Click for The Clare Herald’s Covid-19 Daily/Monthly Update Archive
Tuesday, March 31st – 7.58pm – 17 more deaths and 325 new cases confirmed
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has today been informed that 17 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 have died. 6 of the deaths were in the west of Ireland. The media age of those who died was 84.
71 people in total have died due to COVID-19. (52 male and 19 female).
An additional 325 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed – bringing the total number of cases to 3235.
There are now 40 confirmed cases in Clare.
Monday, March 30th – 7.55pm – 8 more deaths and 295 new cases confirmed
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has today been informed that 8 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 have died. They were 5 females and 3 males. The median age of the deceased was 86.
6 lived in the east of Ireland; 1 lived in the south of Ireland and 1 lived in the west.
7 of the 8 had underlying health conditions while the median age of the deceased was 86.
An additional 295 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed also – bringing the total to 2910.
Sunday, March 29th – 6.15pm – 10 deaths and 200 new cases confirmed
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has today been informed that 10 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland have died, 8 male and 2 female.
6 deaths are located in the east of the country, 3 in the northwest of the country and 1 in the south. The median age of today’s reported deaths is 77. There have now been 46 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.
There have been 200 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed today. There are now 2,615 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. There have now been 34 confirmed cases in Clare.
Saturday, March 28th – 6.25pm – 14 deaths and 294 new cases confirmed
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that 14 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland have died.
All 14 deaths located in the east of the country. There have now been 36 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.
There has also been 294 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. There are now 2,415 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
Friday, March 27th – 8.40pm – The Taoiseach has announced a two-week lockdown of the country advising people that they need to stay at home with some specific exceptions – Read more here.
Friday, March 27th – 5.40pm – Three more Covid-19 related deaths have been confirmed by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. The deceased are a person in the north-west of the country and two females in the east.
There have now been 22 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been informed of 302 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland, as at 1pm, Thursday 26 March.
There are now 2,121 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
Friday, March 27th – 5.40pm – Further visiting restrictions at University Maternity Hospital – Read more here.
Thursday, March 26th – 9.10pm – The Department of Health has confirmed there have been 10 more Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland bring the total to 19.
The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus now stands at 1,819.
The deaths include 13 males and 6 females. The median age of those who have died is 79.
Thursday, March 26th – 7.10pm – Clare company ramps up production of ventilators for Covid-19 crisis – Read more here.
Wednesday, March 25th – 7.55pm – The Department of Health has confirmed two more people have died from Covid-19 here, and a further 235 new cases have been confirmed.
It brings the total number of cases in the Republic to 1,564.
There have now been a total of 9 deaths due to the virus.
Wednesday, March 25th – 9.15am – Shannondoc changes to deal with COVID-19 – Read more here.
Tuesday, March 24th – 9.05pm – The Department of Health has confirmed that another patient diagnosed with Covid-19 has died.
The patient was a male in the east of the country and brings the total Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland to 7.
There are 204 new cases of coronavirus in the Republic of Ireland bringing the total number of cases to 1,329.
Tuesday, March 24th – 4.55pm – Government announces strict new measures to tackle Covid-19 – Read more here.
Tuesday, March 24th – 4.45pm – Govt announces Covid-19 Income Support Scheme – Read more here.
Monday, March 23rd – 7.15pm – 2 deaths and 219 new cases confirmed
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that two patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland have died. Both patients are male and in the east of the country.
There have now been 6 COVID-19 related deaths and 1125 confirmed cases in Ireland.
The number of confirmed cases in Co Clare has risen to 9.
Sunday, March 22nd – 6.15pm – Fourth death and 121 new cases confirmed in Ireland.
Four people have now died from the virus while 177 people have been hospitalised.
The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the Republic of Ireland now is 906.
Sunday, March 22nd – 6.15pm – Vehicular access to Lahinch carpark restricted for a time today – Read more here.
Saturday, March 21st – 7.45pm – 102 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Ireland.
There have thee three (3) deaths here related to Coronavirus while there are 785 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
Friday, March 20th – 10.45pm – Campaign encourages public to help ‘flatten the curve’ – Read more here.
Friday, March 20th – 10.20pm – Signage at Lahinch to remind public about social distancing – Read more here.
Friday, March 20th – 6.35pm – The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been informed of 126 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 (Coronavirus).
There are now 683 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland while 7 of these are in Clare.
Thursday, March 19th – 6.30pm – A third death associated with the Coronavirus has been confirmed.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been informed that a patient diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland has died.
