised by their representative body not to sign up to work in public hospitals. Photograph: Getty.
Hospital consultants in fulltime practice in private hospitals are being advised by their representative body not to sign up at present to the Government’s new initiative for them to work in the public system during the current Covid-19 crisis.
The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said on Friday that there were "a large number of significant issues" concerning proposed new State contracts for these consultants that needed to be clarified.
It said it could not advise members to sign such new contracts until these issues were addressed.
The Government on Monday announced it had agreed the heads of a deal to effectively take over 19 private hospitals around the country for a three-month period to provide additional capacity to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
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As part of this initiative consultants working fulltime in private hospitals were to be offered locum contracts - known technically as category A contracts -to work exclusively in the public system. They would paid on a scale ranging from €141,000 to €195,000.
However the Department of Health subsequently briefed medical organisations and health insurers on Wednesday that while there would be no private work in private hospitals, consultants with contractual rights to see fee-paying patients in public hospitals could continue to do so as long as they did not have Covid 19.
Public hospitals could also bill insurers for accommodating non Covid-19 patients who opted to use their private insurance.
This revelation led to strong concern among some private hospitals who have now sought clarification from the HSE on the issue.
In a memo to members on Friday the general secretary of the IHCA Matin Varley said:
“Despite agreements on Wednesday, senior health service management has failed to provide the IHCA working group with a draft template of the temporary contract to be offered to whole-time private practice consultants (WTPP) and arrangements for other consultants. It was agreed the draft template contract would be provided for assessment and further discussions prior to it being issued to consultants, with a view to finalising it when all outstanding matters were resolved.
“A large number of very significant issues concerning these contracts and practice terms for all consultants have not been clarified despite them being discussed in a meeting on Wednesday and commitments having being entered into by the health service management with the IHCA.
“This is unacceptable given the commitments provided at our meeting and accordingly the IHCA is advising private practice consultants that we cannot recommend that you sign any contract provided to you until the outstanding matters are clarified and the IHCA provides you with a further update.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-03--Coronavirus: Access to Dublin beauty spots restricted

Access to many of Dublin ’ s beauty spots has had to be barred by Dublin City Council following Garda concerns over the public ’ s observance of new Coronavirus restrictions .
Last Friday the Government ordered that people could continue to take “ brief ” physical exercise , but only within 2km of their homes .
While most parks remain open , the city council has in recent days had to introduce additional limits and prohibitions , in particular to stop people from driving to parks and beaches .
From Thursday following a Garda instruction , the council has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Island and Dollymount Beach , banning cars from parking along the 1.5km road .
It also closed the “ dog park ” in nearby St Anne ’ s Park in Raheny , again on the instructions of the Garda .
On Monday , just days after the 2km restriction came into place , the Garda asked the council to close the car parks on Strand Road , Sandymount , in Dublin 4 .
The council had already on Saturday , in line with all other local authorities , closed the car parks associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living locally used the facilities .
The council also last Saturday closed all access to Merrion Square , again following Garda concerns over crowding , but the park has since reopened for those with 2km to use .
Assistant council chief executive Richard Shakespeare said the additional restrictions were needed to ensure people respected physical distancing rules .
“ We need people to stay within 2km of where they live for exercise , and to facilitate that and to ensure local people have the space to maintain social distancing , the gardaí asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as the closure of the Causeway , to stop people from travelling from further away than the 2km.
” The dog park in St Anne ’ s Park was closed because Garda advised it was “ too confined ” for the number of people using it Mr Shakespeare said , while the car parks in Sandymount were closed because the council “ treats Sandymount Strand as a park ” he said .
From 4pm on Friday , the council will close its community allotments in St Anne ’ s Park and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rathdown County Council is also closing its allotments this evening .
Fingal County Council had closed its allotments earlier this week .
It said it had sought Government and public health direction on matter and was informed there was “ no exemption for allotments ” in the orders issued last Friday .
“ They do not fall under the food production exemption , there is no way to manage who has access to allotments and there is no way to enforce social distancing once people are on site , ” the council said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect our communities and particularly older people and those who are medically vulnerable , by slowing the spread of the virus , ” it said .

Social Isolation: A walker on the strand with the Aviva Stadium in the background. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times.
Access to many of Dublin's beauty spots has had to be barred by Dublin City Council following Garda concerns over the public's observance of new Coronavirus restrictions.
Last Friday the Government ordered that people could continue to take “brief” physical exercise, but only within 2km of their homes.
While most parks remain open, the city council has in recent days had to introduce additional limits and prohibitions, in particular to stop people from driving to parks and beaches.
From Thursday following a Garda instruction, the council has closed the Causeway Road leading to Bull Island and Dollymount Beach, banning cars from parking along the 1.5km road. It also closed the "dog park" in nearby St Anne's Park in Raheny, again on the instructions of the Garda.
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On Monday, just days after the 2km restriction came into place, the Garda asked the council to close the car parks on Strand Road, Sandymount, in Dublin 4. The council had already on Saturday, in line with all other local authorities, closed the car parks associated with public parks to ensure only those living locally used the facilities.
The council also last Saturday closed all access to Merrion Square, again following Garda concerns over crowding, but the park has since reopened for those with 2km to use.
Allotments
Assistant council chief executive Richard Shakespeare said the additional restrictions were needed to ensure people respected physical distancing rules.
“We need people to stay within 2km of where they live for exercise, and to facilitate that and to ensure local people have the space to maintain social distancing, the gardaí asked us to put in place some closures, such as the closure of the Causeway, to stop people from travelling from further away than the 2km.”
The dog park in St Anne’s Park was closed because Garda advised it was “too confined” for the number of people using it Mr Shakespeare said, while the car parks in Sandymount were closed because the council “treats Sandymount Strand as a park” he said.
From 4pm on Friday, the council will close its community allotments in St Anne's Park and at Meakstown in Ballymun. Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council is also closing its allotments this evening.
Fingal County Council had closed its allotments earlier this week. It said it had sought Government and public health direction on matter and was informed there was "no exemption for allotments" in the orders issued last Friday.
“They do not fall under the food production exemption, there is no way to manage who has access to allotments and there is no way to enforce social distancing once people are on site,” the council said.
“These measures have been introduced to protect our communities and particularly older people and those who are medically vulnerable, by slowing the spread of the virus,” it said.


