Thurles Information

With no Covid-19 figures having been publicly announced for Northern Ireland today; the Department of Health within the Irish Republic has confirmed 23,281 further cases of Covid-19 over the past 24 hours. Latter figure is the highest daily figure reported since the pandemic began. The Republic’s Department of Health has warned that the true number of cases, however, is most likely to be much higher.

The unwelcome news is that the number of cases could reach 50,000 a day, but nobody knows for sure, because of the rapidity of the current surge.

Presently, there are 656 people being treated in hospital with Covid-19, down 26 on the same time yesterday, with 85 people in intensive care units with the virus, down 1 on yesterday’s reported figures.

On a more positive note; Trinity College Immunologist Professor Luke O’Neill has stated that 2022 will be the year Ireland ‘win the fight’ against COVID-19, with the first signs of the tides turning by next Spring. He has further stated that the virus should be almost gone by St Patrick’s Day, March 17th, and he hopes that life will once again return to normal within the next 12 months, as new anti-viral drugs are developed to assist in managing the virus.

While the HSE has advised people to check its website regularly, as PCR slots may become available throughout the day; healthcare workers, people with an underlying medical condition, those aged over 40 and children aged three and under, are still being advised to seek a PCR test as soon as they show possible symptoms of Covid-19 virus.

The Health Service Executive is now accepting bookings for booster vaccinations from anyone aged 16 years and over; with those who have completed their primary course of Covid-19 vaccines, eligible for a booster, starting from tomorrow.

Note: From January 8th next, children aged 5 to 11 will be offered a vaccine.

Continue to cancel plans to celebrate until later, rather than celebrate now and grieve later.

The Department of Health has confirmed a further 16,428 new cases of Covid-19, within the past 24 hours, here in the Irish Republic.

According to figures confirmed at 8:00am this morning there are 568 people in our Republic’s hospitals with Covid-19; same showing an increase of 47 on those figures reported by our Department of Health yesterday, and of these, 93 people were being treated in ICUs around the Republic.

In Northern Ireland today, data reflecting the period between midnight on December 23rd and midnight yesterday, December 28th reports there had been 22,972 positive cases of coronavirus in that 6 county area.
Today, there were 277 patients with Covid-19 in northern hospitals up from 256 reported on Friday.
There remain also 35 patients with Covid-19 in northern hospital intensive care units, an increase of 1 compared to Friday last.

Sadly, 14 more Covid-19 related deaths have also been reported in Northern Ireland today.

People aged between 30 and 39 who have completed their primary Covid-19 vaccination course are now eligible to register for their booster vaccine as and from today. People aged between 16 and 29 who previously received the one-shot Janssen vaccine will also be offered a booster vaccine from today.

During Christmas 2020 last, restrictions in place meant that people could be fined or even jailed if found to have organised indoor events or house parties. However, this New Year there are no such mandates in place for2021, with gardai confirming that the public health advice is not enforceable by law.
Currently, the guidelines state that three households can meet in the home of the fourth. It is for this reason our Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan has issued fresh advice recommending that you do not meet any additional household members.

The Republic of Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer has also stated that it is important that all of us continue to reduce our contacts and avoid crowded places, to the greatest extent possible, as we see the Omicron variant become the dominant variant of Covid-19 in Eire. If you have not yet received a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine, then you should take every measure you can to protect yourself until you are eligible to receive it. This includes avoiding risky environments and keeping your contacts as low as possible.

Should anyone be experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, however mild, then it is important to self-isolate and arrange a PCR test. The Republic’s test centres are very busy at the moment due to the high incidence of COVID-19 across the 26 counties; however, it is important that you continue to self-isolate until you receive the result of your PCR test and any further information from the HSE.

French Social Affairs & Health Minister Mr Olivier Veran said France is seeing a tsunami of Covid-19 infections with 208,000 new cases reported over the past 24 hours; same both a national and a European record.

Time to cancel now and celebrate later, rather than celebrate now and grieve later.