‘Difficult’ weeks ahead
Ireland is set to face a “difficult” few weeks amid a surge in Covid-19 cases, the deputy chief medical officer has warned.
Dr Ronan Glynn, in a video posted on Twitter today, said it was possible Ireland could record 200,000 cases of Covid-19 in December.
He said 200,000 cases was not “inevitable” and asked people to follow public health advice.
Hospitals under pressure
The chief executive of the University Hospital Limerick group has warned that the current situation in the hospital is “as stark” as it was during the first wave of the Covid pandemic.
Collette Cowan said the intensive care unit in the hospital is currently full, creating extra pressure for staff.
If Ireland did see 200,000 cases in December, she warned it would “collapse” health services.
Coronavirus figures
The crisis in hospitals comes as Covid infection rates in Ireland have reached their highest levels in nearly a year.
According to the latest official figures, Drogheda in Co Louth is the most Covid-infected part of the Republic.
The Drogheda Urban local electoral area reported 2,415 cases per 100,000 people over the most recent two-week period. The infection rate in Drogheda has more than trebled from three weeks ago when the area had 691 cases per 100,000.
Lockdowns in Europe
Covid-19 cases are surging across Europe with Austria entering full lockdown, while the same cannot be ruled out in Germany, according to health officials.
Austria will become the first country in western Europe to reimpose a full coronavirus lockdown this autumn to tackle a new wave of infections, and will require mandatory vaccinations for its whole population as of February, its government said today.
Davy Tweed
The stepdaughter of former Ireland rugby international Davy Tweed has said his death brought her peace.
Tweed (61), who went on to become a unionist politician after his sporting career which included four caps for Ireland, died in a road crash in Co Antrim last month.
His stepdaughter Amanda Brown said he was a paedophile and a violent thug, and challenged politicians who put out complimentary statements in the wake of his death.
Marie and Darragh Downey inquest
A verdict of medical misadventure was recorded at an inquest for both Marie Downey and her newborn son Darragh Downey, who died at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) more than two years ago.
The four-day-old baby died after his mother had an epileptic seizure in her hospital bed collapsing on top of him with the weight of her lifeless body stopping blood supply to his brain and other organs, the inquest heard.
Marie's husband, Kieran Downey, said he has no faith in the system and very little confidence that seismic changes will occur to prevent other families from experiencing such traumatic loss.
‘Unwinnable’ Lotto
Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan has called for an urgent probe into the “unwinnable” National Lottery jackpot.
The record €19 million jackpot has rolled over 46 times since it was last won on June 6th, which has prompted the Kildare North TD to raise questions.
“Currently ahead of tomorrow night’s lotto draw, the prospect of winning is so remote that punters must be thinking Shergar would have a better chance at winning Squid Game,” he said.