theirishtimes--2020-04-03--Secondary students want State exams replaced with predicted grades

Tens of thousands of secondary school students have called for this year ’ s State exams to be cancelled and replaced with predicted grades .
In an online survey of 47,000 Junior and Leaving Cert students over the past week , the Irish Second-Level Students ’ Union found that most want their grades to be based on their coursework to date due to the disruption caused by schools being closed due to the coronavirus outbreak .
At Leaving Cert level , 49 per cent of students are in favour of cancelling the June exams and using already-completed coursework to decide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options include proceeding with written exams in June while adhering to social distancing ( 26 per cent ) and rescheduling exams to July or August ( 19 per cent ) .
At Junior Cert level , some 77 per cent of students are also in favour of cancelling the June exams and using predicted grades .
Other options are much less popular , such as rescheduling exams ( 9 per cent ) or proceeding with the June exams while adhering to social distancing ( 8 per cent ) .
When the two exam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60 per cent of Junior and Leaving Cert students support cancelling exams and using a predicted grade model .
Other education systems such as the UK ’ s A-Levels and the International Baccalaureate have cancelled exams and are using assessed or predicted grades based on students ’ coursework .
Teachers ’ unions in Ireland , however , have traditionally been fiercely opposed to grading their own students for the purposes of the State exams .
In the ISSU survey , many students who supported cancelling exams said it would best serve students ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the exams would not only put students ’ health at risk but also would not be fair to students having missed out on a whole semester of learning in school , ” one student wrote .
Another said : “ We are missing time in school the past few weeks .
It is harder to learn new materials for our exams in June .
A predictive model would definitely take a lot more stress off students.
” Many also said that while remote learning was a useful fall-back option , it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nothing is as effective as a topic being fully explained to you as a teacher in a classroom environment , ” wrote one student .
Another added : “ We ’ re not in a learning environment that is fair and equal for all .
Not being in a school setting is detrimental to our Leaving Cert studies .
The lockdown , along with the sickness and deaths of friends and family members , is widespread and affects our motivation , work ethic and wellbeing.
” Students were united in their desire for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Education on what the contingency plans are for the State exams .
Many said their stress levels were “ going through the roof ” due to uncertainty .
“ We need to be told what ’ s actually happening instead of being left hanging before anything is announced , ” said one student .
Another said : “ The pressure we are facing is like no other exam year .
The department should seriously put themselves in the students ’ shoes.
” On Thursday , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar insisted the State exams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by crook ” and that contingency plans were being worked on .
The ISSU survey was conducted online between Thursday 26th March to Wednesday April 1st 2020 .
The union said it will advocate on behalf of students with the Department of Education and other education stakeholders for a solution that will “ alleviate the stress and uncertainty that has faced students in recent weeks ” and which is as “ fair as possible to all students ” .
It said if a predicted grade model is used , it said basing them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should instead be based on work and assessments completed over the course of senior cycle .
The survey is based on a total of 47,000 student responses - more than a third of the 120,000 State exam students - and excludes those who are not in exam years .
It includes just over 18,000 Junior Cert students and 28,000 Leaving Cert students .

A total of 60 per cent of Junior and Leaving Cert students support cancelling exams and using a predicted grade model. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Tens of thousands of secondary school students want this year’s State exams to be cancelled and replaced with predicted grades.
In an online survey of 47,000 Junior and Leaving Cert students over the past week, the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union found that most want their grades to be based on their coursework to date due to the disruption caused by schools being closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
At Leaving Cert level, 49 per cent of students are in favour of cancelling the June exams and using already-completed coursework to decide their final grades.
Other less popular options include proceeding with written exams in June while adhering to social distancing (26 per cent) and rescheduling exams to July or August (19 per cent).
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At Junior Cert level, some 77 per cent of students are also in favour of cancelling the June exams and using predicted grades.
Other options are much less popular, such as rescheduling exams (9 per cent)or proceeding with the June exams while adhering to social distancing (8 per cent).
When the two exam years are combined, a total of 60 per cent of Junior and Leaving Cert students support cancelling exams and using a predicted grade model.
Other education systems such as the UK’s A-Levels and the International Baccalaureate have cancelled exams and are using assessed or predicted grades based on students’ coursework.
Opposed
Teachers' unions in Ireland, however, have traditionally been fiercely opposed to grading their own students for the purposes of the State exams.
In the ISSU survey, many students who supported cancelling exams said it would best serve students’ health and wellbeing.
“Going ahead with the exams would not only put students’ health at risk but also would not be fair to students having missed out on a whole semester of learning in school,” one student wrote.
Another said: “We are missing time in school the past few weeks. It is harder to learn new materials for our exams in June. A predictive model would definitely take a lot more stress off students.”
Many also said that while remote learning was a useful fall-back option, it was was not fair or equitable.
“Nothing is as effective as a topic being fully explained to you as a teacher in a classroom environment,” wrote one student.
Another added: “We’re not in a learning environment that is fair and equal for all. Not being in a school setting is detrimental to our Leaving Cert studies. The lockdown, along with the sickness and deaths of friends and family members, is widespread and affects our motivation, work ethic and wellbeing.”
Students were united in their desire for “immediate clarity” from the Department of Education on what the contingency plans are for the State exams.
Many said their stress levels were “going through the roof” due to uncertainty.
“We need to be told what’s actually happening instead of being left hanging before anything is announced,” said one student.
Another said: “The pressure we are facing is like no other exam year. The department should seriously put themselves in the students’ shoes.”
Stress
On Thursday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar insisted the State exams will go ahead "by hook or by crook" and that contingency plans were being worked on.
The ISSU survey was conducted online between Thursday 26th March to Wednesday April 1st 2020.
The union said it will advocate on behalf of students with the Department of Education and other education stakeholders for a solution that will “alleviate the stress and uncertainty that has faced students in recent weeks” and which is as “fair as possible to all students”.
The survey is based on a total of 47,000 student responses - more than a third of the 120,000 State exam students - and excludes those who are not in exam years. It includes just over 18,000 Junior Cert students and 28,000 Leaving Cert students.


