Thurles Information

There have been 1,845 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed by our Department of Health within the past 24 hours, here in the Irish Republic.

There are 497 patients reported to be receiving hospital care; an increase of 24 on yesterday’s reported figures.

Patients in intensive care units have risen to 99, up 2 on yesterday’s announced figures, More than 60% of the people in ICU are unvaccinated.

Walk-in vaccinations in Nenagh this week:
This week’s no-appointment – walk-in – Pfizer Dose 1 & 2 vaccine clinics for adults, and for children aged 12 and over, will include full day operations in the Mid-West COVID-19 Vaccination Centre in Nenagh (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday).
Tuesday October 26th – Thursday October 28th & Sunday October 31st; at the Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh, – Time: 9:00am – 6:00pm – Pfizer Dose 1 & 2. (Note: Sunday October 31st Time: 9:00am- 5:00pm.)

Anyone attending these clinics for second doses should bring their vaccine record card. Please note that a minimum of 21 days must have passed after Pfizer Dose 1, before Dose 2 is administered.
This should be observed also for people who have received AstraZeneca Dose 1 and who are presenting for Pfizer Dose 2.
No appointment is necessary for these clinics, and there is no requirement to register on the national vaccine registration portal. However, please note that children under 16 years must be accompanied to centres by a parent or guardian.

The HSE expect to also develop pop-up vaccine clinics at maternity hospitals this week, which will be open to all women of any gestation, and to their partners, who may remain unvaccinated.

Meanwhile, an information campaign will now run over the next 10 days to encourage unvaccinated people and those who have received a first dose but not a second, to take up a vaccine.

World Health Organization’s (WHO) Director-General Mr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has stated that the Covid-19 pandemic will end “when the world chooses to end it. It is in our hands. We have all the tools we need – effective public health tools and effective medical tools – but those tools have not been shared equitably. With almost 50,000 deaths a week, the pandemic is far from over,”

WHO Spokesperson Ms Margaret Harris has stated that more variants will develop and we are going to see more transmissions as we have not got serious about crowding.

The Department of International Health and Tropical Medicine at RCSI, Professor Mr Sam McConkey has stated that he believes it is inevitable that all of us, as our vaccine wanes, will need a booster shot.

The General Secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation Ms Phil Ni Sheaghdha said an immediate decision is now needed with regard to prioritising front-line healthcare workers for Covid-19 booster shots. She stated that healthcare worker infection rate has increased, with already staffing levels being compromised within the sector.

In Northern Ireland a further 1,019 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed today, down from 1,061 on yesterday.

Choosing to get vaccinated is an act of protection for yourself, as it may save your life; but it is also an act of solidarity with others; the more of us that get vaccinated, the safer we all will be.

The Department of Health has confirmed 1,725 new cases of Covid-19 here in the Irish Republic within the past 24 hours.

There are currently 473 Covid patients in hospital, same figure up 24 on yesterday’s confirmed figure. The department has also confirmed that 97 people are now in intensive care, which is a rise of 4 as was reported yesterday.

Meanwhile, some welcome news; the number of people registering for Covid-19 vaccinations has increased, according to the HSE Chief Executive.

Health Service Executive (HSE) chief Mr Paul Reid has stated that there are no paediatric ICU beds available in the Republic and there are only 11 adult ICU beds free.

Worldwide the known total confirmed Covid-19 case numbers stands at 243,477,170, with known total deaths standing at 4,946,277. Total known vaccine doses administered todate stands at 6,798,043,785.

The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 within the Irish Republic stands at 428,152 with, sadly, a total of 5,369 deaths.
A number of Irish hospitals have ceased or cut back elective care, due to pressure created by the high levels of Covid cases and respiratory illnesses and hospitals are facing huge demands with emergency care cases also going up, as rising numbers of people present for delayed care for Covid.

While government and HSE are using a “softly-softly” encouragement approach; most evident in their daily Covid briefings / announcements, it is obvious that a large majority of individuals are seriously failing to meet even basic public health guidelines; as in the observance of adherence to social distancing, face covering and handwashing.

In Ireland, opposition politicians from all groupings outside government and indeed some offering government support, are behaving reprehensibly and abominably in their failing to fully support the present Irish government; all whinging criticisms in their efforts to grasp at power, sadly at the expense of working communities under sentence of death from a worldwide pandemic, none of which is their fault.

In Northern Ireland, another 1,061 cases of Covid-19 virus were reported in the past 24 hours down from 1,323 on yesterday.

Sadly, today a further 5 Covid-19-related deaths have also been reported in Northern Ireland over the same time frame.
The total number of deaths linked to Covid-19 in Northern Ireland since the start of the pandemic now stands at 2,661.

As we enter into this bank holiday weekend, take particular care with the three Cs – Crowded places with many people nearby, Close contact settings, especially where people may not be vaccinated, and Confined and enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.