From top: Minister for health Stephen Donnelly and Chief Medical officer Tony Holohan

This afternoon.

Government Buildings, Merrion Street, Dublin 2.

More as we get it.

Where is your mask(s)?

Meanwhile…

NPHET has said that the powers available under public health laws need to be fully and visibly utilised, RTÉ News has learned.

While the letter to Government does not specifically reference the Garda, it calls for a renewed commitment to enforcement of regulations.

Um.

Govt party leaders meet Holohan over NHPET recommendation (RTÉ)

Earlier: On The Level

What’s Going On?

Rolingnews

Over the weekend.

Two of Ireland’s most celebrated journalists Gene Kerrigan and Vincent Browne urge the wearing of masks be it out of fear, in Mr Kerrigan’s case, or the possibility that it might help eliminate the rona ‘almost completely’, according to Mr Browne.

Gene Kerrigan

Vincent Browne

This morning.

Christmas is uncancelled!

Kate Allen writes:

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SantaOnline is a magical online experience, creating an intimate space where children and families can chat live with Santa from the comfort of their own home.

SantaOnline even delivers an appropriately-aged, wrapped gift for every child booked in to talk to Santa…

SantaOnline

Irish-made Xmas stuff to broadsheet@broadsheet.ie marked ‘Irish-Made Xmas Stuff’. No fee.

Meanwhile….

Fianna Fail TD Jim O’Callaghan

This morning

on Newstalk, Fianna Fáil TD Jim O’Callaghan discussed the possibility of the country moving to Level 5 with host Pat Kenny…

“First of all it [the recommendation to move to Level 5] is advice. It’s on a decision by NPHET and any decision made in respect of this shall be made by Government.

However, I’m concerned that the manner by which we’re doing business at present, it’s not a good idea for the people of Ireland to hear, late on a Sunday evening, a leak from NPHET indicating that there’s a recommendation that the country’s going to go to Level 5, that we shouldn’t be doing business that way.

“NPHET’s job is to advise the Minister for Health. It’s job is to coordinate the health sector response to Covid. But it’s not an independent entity and it’s a group that advises the minister and it’s Government and politicians that will make decisions as to whether or not this country moves to a different level.

“Obviously the advice given by NPHET should be considered by Government and I know that the three leaders of the parties in Government are meeting NPHET today but I would be asking them what’s the reason for the inconsistency in the NPHET’s approach?

“They met last Thursday, there was no recommendation in respect of this. I’m also concerned that if Government are to go to Level 5, it would be completely disproportionate at this stage.

That we’ve to look to see where we are in terms of this pandemic. And I know what [Infectious disease expert] Porfessor Sam McConkey says, you know, we have to look ahead but in terms of assessing a pandemic, the primary way to do it, is you assess it by a number of steps and you assess it by a number of hospitalisations.

“To date, 1,810 people in the country have died of or with Covid and only 47 of them have been recorded as dying since the first of August so the terrible time for this country in terms of our failing in respect of Covid was the nursing home fiasco that happened in March, April and May when significant numbers of people died.

“The numbers are much lower now in terms of death.

“When you look at hospitalisations, Pat, back in mid-April, there were 881 people in hospital in this country who tested positive for Covid and on a particular day, the 15th of April, there were 155 people in intensive care. Today, there are 134 people in hospital and 21 in intensive care, so we’re nowhere near where we were in mid-April.

“If we go to Level 5 now, where do we go after that?

“Like the reality is, we had the lockdown, it reduces the numbers, we can’t eliminate this virus, and if people tell you ‘we’re going to get it to zero, we’re going to eliminate it from Ireland in the same way that St Patrick got rid of the snakes, they’re fooling you and they’re fooling the public.”

Rollingnews

Earlier: What’s Going On?

This morning.

Via Consequence of Sound:

TikTok user User @420doggface208, aka Nathan Apodaca, became an overnight star simply by posting a clip of himself skateboarding and drinking Ocean Spray Cran-Raspberry juice while singing along to Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams”. Now, the band’s own Mick Fleetwood has launched his own TikTok account — just to pay tribute to Apodaca’s video…

Fleetwood Joins TikTok Just to Recreate Viral “Dreams” (Consequence of Sound)

Dr. Mary Favier, President of the Irish College of General Practitioners.

This morning.

On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, RTE’s Science Correspondent George Lee said there were serious questions for NPHET in light of their reported recommendation that the entire country move to Level 5 of the Covid-19 restrictions.

His appearance followed that of Dr Mary Favier who told journalist Audrey Carville that, if the Covid-19 trajectory continues as it currently stands, Ireland will see 1,500 to 2,000 cases per day in November.

However, Mr Lee said that, a letter from NPHET last Thursday shows that NPHET, at that point did not support a move to Level 3 nationally – nevermind the reported move to Level 5.

He also pointed that there are, as of 8am this morning, 141 patients with Covid in hospitals, 21 of whom are in ICU beds and that there are only 39 ICU beds currently available.

Rollingnews

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