theirishtimes--2020-04-03--Coronavirus: Gangs take advantage to import large amounts of drugs

Organised criminals are exploiting the coronavirus crisis to ship unprecedented amounts of drugs into the EU , the Irish head of Europe ’ s anti-drug trafficking agency has said .
Michael O ’ Sullivan , a former Garda assistant commissioner , said in the last six days €306 million worth of drugs has been seized off the coast of Spain .
Two of those shipments were seized in operations co-ordinated by the Maritime Analysis and Operation Centre ( Maoc ) , which Mr O ’ Sullivan leads .
Maoc co-ordinates the anti-smuggling operations of security services in seven EU nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service and the Irish Naval Service .
“ This is certainly a marked increase in the number of seizures in such a short period of time , ” Mr O ’ Sullivan told The Irish Times .
“ You ’ d never get three seizures in four or five days .
If you got three tonnes in a period of three months you ’ d be doing very well.
” On March 26th , a “ go fast ” boat travelling from Morocco to Spain was stopped by the Spanish authorities and found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hashish .
Later that day another boat travelling the same route was intercepted carrying €54 million worth of the drug .
On March 28th , a vessel travelling from South America was intercepted off the coast of Galicia in Spain , a common landing spot for drug smugglers .
It was found to be carrying 3 tonnes of cocaine worth €210 million .
The drugs were destined for the European market and were likely imported by several organised crime groups acting in concert .
These organised crime gangs are taking advantage of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police forces will be too busy enforcing lock-down measures to tackle drug crime , Mr O ’ Sullivan said .
He said Spanish police in particular are stretched thin and have lost many officers to the virus , which causes the disease Covid-19 .
“ But they ’ re doing a great job .
They ’ re going out on ships where a ) the guys might be armed and b ) they might have coronavirus , ” he said .
“ Criminals see this as an opportunity to flood the market , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know the police everywhere have got to be stretched to the limit .
“ That ’ s the way organised crime works .
They hope that you are firefighting somewhere else and that they can sneak in under the radar , they ’ d never see us .
We can ’ t afford to take our foot off the pedal.
” In Ireland , gardaí have stepped up operations targeting organised crime in recent weeks to pre-empt attempts to take advantage of the health crisis to move drugs or carry out attacks on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seizures in the past week .
Last Thursday , a Garda Special Crime Taskforce and the Armed Support Unit raided a premises in Bluebell and seized heroin worth about €300,000 .
Two men were arrested .
Each bureau of the Garda ’ s Special Crime Operations has been ordered to aggressively target known organised criminals who may seek to take advantage of the coronavirus crisis , Assistant Commissioner John O ’ Driscoll has said .
Elsewhere , the increased numbers of gardaí on patrol to enforce social distancing protocols in communities has lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious criminals .
On St Patrick ’ s Day gardaí on patrol in Tallaght spotted a car carrying several men driving at speed .
The car was pulled over and five guns – a revolver and four shotguns – were allegedly found inside .
On Sunday , gardaí on routine patrol in Limerick stopped a car to make sure the driver was travelling for an essential purpose .
The car speed off and an object was thrown from the window which was later found to be a loaded handgun .

