Parades cancelled, hospital visits, sports and social events curtailed

As the number of cases of Covid-19 spreads across the country - with one case believed to have been confirmed in a Navan patient - a range of measures  aimed at containing the virus have been implemented.

These include no visiting at hospitals and nursing homes, the cancellation of all St Patrick’s Day parades and the postponement of a number of sporting events.
 

HEALTH

The HSE has issued advice on hygiene and travel, hospitals and nursing homes are restricting visitors and funeral directors have been advised that any person who dies of  the virus should be immediately cremated or buried without a funeral service.  
On Friday, Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan issued a statement imposing a total ban on visiting from midday that day.
A spokesperson for the Ireland East Hospital Group said; “Due to the ongoing spread of Covid-19 on the island of Ireland, Our Lady’s Hospital Navan is imposing a total ban on visiting from midday today.
This is to restrict movement in Our Lady’s Hospital.”
This was followed on Monday by the news that the Ireland East Hospital Group was limiting visitors to all its hospitals, which includes Navan.
Clinical Lead at Navan Hospital, Gerry McEntee, said management at the hospital were alert and aware of the dangers of the virus and had been proactive in limiting visitors.
He said there was no specific incident that led to the ban in Navan.
Dr McEntee said that Our Lady’s Hospital was guided entirely by public health doctors who issued protocols for dealing with the virus.
“These protocols keep changing and staff and management have to keep adjusting to the new protocols and are working extremely hard with all of the staff to ensure that all these protocols are being adhered to. Last Friday alone, the protocol was changed three times in 24 hours, but staff are keeping up to date.
“It is clear that we are dealing with something that has implications for every single hospital in the country,” he said.
“We have to rely on the public health experts” he said.
Yesterday, a spokesperson for the Ireland East Hospital Group said there was no isolation unit at Our Lady’s Hospital, but it has a number of single rooms where they are able to isolate a patient if required.
“These rooms have been used previously for patients who have acquired other viruses or require isolation, for example norovirus or other flu outbreaks. However, there is no single Isolation Unit. The National Isolation Unit is at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital.”
Meanwhile, Nursing Homes Ireland has confirmed that visiting restrictions are now in place in nursing homes nationwide.
No non-essential visiting, children or groups will be allowed within them.
 

SOCIAL EVENTS

The growing threat of the spread of Coronavirus in Ireland has resulted in the cancellation of upcoming events including all St Patrick’s Day parades, which were cancelled after a cabinet sub-committee meeting on Monday afternoon. A number of parades had already been cancelled prior to the government decision.
 

SPORTING EVENTS

The Football Association of Ireland has issued a directive to all affiliates instructing them that players are not to shake hands with their opponents or match officials at all games under FAI jurisdiction. The FAI decision comes into effect immediately and will remain until further notice.
Meanwhile the Meath LGFA Board issued a directive to clubs stating that “ we would like for all players and teams to refrain from customary friendly handshakes throughout our games and also to be mindful of sharing water bottles.”
The Meath Primary Schools Cross-Country Championships which were due to be held at the Navan Adventure Centre on Friday were called off as a precaution against the spread of the virus.
“In the light of advice received, we are taking the prudent precaution of making the above decisions in order to avoid unnecessary gatherings,” a statement from Meath Athletics read.  
 

Anyone with concerns about Covid-19, can contact 1850 24 1850 or to use the live chat facility on www.hse.ie.