The HPSC has also been informed of 191 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland as of midday today.
There are now 557 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
Thursday, March 19th – 12.10pm – Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle Oral and Practical Performance Tests cancelled – Read more here.
Wednesday, March 18th – 9.10pm – The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has confirmed that 74 new cases of coronavirus had been identified in Ireland.
45 of the new cases are male while 25 are female.
The National Public Health Emergency Team has also published details of the first 271 cases. Dublin has the highest number of cases with 129, followed by Cork on 48 and Limerick on 14. Only Leitrim, Laois and Monaghan do not have recorded a case.
Two thirds of the people who’ve tested positive are under the age of 55.
There have been 2 deaths associated with COVID-19 in Ireland while there are now 366 confirmed cases here.
Tuesday, March 17th – 6.35pm – Community Response Team in Covid support – Read more here.
Tuesday, March 17th – 6.35pm – The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been informed of 69 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland (29 males and 40 females).
*3 cases are associated with the west.
There have been 2 deaths associated with COVID-19 in Ireland while there are now 292 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
App developed in Clare to help COVID-19 contact tracing
Tuesday, March 17th – 6.30pm – App developed in Clare to help COVID-19 contact tracing – Read more here.
Monday, March 16th – 9.05pm – The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been informed of 54 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Ireland
The new cases are made up of 30 males and 24 females. None are reported to be associated with the west of the country.
There have been 2 deaths associated with COVID-19 in Ireland while there are now 223 confirmed cases in Ireland.
Monday, March 16th – 7.45pm – UL Hospitals Group to curtail outpatient radiology – Read more here.
Sunday, March 15th – 7.45pm – Clare pubs lead the way and close ahead of government request – Read more her.
Sunday, March 15th – 6.05pm – The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed of 40 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
9 are associated with the west.
There are now 169 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
Saturday, March 14th – 7.35pm – The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that a patient diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland has died. There have now been 2 deaths associated with COVID-19 in Ireland.
The HPSC has also been informed of 39 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. 29 males and 10 females are confirmed.
Of today’s cases, two are associated with the west of Ireland.
There are now 129 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
Friday, March 13th – 11.15pm – The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience will remain closed to the public up to and including Sunday, 29 March 2020. The closure is necessary to support the introduction of new measures to minimise the spread of COVID-19 in Ireland.
Visit www.cliffsofmoher.ie for further updates.
Friday, March 13th – 11.05pm – 20 new cases of the COVID-19 virus have been confirmed in Ireland bringing the total to 90.
Friday, March 13th – 1.30pm – Shannon Heritage visitor attractions closed temporarily – Read more here.
Friday, March 13th – 11.25am – Diocese responds to Government COVID-19 recommendations – Read more here.
Friday, March 13th – 11.20am – An Garda Síochána announces COVID-19 measures – Read more here.
Friday, March 13th – 10.05am – UL Hospitals Group extends visiting ban to March 29th – Read more here.
Thursday, March 12th – 6.10pm – Clare County Council service update re: COVID-19 – Read more here.
Thursday, March 12th – 6.10pm – 27 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Ireland, according to the Department of Health.
22 cases are associated with local transmission, 2 are associated with community transmission and 3 are associated with travel.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases in Ireland to 70.
Thursday, March 12th – 3.40pm – Shannondoc COVID-19 advisory to patients – Read more here.
Thursday, March 12th – 11.50am – The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed that schools, colleges and childcare facilities will close from this afternoon. It was one of several measures announced by the Taoiseach from Washington this morning and which will remain in place until March 29th.
Indoor mass gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor mass gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled – Read more here.
Thursday, March 12th – 9.55am – There are now 43 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
Wednesday, March 11th – 5.55pm – The first death related to COVID-19 has been confirmed in Ireland. The woman, with an underlying illness who contracted Covid-19, has died in the east of the country.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre confirmed today that it had been informed that a patient diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland has passed away. This is the first recorded death relating to COVID-19 reported in Ireland.
Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “I would like to extend my condolences to the family and friends of this patient. I urge the media and the public to respect their privacy at this difficult time.”
“We continue our efforts to interrupt the transmission of this virus. It will take all of us, collectively to succeed. Please continue to follow public health advice,” he added.
Wednesday, March 11th – 5.55pm – UL Hospitals Group reducing elective activity until Friday – Read more here.
Tuesday, March 10th – 7.05pm – The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed of 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland including two in the west of the country.