Up to €306 million worth of drugs has been seized off the coast of Spain. Photograph: iStock
Organised criminals are exploiting the coronavirus crisis to ship unprecedented amounts of drugs into the EU, the Irish head of Europe’s anti-drug trafficking agency has said.
Michael O'Sullivan, a former Garda assistant commissioner, said in the last six days €306 million worth of drugs has been seized off the coast of Spain.
Two of those shipments were seized in operations co-ordinated by the Maritime Analysis and Operation Centre (Maoc), which Mr O’Sullivan leads. Maoc co-ordinates the anti-smuggling operations of security services in seven EU nations including the Garda, the Irish Customs Service and the Irish Naval Service.
“This is certainly a marked increase in the number of seizures in such a short period of time,” Mr O’Sullivan told The Irish Times.
READ MORE
“You’d never get three seizures in four or five days. If you got three tonnes in a period of three months you’d be doing very well.”
On March 26th, a "go fast" boat travelling from Morocco to Spain was stopped by the Spanish authorities and found to be carrying €42 million worth of hashish. Later that day another boat travelling the same route was intercepted carrying €54 million worth of the drug.
On March 28th, a vessel travelling from South America was intercepted off the coast of Galicia in Spain, a common landing spot for drug smugglers. It was found to be carrying 3 tonnes of cocaine worth €210 million.
The drugs were destined for the European market and were likely imported by several organised crime groups acting in concert.
The increased numbers of gardaí on patrol to enforce social distancing protocols in communities has lead to significant but unexpected arrests of alleged serious criminals. Photograph: Collins
Taking advantage
These organised crime gangs are taking advantage of the coronavirus crisis in the hope that EU police forces will be too busy enforcing lock-down measures to tackle drug crime, Mr O’Sullivan said.
He said Spanish police in particular are stretched thin and have lost many officers to the virus, which causes the disease Covid-19. “But they’re doing a great job. They’re going out on ships where a) the guys might be armed and b) they might have coronavirus,” he said.
“Criminals see this as an opportunity to flood the market, to increase the loads crossing because they know the police everywhere have got to be stretched to the limit.
“That’s the way organised crime works. They hope that you are firefighting somewhere else and that they can sneak in under the radar, they’d never see us. We can’t afford to take our foot off the pedal.”
In Ireland, gardaí have stepped up operations targeting organised crime in recent weeks to pre-empt attempts to take advantage of the health crisis to move drugs or carry out attacks on rivals.
Gardaí have made several significant seizures in the past week. Last Thursday, a Garda Special Crime Taskforce and the Armed Support Unit raided a premises in Bluebell and seized heroin worth about €300,000. Two men were arrested.
Each bureau of the Garda’s Special Crime Operations has been ordered to aggressively target known organised criminals who may seek to take advantage of the coronavirus crisis, Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll has said.
Elsewhere, the increased numbers of gardaí on patrol to enforce social distancing protocols in communities has lead to significant but unexpected arrests of alleged serious criminals.
On St Patrick's Day gardaí on patrol in Tallaght spotted a car carrying several men driving at speed. The car was pulled over and five guns – a revolver and four shotguns – were allegedly found inside.
On Sunday, gardaí on routine patrol in Limerick stopped a car to make sure the driver was travelling for an essential purpose. The car speed off and an object was thrown from the window which was later found to be a loaded handgun.


theirishtimes--2020-04-03--Coronavirus: Arlene Foster gives backing to North’s health minister

First Minister Arlene Foster has given her backing to the North ’ s health minister , Robin Swann , over his handling of the coronavirus crisis after Deputy First Minister Michelle O ’ Neill said he had been “ too slow to act ” .
Asked on BBC Radio Ulster ’ s Good Morning Ulster programme on Friday if she had confidence in Mr Swann , Ms Foster replied , “ yes , I do.
” “ I have to support all of my ministers because that is what we need to do at this very difficult time for us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have to collectively work together to make sure we put our best foot forward for all the people of Northern Ireland .
“ We are coming forward as a five party Executive , and I as the First Minister have a leadership role in that and I am trying to pull people together .
I speak to all of the ministers and pull us all together , ” said the DUP leader .
To the people in Northern Ireland , she said , “ we will continue to work together , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuing tensions in the Executive over the approach to tackling coronavirus , with Ms O ’ Neill repeatedly stating during their daily joint press conferences that she has concerns over the approach being followed in Northern Ireland , in particular in regard to testing .
About 500 people per day are being tested in Northern Ireland , with a target of 1,100 .
On Thursday Mr Swann acknowledged the frustration among health service staff and the public over testing and the availability of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) .
He said both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and staff testing numbers were being expanded as quickly as possible .
“ I fully understand the frustration that we have not been able to scale up testing numbers more quickly , ” he said .
“ This is not down to a lack of will or action .
There are significant challenges including laboratory and staffing capacity and the unprecedented levels of global demand for testing reagents and swabs.
” Asked on the BBC ’ s The View on Thursday night if she had confidence in Mr Swann , the Deputy First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replied : “ We ’ re in the middle of a pandemic , and I think that we have to continue to work together .
“ I will continue to work with Robin , I think he has been too slow to act , ” she said , adding “ this is not a time for calling for anybody ’ s head or any of those things.
” Ms O ’ Neill said she did not “ for one second ” doubt Mr Swann ’ s motivation , and that he “ wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But she said that while she wanted “ unity in the Executive ” and to be able “ to stand up on a platform with my fellow colleagues on the Executive in a united front ” , she was sure “ the public would much prefer that I try and shape things into the way they should be , which is to follow the WHO ’ s advice , which is to do more testing.
” She said it was “ not easy to call things whenever you think something ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious ” and it was “ not about party politics .
“ Unfortunately everything in the north of Ireland is seen through the prism of orange and green or Dublin versus London or those things , this is not about that.
” Ms Foster said this was “ not a time for party politics ” and politicians had to work together “ whatever our differences of opinion are to do what is right for everybody .
Asked if Ms O ’ Neill was right to be taking such an approach on a public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a matter for her as to how she goes forward ” but they were in a joint office and “ we will continue to work together , as I will continue to work with the other parties in the Executive find a way forward in this hugely difficult time.
” This was , she said , “ not about London or Dublin , it ’ s about saving lives , and that ’ s what we will focus on.
” Mr Swann ’ s party leader in the Ulster Unionist Party , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and health service staff had been “ responding magnificently ” to the “ unprecedented challenge ” of coronavirus .
“ It is regrettable but not unexpected that the deputy first minister & Sinn Féin continue to seek to gain political advantage rather than joining together with the rest of the Executive ’ s political parties to do what is best for us all .
“ It is well beyond time that Sinn Féin got the message and started working cooperatively for us all , ” he said .

