Thurles Information

The Department of Health has confirmed a further 5,471 new cases of Covid-19, within the past 24 hours, here in the Republic of Ireland.

The number of people remaining hospitalised with the virus stands at 579, a figure unchanged since yesterday, and of these, the numbers being treated in intensive care has risen by seven to 122 persons.

The Irish Government is asking parents to aim at reducing indoor socialisation of young people aged 12 and under, for the next 14 days, as part of efforts to stem the spread of the disease within local communities.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed eight further cases of the Omicron variant in England, bringing the total number identified there to at least 13 known cases.

Covid-19 vaccinations in Greece will be made mandatory for people aged 60 years and over, as the country comes to grips with a new surge of the disease. Authorities have stated they will impose a €100 fine on every individual over the age of 60 years, who has not received vaccinations, with the measure applying each month, beginning from January 16th onwards.

The head of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Ms Emer Cooke, has stated that present Covid-19 vaccines will continue to provide protection against current new variants.

A further 1,585 new cases of coronavirus have been reported in Northern Ireland today, up from 1,464 on yesterday.

Today also there remain 341 Covid patients in Northern hospitals; up 1 on yesterday’s reported figures. Of these 29 are being treated in intensive care units (ICUs), up 1 on yesterday.
Sadly, 2 further Covid-19-related deaths have also been reported in Northern Ireland in the last 24 hours.

Continue to listen to science and do keep yourself and your family safe by regularly washing your hands; wearing a mask when appropriate, and cut down on unnecessary social contacts.

There have been 4,791 new cases of Covid-19 reported by the Department of Health over the past 24 hours here in the Republic of Ireland; up 171 cases based on yesterday’s reported figures.

There remain 536 patients with Covid in our hospitals, same figure down from 571 also reported yesterday; with 118 of these patients receiving treatment in intensive care units across our State.

Sadly, to date, 112 Covid-related deaths have been notified during November 2021.

According to Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, social contacts over the festive period will fully determine the number of cases existing over the next few weeks and months; further warning that continuing high case numbers suggests that pressure on our health system will continue for some time to come. On Tuesday next, the Irish Cabinet is expected to sign off on a decision to reintroduce mandatory hotel quarantine, following Dr Holohan’s advice.

Last evening, Minister for Health Mr Stephen Donnelly announced mandatory home quarantine measures for people coming from some seven southern African states, to Ireland, following the recently discovered Covid-19, B.1.1.529 strain of concern, same renamed as “Omicron” by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
‘Omicron’ is now the 5th variant of concern, designated by the WHO.

Between the 14 day period, November 9th, 2021 and November 22nd, 2021, the following number of cases have been confirmed in each of the Co. Tipperary local electoral areas (LEAs):
Nenagh – 339; Thurles – 276; Carrick-on-Suir – 256; Roscrea-Templemore – 245; Clonmel – 228; Cahir – 204; Cashel-Tipperary – 195 and Newport – 177.

In Northern Ireland another 1,482 new cases of coronavirus have also been confirmed today, down from 2,004 reported yesterday. Sadly, 2 further Covid-19-related deaths have also been reported by their Department of Health.

Britain will now require all arriving passengers to isolate until they can show a negative PCR test against Covid-19, following two cases of the new ‘Omicron’ strain having emerged there.

Paris has made the wearing of face masks outdoors mandatory again at public gatherings as the Covid-19 infection rate in the French capital soars.

Australia and several other countries have joined nations imposing restrictions on travel from southern Africa, after the discovery of the new Omicron coronavirus variant sparked global concern and triggered a sell-off on financial markets.

Financial markets plunged yesterday, especially the stocks of airlines and others in the travel sector, as investors worried the variant could cause yet another surge in the pandemic thus stalling a global recovery.

The HSE and Health Minister Mr Stephen Donnelly, incorrectly in my view, took the brunt of a weekly ill-informed tirade today, from Tipperary TD, consistent whinger and recognised Tipperary embarrassment, Mr Mattie McGrath, latter who declared Mr Donnelly’s position as untenable.
One now feels it’s time to retire this same, out of touch TD, Mr Mattie McGrath, to history, come the next general election; although we doubt if history is interested in comedy.

Continue to listen to science and do continue to keep yourself and your family safe by regularly washing your hands; wearing a mask when appropriate and cut down on your social contacts.

The Department of Health has confirmed a further 4,764 cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, here in the Irish Republic, bringing the number of cases within the past 14 days, to 62,401 cases.

The number of people being treated for the virus in hospital now stands at 598, down 13 since yesterday. Of these hospital patients 126 are being treated in intensive care units across the Republic; down 6 since we reported yesterday.

An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has stated that Covid-19 case numbers appear to have started to plateau at worryingly high level, but added that he would like to see them fall even further in the run up to this year’s Christmas festival season. He further warned that the pandemic is not under control and high levels of the virus are circulating in the community. He described the situation in ICUs as tight and worrying, as scientists in South Africa state that they have detected a new Covid-19 variant, which goes by the scientific lineage number B.1.1.529 and which has a very high number of mutations, blaming same for the upward surge in infection numbers.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil TD Mr Cathal Crowe said he was appalled to observe so many people not wearing masks on public train transport recently. In Dáil Éireann, during a debate on Covid-19, Mr Crowe described the situation as giving the “two fingers” to society and their attitude an affront to Irish front-line health workers. The HSE’s Dr Colm Henry has also stated that there has been considerable concern recently regarding the number of confirmed cases affecting hospital staff. However, Ireland remains at the top of the European League in terms of adults being fully vaccinated with our rate standing currently at some 93.3%.
To this end, “Walk-in booster Covic-19 vaccination clinics” for healthcare workers and people aged 60 to 69 have been opened by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

In Northern Ireland today, a further 1,549 new cases of coronavirus were reported; down from 1,931 reported just yesterday.

There currently remain 395 Covid patients in northern hospitals, up from 386 reported yesterday. Of these, 35 are being treated in intensive care units (ICUs), down 1 on yesterday’s figures.
Sadly, 5 Covid-19-related deaths have also been reported in Northern Ireland today.

Abroad, the Czech government has declared a state of emergency for 30 days, due to a surge in coronavirus cases, according to Czech Television.

One of the world’s most vaccinated nations, Portugal, has reimposed restrictions to stop a surge in Covid-19 cases, ordering all persons flying into the country, even those fully vaccinated, to show a negative test on immediate arrival.

Continue to listen to science and do continue to keep yourself and your family safe by regularly washing your hands; wearing a mask when appropriate and cut down on your social contacts.