Those in this region are a male confirmed to have had close contact with a confirmed case and a female who also contracted the virus from having close contact with a confirmed case.
There are now 34 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
Tuesday, March 10th – 8.43am – Some glór patrons who attended February 29th event required to self-isolate – Read more here.
Monday, March 9th – 11.34pm – Three new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the country including one in the west. The female is reported to have had close contact with a confirmed case.
There are now 24 confirmed cases of the virus in the Republic of Ireland.
Monday, March 9th – 6.05pm – UL Hospitals Group reducing elective activity on Wednesday – Read more here.
Monday, March 9th – 4.45pm – Ennis St Patrick’s Day parade cancelled – Read more here.
Sunday, March 8th – 6.45pm – Two more cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed bringing the total number in the Republic of Ireland to 21.
The new cases involve a male in a hospital in the south of the country and a female in the east of the country.
It has also been reported but not confirmed that a large number of staff at University Hospital Limerick are also in self-isolation. One source has said that over 70 staff have self-isolated as a precaution.
Saturday, March 7th – 10.00pm – One new case of the Covid-19 coronavirus has been confirmed in the Republic of Ireland bringing the total here to 19. The case is reported to be a male in east of the country.
Friday, March 6th – 10.30pm – A further five cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the Republic of Ireland bringing the national total to 18.
One has been confirmed as a female in the west of the country who was in contact with a confirmed case. The total confirmed cases in this region is now 7.
Friday, March 6th – 6.30pm – ‘Pop-up’ Covid-19 testing centre in Lahinch – Read more here.
Friday, March 6th – 4.45pm – UL Hospitals Group curtails elective services – Read more here.
Friday, March 6th – 1.59pm – UL Hospitals Group imposes visitor ban across all sites – Read more here.
Friday, March 6th – 9.25am – UL Hospitals Group and HSE MidWest Community Healthcare can confirm they are working closely with public health colleagues in tracing contacts of four confirmed cases of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus).
These patients are currently isolated in hospital and receiving appropriate care. The cases were confirmed on March 4th and public health are now working rapidly to identify any contacts this small cluster may have had in the days prior to this positive result. This work will be completed as quickly as possible.
Public health colleagues are in the process of informing the relevant contacts and advising on any relevant follow-up actions that may be necessary to protect their own health, that of their families and the community at large. The contacts include patients who attended Zone A (minors) of the Emergency Department in UHL between the hours of 10am and 2pm on Wednesday last, February 26th and they are being contacted directly. Patients in any other area of the Emergency Department or the wider hospital are not considered to be contacts.
Patients who attended a small number of other health services are also being contacted by public health in line with procedure.
The Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick is operating as normal today, Friday, March 6th. We can confirm that the Emergency Department was put off call for a three-hour period on Wednesday night to facilitate a precautionary deep clean of affected areas. Patients arriving by ambulance were diverted to Galway University Hospitals during this interval in line with established national protocols.
Staff who were in close contact with one of the confirmed cases have been advised not to report for duty and to follow the guidance of public health and occupational health colleagues.
Staff at UL Hospitals Group and in HSE Community Healthcare have been preparing for positive cases of COVID-19 for a number of weeks now and are closely following the plans established by the HSE and the Department of Health and in line with the WHO and ECDC guidance.
We remain in the containment phase in relation to COVID -19 and as long as this remains the case, it is important that members of the public follow the most up-to-date advice from the HSE.
General advice and information on COVID-19 for members of the public is available on www.hse.ie\coronavirus and the vast majority of people in the MidWest can access all the relevant information here.
COVID-19 is spread through close contact with an infected person’s body fluids (for example, droplets from coughing or sneezing). It is also spread by touching surfaces that an infected person has coughed or sneezed on, which is one of the reasons why it is so important that people wash their hands regularly, practice respiratory etiquette, and try to avoid touching their face.
It can take up to 14 days for symptoms of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) to show.
Symptoms may include:
- a cough
- shortness of breath
- breathing difficulties
- fever (high temperature)
Covid-19 (Coronavirus) can also cause more severe illness, including:
- pneumonia
- shortness of breath
- breathing difficulties
- fever (high temperature)
Things you can do to protect yourself from getting Covid-19 (Coronavirus) include:
wash your hand properly and regularly
cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze
Wash your hands properly and regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub:
- after coughing and sneezing
- after toilet use
- before eating
- before and after preparing food
The general public is advised to follow advice from the HSE and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre to protect their health.