First Minister Arlene Foster has given her backing to the North’s health minister, Robin Swann, over his handling of the coronavirus crisis after Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said he had been “too slow to act”.
Asked on BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme on Friday if she had confidence in Mr Swann, Ms Foster replied, “yes, I do.”
“I have to support all of my ministers because that is what we need to do at this very difficult time for us all,” she said. “We have to collectively work together to make sure we put our best foot forward for all the people of Northern Ireland.
“We are coming forward as a five party Executive, and I as the First Minister have a leadership role in that and I am trying to pull people together. I speak to all of the ministers and pull us all together,” said the DUP leader.
READ MORE
To the people in Northern Ireland, she said, “we will continue to work together, they have my commitment.”
There have been continuing tensions in the Executive over the approach to tackling coronavirus, with Ms O’Neill repeatedly stating during their daily joint press conferences that she has concerns over the approach being followed in Northern Ireland, in particular in regard to testing.
About 500 people per day are being tested in Northern Ireland, with a target of 1,100.
On Thursday Mr Swann acknowledged the frustration among health service staff and the public over testing and the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE).
He said both issues were “receiving absolute priority” and staff testing numbers were being expanded as quickly as possible.
“I fully understand the frustration that we have not been able to scale up testing numbers more quickly,” he said.
“This is not down to a lack of will or action. There are significant challenges including laboratory and staffing capacity and the unprecedented levels of global demand for testing reagents and swabs.”
Asked on the BBC’s The View on Thursday night if she had confidence in Mr Swann, the Deputy First Minister and Northern leader of Sinn Féin replied: “We’re in the middle of a pandemic, and I think that we have to continue to work together.
“I will continue to work with Robin, I think he has been too slow to act,” she said, adding “this is not a time for calling for anybody’s head or any of those things.”
Ms O’Neill said she did not “for one second” doubt Mr Swann’s motivation, and that he “wants to save every life he can”.
But she said that while she wanted “unity in the Executive” and to be able “to stand up on a platform with my fellow colleagues on the Executive in a united front”, she was sure “the public would much prefer that I try and shape things into the way they should be, which is to follow the WHO’s advice, which is to do more testing.”
She said it was “not easy to call things whenever you think something’s wrong, but this is far too serious” and it was “not about party politics.
“Unfortunately everything in the north of Ireland is seen through the prism of orange and green or Dublin versus London or those things, this is not about that.”
Ms Foster said this was “not a time for party politics” and politicians had to work together “whatever our differences of opinion are to do what is right for everybody.
Asked if Ms O’Neill was right to be taking such an approach on a public platform, Ms Foster said it was “a matter for her as to how she goes forward” but they were in a joint office and “we will continue to work together, as I will continue to work with the other parties in the Executive find a way forward in this hugely difficult time.”
This was, she said, “not about London or Dublin, it’s about saving lives, and that’s what we will focus on.”
Mr Swann’s party leader in the Ulster Unionist Party, Steve Aiken, said his party colleague and health service staff had been “responding magnificently” to the “unprecedented challenge” of coronavirus.
“It is regrettable but not unexpected that the deputy first minister & Sinn Féin continue to seek to gain political advantage rather than joining together with the rest of the Executive’s political parties to do what is best for us all.
“It is well beyond time that Sinn Féin got the message and started working cooperatively for us all,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-04-03--Coronavirus: Situation in Ireland ‘misrepresented’ because of limited testing

Delays in testing for Covid-19 are leading to patients being treated late and pressures on intensive care , according to a leading infectious disease consultant .
Some patients who have been deteriorating at home for up to a week while waiting for a test have ended up intubated in ICU , said Dr Jack Lambert of the Mater hospital in Dublin .
“ I just wonder , if we had caught them three or four days before , when that swab was done and didn ’ t come back because of the backlog , they might not ended up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Irish Times ’ s Confronting Coronavirus podcast .
“ This is a virus that you can be short of breath one day , and you can be intubated the next day and in near death .
It ’ s a very rapid progression of disease of some people , especially the elderly and immunocompromised , and that ’ s scary .
This is something that none of us clinicians have ever seen before.
” The scope of the epidemic in Ireland was being “ misrepresented ” by a reliance on figures based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ How can you talk about flattening the curve where you ’ re testing such small numbers of people and people are queuing up to get testing ?
” “ And then there ’ s results that are pending for a week , so the numbers represent our lack of supplies for testing rather than flattening the curve.
” Upscaling of testing was urgently needed in order to flatten the curve , he said .
“ And then as soon as those test results are available , which should be in 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has had a significant exposure.
” “ South Korea and Singapore and many of the other countries have been able to flatten the curve didn ’ t do it just by putting people in isolation and reporting numbers .
They did it by testing and very strict contact tracing .
That ’ s what that ’ s what we need to be doing ” Dr Lambert said a “ master plan ” was needed in order to “ win the war ” on coronavirus .
“ You can ’ t fight one battle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have a master plan and fight all of the battles in parallel .
The testing plan .
The shutdown plan .
The contact tracing plan .
The community plan , as so on.
” Pointing to official advice to people to sanitise their hands on leaving a public space , he said this was equally necessary on entering the premises .
A Department of Health official could be reassigned to draw up a sanitation plan to reflect this , he suggested .
He added : “ We need to sit down and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anticipated surge of lots of elderly who are going to be dying , to make sure that they ’ re supported in a dignified death and given access to all the appropriate palliative care services that they deserve ” .
Dr Lambert criticised the lack of “ clinical representation at high-level planning committees for the epidemic .
“ They ’ ve got consultations from clinicians , but I think clinicians have to be at the table on a day to day basis at the top committees making decisions.
” While Ireland is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and “ ahead of the game ” in some respects , in some situations actions are being taken “ a day too late ” .
“ If you don ’ t scale up ( testing ) you ’ ll just have to shut down and shut down and shut down.
” In the early stages of the outbreak , many people “ fell through the cracks ” because Covid-19 wasn ’ t suspected or staff were not using PPE .
Some patients present with unusual symptoms such as diarrhoea or seizures , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learned the virus can exist on surfaces “ for days and days ” .
However , hospitals have since lowered their threshold for suspect cases of the disease and are “ meticulously ” wearing PPE , so the proportion of healthcare workers infected can be expected to drop over time .

