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THE NATIONAL PUBLIC Health Emergency Team (NPHET) will meet today to discuss the restrictions placed on Kildare, Laois and Offaly, and if they should be lifted.
On Friday 7 August, the government announced the fresh restrictions for the three counties amidst a spike in Covid-19 cases linked to outbreaks in meat processing plants and Direct Provision centres.
Under these restrictions, residents in these counties have been asked not to travel outside their county, only undertake essential travel and pubs and restaurants were told to shut.
When announced, the government said these measures would last until midnight on Sunday 23 August.
It is expected NPHET will discuss the latest developments in these counties regarding Covid-19 and convey its recommendations to the government on the next steps.
Last night, a further 54 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Ireland bringing the total to 27,547. Already this month, there have been more new confirmed cases than in June and July combined.
The situation in hospitals, however, has remained relatively stable.
At 8pm last night, there were 16 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in hospitals across Ireland.
There were six Covid-19 patients receiving treatment in a critical care unit yesterday evening, while three people were on ventilators.
This article was updated to reflect amended figures provided by the HSE on the number of people in critical care.
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If I’m not mistaken the 2 weeks should be lifted at 00:01 Saturday. Not Sunday at midnight!!
@Nathan Cunningham: But they didn’t say 2 weeks, they said until midnight Sunday 23rd.
@Nathan Cunningham: Restrictions came in at 00.00 on the Monday (sunday night) so the 2 weeks is up then.
@Terence Martin: nope, announcement was on the Friday and came into effect at 12 that night.
@Tony Mcintyre: And that also said just over 3 wks.
@Terence Martin: Wrong, they came in the Friday Night!
@Nathan Cunningham: Everyone’s been saying midnight Sunday but I think you’re right – the regulation is here http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2020/si/295/made/en/print and says they “shall remain in operation until the 23rd day of August 2020.” To me ”until” means that the second it becomes the 23rd of August (i.e., at midnight on Saturday night), the regulations end. Could all be academic of course depending on what they decide today.
@Niall: NPHET want to lock us all down to reduce the risk of the virus spreading. They are incapable of recommending anything else until the virus has been completely suppressed. While zero Covid is possible the minute the country reopens the virus will reemerge and we are then back to square 1 with the economy and mental health of the population in tatters. Thankfully NPHET are only advising so I would be hopeful that a political decision will be reopen these counties.
@Dara O’Brien:
https://m.independent.ie/videos/micheal-martin-outlines-lockdown-restrictions-for-kildare-laois-and-offaly-amid-covid-19-spike-39432960.html 2 weeks coming right from the horses mouth! Which started midnight Friday 7th of August. And I thank you
why is there no definitive set out written plan, that gives directives and guidance as to moving forward rather than “meeting today to discuss”, one that can be applied constant and thst is at least recognised & understood by the people that would be affected by these closures, all we get is “deeply concerned” feedback,
we have more cases than june/july combined, so is it down to those 3 counties locked down, or will they open and another 3 close,
are we stuck in the sequel to One flew over the cuckoo’s nest!!?
@Kavsie: been asking the same for months, concerns, worries and feelings are the order of the day.
@Kavsie: and in this regard, along with many others, our journalists have completely failed us
@dowthebow: I agree our journalists have failed us and the government are fumbling along from one disaster to the next-meanwhile cancer screening services are neglected and crucially they have not introduced a proper test/trace system for Covid 19 even though we are now six months in.
NPHET and the government are making it up as they go along. After the new restrictions they are the source of endless contridictions that even children can see through.
I love the way the headline says “to be discussed by the end of the week” when originally it was said today was the announcement. Am I surprised? Not at all. That is how the government operates now these days.
To be honest people are sick of it now and getting ratty with the government.
It’s ridiculous. Never once have they set out a long term strategy. Is it zero COVID or live along with the virus? We had a chance at the first in March and again in June/July. Quarantining arrivals and rigorous testing of potential outbreaks sources where people work close together. It seems to late for that so they again need to focus on key risk areas. Test speed needs to improve too
@Aidan O’ Neill: It’s hard to set out a long-term strategy, for a situation with so many unknowns as it unfolds in real-time.
Everyone calling for border closures throughout, believe it’s a reasonable response, the problem is we live on a island with two jurisdictions and a historically contentious border, added to this is brexit, meaning those making the decisions have to juggle all these issues, not just covid19 in isolation.
Every section of business and society has understandable been advocating for their interests, government has to balance these too.
Those challenging the civil liberties and personal freedom infringements of the restrictions, even have some grounds at least morally, if not constitutionally.
If ever there was a poisoned chalice, managing this crisis is it….
Whatever the decision, let’s hope it has more clarity than recent decisions
Nphet would be very happy to put the whole country under lockdown for the next six months, there only concern is C19, shut down everything, that would stop it. I’m glad there not in charge!!!
@Heisen berg1: Oh but they are in charge, as our government certainly aren’t.
@Heisen berg1: seems to me that they are in charge. As long as they keep dictating to us they make themselves relevant. Without Covid their power trip is over
Keep Kildare closed and they can add Dublin into that too
NPHET is a handy scapegoat for the government to blame when the time is right.
My dad and little sis live in Kildare. Please god u can buzz over next week to see them!
@Fabio Dillon: I can*
@Fabio Dillon: sure we’ll all pop over…
NEPHET should go home and come back when the virus is gone
Feet on the street Saturday we need to get rid of this government there the virus
I’m quite sure their recommendations will be unambiguous, fair and entirely clear
They must be awful sick at lookin at each other at this stage
@Dara O’Brien
https://m.independent.ie/videos/micheal-martin-outlines-lockdown-restrictions-for-kildare-laois-and-offaly-amid-covid-19-spike-39432960.html as per Micheal Martins speech made on the 7th of August he states its 2 weeks.
NPHET are in their own world of make belief, a vicious form of Alice in Wonderland. Instead of the mad hatters tea party they are wating for gates approved Vaccine.
has the chatolic bishop been replaced by nephet i feal like im back in the seventys
I thought Kildare, Laois and Offaly were places outsiders were told to stay away from unless absolutely necessary.
I just watched the RTÉ six-one news. They had a reporter in Kildare.
Just like when there’s severe weather, as last night, we see RTÉ staff reporting from places the rest of us are told to avoid.
Are they special?
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