Thurles Information

The Department of Health has reported 1,408 new cases of Covid-19 today. As of 8:00am this morning, 152 Covid patients were in our hospitals, of which 26 are in ICU’s.
Sadly, there have been, to date, a total of 5,035 Covid-19 deaths in the Irish Republic, since the pandemic began.

Professor Philip Nolan, (Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group), said the median age of today’s cases is 24.

The current trajectory of the more transmissible Delta variant, across the country, further confirms that unvaccinated people now remain at high risk of contracting the killer virus.

Professor Karina Butler, [Chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC)], said she would strongly encourage those aged between 12 and 15 years old, with underlying medical conditions; those living with perhaps a younger child with complex medical needs, or with an immuno-compromised adult; to accept their vaccination as soon as same becomes available.

Another 1,600 positive cases have been reported in Northern Ireland by their health department today, up from 1,473 yesterday.
Sadly, also there have been three more coronavirus-related deaths recorded within the last 24-hour period. There are now 244 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland hospitals, with 32 patients in intensive care units, 23 of whom are on ventilators.

These figures combined confirm that the number of coronavirus cases on the island of Éire has now reached 3008; an increase of 415 in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, 2 ‘Walk-in’ vaccination services will be made available in the towns of Nenagh and Clonmel, in Co. Tipperary this coming weekend. There will be no need to arrange an appointment in order to attend, anyone over the age of 16 can just stroll in.

The vaccines available are the mRNA Pfizer or Moderna and those attending are required to supply photo ID, a PPS number, phone number and their email address.

Keep in mind that the service will be available to the rear (Northern end) of the Abbeycourt Hotel, Dublin Rd, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, on Saturday, July 31st (8:30am to 12:00pm), Sunday, August 1st (8:30am to 12:00pm) and Monday, August 2nd (1:30pm to 6:00pm), while in the south of the county, in the Clonmel Park Hotel, Poppyfield Retail Park, Cahir Rd, Ballingarrane South, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary on Friday, July 30th (9:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 5:00pm) and Saturday, July 31st (8:00am to 1:00pm).

Here at home, children will NOT have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to attend their schools, the Minister for Health, Mr Stephen Donnelly has confirmed, following his announcement yesterday that the Covid-19 vaccination programme will be extended to all those aged 12 to 15 years, possibly as early as next week.

Meanwhile abroad, persons vaccinated against Covid-19 in high-risk parts of the United States are being requested to resume wearing masks indoors, on the advice of the country’s top health authority.

In Australia, millions of residents in Sydney are spending another month in lock-down, at least until August 28th next, with authorities announcing, a still-fast-growing coronavirus outbreak and stubbornly low vaccination rates. Sydney residents are being requested not to leave their homes only for exercise, essential work, shopping for necessities such as food, or medical reasons.

The Department of Health has confirmed 1,345 new cases of Covid-19 within the Republic of Ireland today. There were 141 people being treated in our hospital as of 8:00am, up 18 in number on yesterday.

The number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care units (ICU’s) stands at 25, an increase of 3 in the past 24 hours, with 87% of new cases today aged under 45 years.

In Northern Ireland, there has been 639 confirmed new cases with sadly 2 further coronavirus-related deaths, within the last 24-hour. Here there are now 208 patients with Covid-19 in hospitals; of these 25 remain in intensive care units. This brings to 1,984 Covid-19 Cases on the island of Ireland today.

Here in our Irish Republic, today, many restaurants, cafés and bars have reopened their doors, catering for indoor eating and drinking, while operating under strict new legal public health regulations.

All adults entering same must show proof that they have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or have recovered from the disease in the past six months.
Note: Adults are considered fully vaccinated one week after their second Pfizer jab; two weeks after their second shot of Moderna or AstraZeneca and two weeks after their single-dose Janssen vaccine.

A Digital Covid Cert (DCC) will be the primary evidence for proof of immunity, when going into a pub, restaurant, café or food venue to access indoor hospitality. All premises must be clear of all customers by 11.30pm.

The Health and Safety Authority and HSE have been designated in new legislation, as having a role in assessing compliance.

Abroad, the Netherlands has cancelled all summer music festivals after a recent spike in coronavirus infections, mainly blamed on the new highly-infectious Delta variant, with Dutch health authorities reporting 3,900 new infections today.

Tens of thousands of people are also under lock-down in the Republic of China’s Jiangsu’s province. In the capital Nanjing, the authorities are testing the city’s 9.2 million residents, after an outbreak linked to its airport last week.

In France, President Emmanuel Macron last week ordered that a health pass, should be proof of full vaccination or a negative test, be required for people to visit venues such as cinemas and nightclubs and any venue gathering where more than 50 people are in attendance. France recorded almost 23,000 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, twice as many as last week, as the Delta variant caused a surge.

Some 10 million residents of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in Vietnam will be placed under a strict overnight curfew beginning today, seen as an unprecedented move to curb infections as Vietnam battles a rapid Covid-19 surge.

Please try to remain safe.