Dr Jack Lambert of the Mater hospital in Dublin speaking to the Confronting Coronavirus podcast
Delays in testing for Covid-19 are leading to patients being treated late and pressures on intensive care, a leading infectious disease consultant has said.
Some patients who have been deteriorating at home for up to a week while waiting for a test have ended up intubated in intensive care units (ICU), said Dr Jack Lambert of the Mater hospital in Dublin.
"I just wonder, if we had caught them three or four days before, when that swab was done and didn't come back because of the backlog, they might not end up in the ICU," he told The Irish Times's Confronting Coronavirus podcast.
“This is a virus that you can be short of breath one day, and you can be intubated the next day and in near death. It’s a very rapid progression of disease of some people, especially the elderly and immunocompromised, and that’s scary. This is something that none of us clinicians have ever seen before.”
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The scope of the epidemic in Ireland was being "misrepresented" by a reliance on figures based on limited testing, Dr Lambert said.
“How can you talk about flattening the curve where you’re testing such small numbers of people and people are queuing up to get testing?”
“And then there’s results that are pending for a week, so the numbers represent our lack of supplies for testing rather than flattening the curve.”
Significant exposure
Upscaling of testing was urgently needed in order to flatten the curve, he said. “And then as soon as those test results are available, which should be in 24 hours, you contact trace everyone who has had a significant exposure.”
"South Korea and Singapore and many of the other countries have been able to flatten the curve didn't do it just by putting people in isolation and reporting numbers. They did it by testing and very strict contact tracing. That's what we need to be doing."
Dr Lambert said a “master plan” was needed in order to “win the war” on coronavirus.
“You can’t fight one battle more than another battle. You have to have a master plan and fight all of the battles in parallel. The testing plan. The shutdown plan. The contact tracing plan. The community plan, as so on.”
Dr Lambert said that while Ireland is “way ahead” of other European countries, and “ahead of the game” in some respects, actions in some situations were being taken “a day too late”.
“If you don’t scale up (testing) you’ll just have to shut down and shut down and shut down.”
Meanwhile, emergency medicine consultants believe the expected surge in critically infected patients requiring places in ICU could hit Irish hospitals swiftly based on the experiences of hospitals in London and Italy.
“It can happen very quickly,” said University Hospital Limerick intensive care physician Dr Catherine Motherway, who is president of the Intensive Care Society.
She said the experience in Italy was of cases coming “like a wave”.
“It was like nothing they had ever seen before. That’s how quickly a surge can happen,” said Dr Motherway, though she added that medics in Italy did not know Covid-19 was in the community for some time. “They saw a few patients with respiratory failure and then a few more and then it happened and it happened very quickly.”
Ambulance
Dr Motherway said one Dublin hospital, running at twice its normal capacity, experienced a surge in critically ill patients requiring ICU beds earlier this week, but managed the surge by transferring affected patients elsewhere by ambulance. She said this scenario had been managed “very appropriately and we are still in a place where we can do that”.
Dr Emily O’Conor, president of the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine, said that ICU beds would fill up quickly when the Covid-19 surge hits the health system.
“When a hospital experiences a surge, it is inclined to happen very quickly; it is a patient suffering respiratory failure followed by another followed by another,” said Dr O’Connor, an emergency medicine consultant at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, Dublin.
“It is trying to pace the curve and reduce the amount of people who get sick. We are hoping that it is not happening very quickly. We are still planning for those scenarios.”
Dr O’Connor said that Letterkenny Hospital in Co Donegal “went through a difficult period” at one point and that Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and Limerick “have been under significant pressure on their ICU capacity”.
Inter-hospital transfers would help ease pressure, she said.
“That is still happening. It is as the capacity gets full that it is going to be more difficult,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-04-03--Coronavirus - the science: The merits of app trackers and face masks