Any person concerned that they may have symptoms of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) should immediately isolate themselves from others and contact their GP by phone.
Thursday, March 5th – 10.24pm – Seven new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Ireland, including one patient who had not travelled to an affected area.
Two cases are associated with close contact with another confirmed case and involve two females in the west of the country.
There are now 13 confirmed cases of the virus in the Republic of Ireland.
Thursday, March 5th – 3.25pm – The four people identified as having tested positive for Covid-19 (Coronavirus) are members of the one family who recently returned from a holiday in Italy.
It has emerged that one of the adults is a health professional working in Clare but who may have covered a shift in a major hospital in the past week.
The four, from the north Clare area, were transferred to hospital by ambulance on Wednesday. It’s understood that all four have the virus however just one, a teenage boy, has displayed symptoms associated with Covid-19.
As a result, three schools remained closed yesterday (Thursday) with two, a primary and secondary school located over 10 kms apart, will not reopen until March 18th. It’s understood that the boy attends the secondary school while the girl is in confirmation class in the national school.
In a text to parents on Wednesday night, management from the primary school said: “A child in our school has tested positive for Covid-19 and as a precaution, school is closed from tomorrow (Thursday) for 14 days. Re-opening 18th March. Public health doctors will contact you individually from tomorrow on.”
Later in the night, a secondary school in another town, also contacted parents advising of a similar school closure.
A text to parents said: “A person in your school has tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19). As a precaution, the school will be closed until 18 March. The Department of Public Health HSE mid-West will be in contact with you tomorrow with further information. This is the text the HSE has asked to have sent out to all parents and staff.”
In a follow-up message to parents yesterday (Thursday) schoolto come and pick up textbooks this morning and tomorrow up to lunchtime. Take care and we will keep you posted.”
The third school, also a second level institution, was closed by school management pending advice from the HSE. A handwritten sign on the front door of the school yesterday (Thursday) said it would “remain closed today pending advice from the HSE re: Covid-19 virus.”
One parent of a child attending the primary school said: “We (parents) all got a text tonight confirming that a child in the school had been confirmed as testing positive for the virus. We really don’t know what to do now. There’s been a lot of talk on the parent’s WhatsApp group and we haven’t a clue what will happen next.”
“My child is off school for the next two weeks which means I’ll have to stay at home and take time off my job. That’s going to be very very tough. I can’t really ask someone else to mind him in case he has picked it up. I don’t know what do,” she added.
The fathers of a student in one of the secondary schools said: “The worrying thing really is all the talk and rumours. There’s talk that this has been around the area for a while. This family came back from holidays a few weeks again. I’m sure of that. Now, my young fella is showing no symptoms but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have it. We haven’t been told whether or not we can still go about our daily business, go to work and all that. We’d like to know.”
Meanwhile, A Seanad Éireann election candidate called off his canvas yesterday as a precaution.
Lahinch-based hotelier Michael Vaughan said: “I have abandoned the physical canvass in the interest of safety because there was close family contact with one of the patients and I wouldn’t wish to bring that on anyone.”
Earlier: Parents of children attending at national school in Co Clare have been advised of a two-week precautionary closure after it was confirmed that a pupil had tested positive for Covid-19 (Coronavirus).
There’s also speculation that a second school and/or creche has or will also be forced to close as a precaution.
In a text to parents tonight, school management said: “A child in our school has tested positive for Covid-19 and as a precaution, school is closed from tomorrow (Thursday) for 14 days. Re-opening 18th March. Public health doctors will contact you individually from tomorrow on.”
The text also stated that confirmation for the school has been cancelled.
Earlier, it was confirmed that four more cases of the coronavirus had been confirmed in Ireland, bringing the total to six in the Republic.
The four, two male and two female patients, are reported to be from the western part of the country and had travelled from the same affected area in northern Italy. It’s understood the four are part of the one family.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer with the Department of Health, confirmed: “Tonight we can confirm there are now six cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. Contact tracing is underway for these four new cases.”
There’s also speculation this evening that another school and/or creche could also close as a result of the same reported case.
One parent of a child attending the school told the Clare Herald: “We (parents) all got a text tonight confirming that a child in the school had been confirmed as testing positive for the virus. We really don’t know what to do now. There’s been a lot of talk on the parent’s WhatsApp group and we haven’t a clue what will happen next.”
“My child is off school for the next two weeks which means I’ll have to stay at home and take time off my job. That’s going to be very very tough. I can’t really ask someone else to mind him in case he has picked it up. I don’t know what to do,” she added.