Irish government Ministers are expected to agree, as early as tomorrow afternoon, to sign off on plans to reopen bars and restaurants in the Irish Republic.
The Government is hoping that this legislation will be in place, thus allowing vaccinated people only to eat and drink inside licenced hostelries and restaurants, with same being passed by the Dáil and Seanad Éireann before the end of this week.
It is then expected the Bill will be signed by President Mr Michael D. Higgins during the week beginning Monday, July 19th and before Friday, July 23rd.
We understand that the Government is also preparing for a ‘vaccine pass’ which can be scanned, assisting business owners; same who are worried about policing Covid-19 passes.
Meanwhile, a further 576 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed within the Republic. Here also, there are 58 people currently hospitalised with the disease, up six from yesterday, and of these 16 people remain in intensive care units. Here in the Republic, some 55% of adults have been fully vaccinated, while 70% of persons have received a first dose as of yesterday.
In Northern Ireland, a further 605 positive cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed, up to lunch time today, Sunday. In Northern Ireland, also, there has been, sadly, one further coronavirus-linked death over the past 24 hours, while to date, 2,122,962 vaccines have been administered to their citizens.
As Ireland competes in a race against time in its dealings with the Delta coronavirus variant, another variant is on the rise, known as the “Lambda” or “C.37” variant, with the World Health Organization (WHO) listing it as a “variant of interest” on June 15th last, and the UK adding it to their list of variants under investigation, since June 23rd.
According to the WHO, there have been at least 563 infections in the US, detected mainly in southern Nevada sewage water, which suggests it is spreading within the community. “Lambda” is understood to carry an unusual combination of mutations, with the potential to change its ability to transmit or resist vaccination.
Authorities in Peru reported that 81% of its Covid-19 cases, confirmed since April 2021, were associated with Lambda, while Argentina reported an increasing prevalence of this variant, as early as the third week of February 2021. By June 24th last, the Lambda variant had been detected in 29 other countries, according to Public Health England data.
According to WHO, the Delta variant has three significant mutations in its spike protein, while the new Lambda variant has at least seven, and remains usually associated with higher transmissibility and resistance to antibodies.
Covid-19 Cases In Ireland Today
Meanwhile, as of midnight last night, Friday 9th July, a further 581 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed here in the Irish Republic, while in Northern Ireland, 445 positive cases of the disease were reported, bringing the total on the mainland of Ireland to 1,026.
In Northern Ireland sadly 1 further death has been reported. Daily data on deaths remains unavailable in the Republic of Ireland due to the Russian cyberattack on our current health service.
There are 52 people currently hospitalised, again within our Republic and of these 16 people remain in intensive care units.
However, some good news with the European Union having received enough coronavirus vaccine doses for member states, thus enabling countries within our bloc to fully vaccinate at least 70% of adults.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen is urging EU countries to increase vaccinations and said about 500 million doses would be distributed across the union by tomorrow, Sunday.
HSE chief executive Mr Paul Reid has stated that 55% of adults are now fully vaccinated, while 70% have received a first vaccine dose. At least 64% of Ireland’s adult population will be fully vaccinated by the end of July 2021.
Meanwhile, Professor Philip Nolan of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has warned that a continued growth of the disease in Ireland reaching 2,000 daily infections, would see some 40 patients admitted to hospital each day. The Delta variant has now moved from accounting for around 5% of cases in Ireland, in early June 2021, to a current 70% in early July and rapidly rising daily.
Today Thursday, July 8th, 534 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the Irish Republic.
In Northern Ireland, a further 627 new cases were reported bringing the total on the island of Ireland to 1,161 confirmed cases, over the past 24-hour period.
Here in the Republic, there are 58 Covid patients in our hospitals as a direct result this morning; with 17 patients in intensive care units.
There were 48 Covid patients in Northern Ireland hospitals, including 3 in intensive care units.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tony Holohan, has warned that Covid-19 is still circulating in our community and as we arrive into this weekend, it is extremely important that we continue to adhere to well noted public health advice, thus insuring an eventual halt to the spread of this disease.
His advice comes as the CEO of the HSE Mr Paul Reid warned that the growth of the Delta variant of Covid-19 is likely to overtake and outmatch Ireland’s future supply of vaccines in the weeks ahead. To this end, hospital numbers are being monitored very closely, he stated, and in terms of planning, the HSE is looking at a range of scenarios, but it is difficult to predict what exactly may happen in the weeks ahead.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that one of three ‘Closure Orders’ nationally was served on a food business in Co. Tipperary during the month of June last. Same was served following breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.
The Tipperary ‘Closure Order’ were issued by an environmental health officer employed in the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The food business in question referred to Saffron Indian Cuisine, with an address at Wesley Square, Main Street, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
The Enforcement Report filed on June 10th 2021, stated: Large amount of fresh rodent / rat droppings found in electrical room in the downstairs of the food business.
Food items and packaging stored on corridor outside electrical room. Outcome, closure order FSAI 1998.
Remedial action: (1) Pest control company to be called and all areas of the premises pest proofed, disinfected, baited and thoroughly cleaned. (2) All food items, stored in downstairs corridor, to be moved up to kitchen area.
Commenting, Dr. Pamela Byrne, (Chief Executive, FSAI), stated that all three ‘Closure Orders’ served last June highlight the importance of all food businesses operating to the highest standards of food safety as the country continues to face the public health pandemic.
To date, in the first six months of 2021, there have been 17 closure orders and 4 prohibition orders issued nationally here in the Irish Republic.
A ‘Closure Order’ is issued if in the opinion of the authorised officer, there is or there is likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health at/or in the food premises. Closures Orders can refer to the immediate closure of all or part of the food premises, or all or some of its activities. The Orders may be lifted when the premises have improved to the satisfaction of the authorised officer. Failure to comply with an Improvement Order may also result in the issuing of a Closure Order.
Closure orders remain listed in the enforcement reports for a period of three months from the date the order was lifted.
A Prohibition Order is issued if the activities (handling, processing, disposal, manufacturing, storage, distribution or selling food) involve or are likely to involve a serious risk to public health from a particular product, class, batch or item of food. The effect is to prohibit the sale of the product, either temporarily or permanently.
Prohibition orders remain listed in the enforcement reports for a period of one month from the date the order was lifted.
The Department of Health has today reported 562 new cases of Covid-19, up 114 new cases in the past 24 hours.
Presently, there are 48 patients being treated in our hospitals as from 8:00am this morning, with 14 persons in intensive care units, latter a number unchanged since yesterday’s report.
The HSE School Immunisation Programme could see children, 12 years of age and upwards, vaccinated before school classrooms are populated again in early September. All going according to plan, same vaccinations could be rolled out from August, to further assist in curbing the spread of Covid-19 virus and it’s Delta variant here in our Republic.
Meanwhile, one member of the public received a positive Covid-19 antigen test while attending at yesterday’s pilot musical festival in the Royal Hospital at Kilmainham.
That person, however, then undertook a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, which later proved negative for the virus.
An Taoiseach Mr Micheál Martin has held discussions with the Romanian President, Herr Klaus Werner Iohannis (Johannis) this morning, and we understand that it has been agreed in principle to allow Ireland to purchase one million Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, with same expected to arrive here at an early time.
Please continue to behave responsibly in order to protect each other.
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