This is a series of regular updates from Irish Times Environment & Science Editor Kevin O ’ Sullivan on scientific initiatives and developments on coronavirus .
Previous editions can be found here .
The HSE is set to roll out the use of a smartphone app to facilitate contact tracing in Ireland .
When the owner of a device with this app installed tests positive for Covid-19 , data may enable tracing to take place more efficiently and more quickly .
Apps , which allow people to move around after lockdown , have become an integral part of Chinese authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ users colour-coded designations based on their health status and travel history , and a QR code that can be scanned by authorities .
The apps are specific to each city or province .
People given a green code are allowed to travel relatively freely .
A yellow code indicates the holder should be in home isolation , and a red code says the user is a confirmed Covid-19 patient and should be in quarantine .
Privacy issues aside , apps initially provide indication of infection within communities .
Once a peak is negotiated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rowing back on lock-in measures .
An Oxford University study published in Science underlines the merits of an app using bluetooth to keep a log of all other app users a person has been in close proximity with over a few days .
Epidemiologist Prof Keith Neal of the University of Nottingham says it does not provide any direct evidence apps control epidemics without the need for quarantine .
“ They are probably contributing to management of the epidemic , ” he concedes .
“ One concern is that geotracking is a key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few people sign up it can only have minimal benefit .
Uptake would need to be high and too many people may complain about the big brother aspect of the methods and opt out.
” If used , it could always be deleted afterwards from the phone when the epidemic is over , he notes .
All told , “ It is well worth trying.
” Austria has made wearing face masks outside the home compulsory .
Now other EU countries are considering changing their position .
France initially advised its citizens not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should if they were infected or working in care or retail .
Resolving differing messages may be at hand .
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) is having second thoughts on its advice that people did not need to wear them unless they were sick and coughing , or were caring for someone who was .
Cases doubling every two to three days in the country is prompting re-evaluation .
CDC data show high rates of transmission by people who are infected but don ’ t know it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contagious for 48 hours before developing symptoms , if they get them at all .
Wearing a mask could cut down on the number of transmissions from asymptomatic people .
It is now considering whether to recommend everybody wear one when out in public but not a high-grade “ N95 ” medical mask .
Those are scarce as evidenced by huge shortages on healthcare frontlines .
Ordinary surgical masks and even homemade masks will do in helping to slow transmission in the community , though they don ’ t ensure complete protection for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any kind of mask , even a bandanna , will make you less likely to touch your face – an important route for infection .
The WHO , however , has been recommending people not wear a face mask unless they are sick with Covid-19 or caring for someone who is sick on the basis that there was no specific evidence to suggest wearing of masks by mass populations has any potential benefit .
“ In fact , there ’ s some evidence to suggest the opposite , in the misuse of wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” insisted its health emergencies director Dr Mike Ryan .
“ Right now the people most at risk from this virus are frontline health workers who are exposed to the virus every second of every day .
The thought of them not having masks is horrific , ” he said at a briefing .
But new evidence from Hong Kong has prompted a reconsideration of the role of face masks since , which is set to prompt a big change in advice .
And the WHO is pragmatic and changing its position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The scale of global research efforts to counter Covid-19 is awesome .
Most effort is concentrated on generating vaccines , treatments and enhanced/quicker testing ability for the virus , and for antibodies post infection .
Accurate/quick antibody tests will soon become critical in countries that have blunted that rising cases curve because it will determine to what extent lock-in may be eased and when medical workers can return to frontline care .
What is truly amazing is how speedily teams of scientists all over the world are engaged to evaluate collectively options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where there is no cure for coronavirus .
One glaring gap has emerged ; lack of understanding of psychological and social impacts caused by pandemics .
Researchers at the University of Sheffield and Ulster University are addressing this by surveying 2,000 people , and hope their findings will help inform better management of future public health crises , including how quarantining people may affect their mental health .
“ This is one of the first studies of the ‘ psychology of epidemics ’ during perhaps one of the biggest existential threats the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Jilly Gibson-Miller , a specialist in health psychology .
A rise in depression , anxiety , paranoia and authoritarian views , and reductions in people ’ s sense of trust and control over their own lives , is anticipated .
“ We know what an important role human behaviour plays in the spread of an epidemic , ” she adds , “ I ’ m particularly interested in the extent to which people are carrying out protective behaviours , such as hand-washing and social distancing , and whether they feel they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so ” Community action delivers : Contact tracing associated with confirmed Irish cases of Covid-19 shows infected people in early March had contact with 20 others on average .
Curtailments forced that down to 5 by last week – and to just 3 in recent days coinciding with a near lock-in scenario .
A stunning achievement by ordinary people but that darn curve has not been flattened yet .
Pharma heavyweights make progress : Johnson & Johnson have a potential vaccine that could be available early next year while Abbott Laboratories are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US government is to invest $ 1 billion in J & J ’ s candidate .
Abbott ’ s test could take as little as five minutes and be run on a portable machine the size of a toaster .
Testing enhancement : Scientists at the EU ’ s Joint Research Centre ( JRC ) have designed a new “ control material ” that labs can use to check the correct functioning of coronavirus tests .
A positive control material guarantees laboratory tests are working correctly and are harmonised .
It is used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result even if the person is positive .
In this case , it is a synthetic , non-infectious part of the virus .
The JRC identified a potential gap in management of the pandemic and immediately set to work to fill that gap .
It has the potential to improve capacity to respond and avoid valuable resources being wasted by inefficient tests .

A computer image created by Nexu Science Communication together with Trinity College in Dublin, shows a model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus which is the type of virus linked to Covid-19. Photograph: Nexu Science Communication/Reuters.
This is a series of regular updates from Irish Times Environment & Science Editor Kevin O'Sullivan on scientific initiatives and developments on coronavirus. Previous editions can be found here.
App effectiveness
The HSE is set to roll out the use of a smartphone app to facilitate contact tracing in Ireland. When the owner of a device with this app installed tests positive for Covid-19, data may enable tracing to take place more efficiently and more quickly.
Apps, which allow people to move around after lockdown, have become an integral part of Chinese authorities’ management of citizens. They give users colour-coded designations based on their health status and travel history, and a QR code that can be scanned by authorities.
READ MORE
The apps are specific to each city or province. People given a green code are allowed to travel relatively freely. A yellow code indicates the holder should be in home isolation, and a red code says the user is a confirmed Covid-19 patient and should be in quarantine.
Privacy issues aside, apps initially provide indication of infection within communities. Once a peak is negotiated, they can provide key data while rowing back on lock-in measures.
An Oxford University study published in Science underlines the merits of an app using bluetooth to keep a log of all other app users a person has been in close proximity with over a few days.
Epidemiologist Prof Keith Neal of the University of Nottingham says it does not provide any direct evidence apps control epidemics without the need for quarantine. "They are probably contributing to management of the epidemic," he concedes.
“One concern is that geotracking is a key part in the methodology. If too few people sign up it can only have minimal benefit. Uptake would need to be high and too many people may complain about the big brother aspect of the methods and opt out.”
If used, it could always be deleted afterwards from the phone when the epidemic is over, he notes. All told, “It is well worth trying.”
Contrasting views on merits of wearing face masks
Austria has made wearing face masks outside the home compulsory. Now other EU countries are considering changing their position. France initially advised its citizens not to wear masks, then said they should if they were infected or working in care or retail. Resolving differing messages may be at hand.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is having second thoughts on its advice that people did not need to wear them unless they were sick and coughing, or were caring for someone who was. Cases doubling every two to three days in the country is prompting re-evaluation.
CDC data show high rates of transmission by people who are infected but don’t know it yet. An infected person can be contagious for 48 hours before developing symptoms, if they get them at all. Wearing a mask could cut down on the number of transmissions from asymptomatic people.
It is now considering whether to recommend everybody wear one when out in public but not a high-grade “N95” medical mask. Those are scarce as evidenced by huge shortages on healthcare frontlines.
Medical staff install patients infected with Covid-19 onboard a medicalised TGV high speed train at the Gare d’Austerlitz train station on April 1 in Paris. Patients were being evacuated from Paris’s region hospitals to other hospitals in the Brittany region where the outbreak has been limited so far. Photograph: Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty.
Ordinary surgical masks and even homemade masks will do in helping to slow transmission in the community, though they don’t ensure complete protection for wearers, it says. while wearing any kind of mask, even a bandanna, will make you less likely to touch your face – an important route for infection.
The WHO, however, has been recommending people not wear a face mask unless they are sick with Covid-19 or caring for someone who is sick on the basis that there was no specific evidence to suggest wearing of masks by mass populations has any potential benefit.
"In fact, there's some evidence to suggest the opposite, in the misuse of wearing a mask properly or fitting it properly," insisted its health emergencies director Dr Mike Ryan.
“Right now the people most at risk from this virus are frontline health workers who are exposed to the virus every second of every day. The thought of them not having masks is horrific,” he said at a briefing.
But new evidence from Hong Kong has prompted a reconsideration of the role of face masks since, which is set to prompt a big change in advice. And the WHO is pragmatic and changing its position in line with what science is saying.
Research voids
The scale of global research efforts to counter Covid-19 is awesome. Most effort is concentrated on generating vaccines, treatments and enhanced/quicker testing ability for the virus, and for antibodies post infection.
Accurate/quick antibody tests will soon become critical in countries that have blunted that rising cases curve because it will determine to what extent lock-in may be eased and when medical workers can return to frontline care.
What is truly amazing is how speedily teams of scientists all over the world are engaged to evaluate collectively options with best potential – in a scenario where there is no cure for coronavirus.
One glaring gap has emerged; lack of understanding of psychological and social impacts caused by pandemics.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield and Ulster University are addressing this by surveying 2,000 people, and hope their findings will help inform better management of future public health crises, including how quarantining people may affect their mental health.
“This is one of the first studies of the ‘psychology of epidemics’ during perhaps one of the biggest existential threats the world has faced this century,” explained Dr Jilly Gibson-Miller, a specialist in health psychology.
A rise in depression, anxiety, paranoia and authoritarian views, and reductions in people’s sense of trust and control over their own lives, is anticipated.
“We know what an important role human behaviour plays in the spread of an epidemic,” she adds, “I’m particularly interested in the extent to which people are carrying out protective behaviours, such as hand-washing and social distancing, and whether they feel they have sufficient motivation, opportunity and capability to do so”
Grounds for optimism
Community action delivers: Contact tracing associated with confirmed Irish cases of Covid-19 shows infected people in early March had contact with 20 others on average. Curtailments forced that down to 5 by last week – and to just 3 in recent days coinciding with a near lock-in scenario. A stunning achievement by ordinary people but that darn curve has not been flattened yet.
Pharma heavyweights make progress: Johnson & Johnson have a potential vaccine that could be available early next year while Abbott Laboratories are launching a rapid test kit. The US government is to invest $1 billion in J&J's candidate. Abbott's test could take as little as five minutes and be run on a portable machine the size of a toaster.
Testing enhancement: Scientists at the EU's Joint Research Centre (JRC) have designed a new "control material" that labs can use to check the correct functioning of coronavirus tests.
A positive control material guarantees laboratory tests are working correctly and are harmonised. It is used to prevent a test giving a negative result even if the person is positive. In this case, it is a synthetic, non-infectious part of the virus.
The JRC identified a potential gap in management of the pandemic and immediately set to work to fill that gap. It has the potential to improve capacity to respond and avoid valuable resources being wasted by inefficient tests.