Tag Archives: coronavirus

Army medics are being prepped to join the ‘national jabs emergency team’

This afternoon.

An ally in the war against rogue microbes.

Turning bayonets into syringes.

Grenades into gurnies.

Killing machines into life savers.

You get the picture.

Via The Irish Mirror

The army is currently having its medics trained-in to become part of the healthcare team that delivers the jabs.

Negotiations are at an “advanced” stage for existing testing centres, such as Croke Park, Punchestown racecourse and the Aviva Stadium to become mass vaccination centres.

They are already on standby for any logistical emergencies that arise, but negotiations have taken place between the HSE and the Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Mark Mellett, for the army to play a more active role….

Gulp.

Army being prepped to help vaccinate the public in mass rollout plan (Irish Mirror)

Meanwhile…

Ireland is in line to receive an additional 3.3 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine after the European Union extended its contract with the pharmaceutical companies.

This morning European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the deal was extended with a view to the European Union purchasing an extra 300 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Ms von der Leyen said delivery of the extra doses would start in the second quarter of this year…

Ireland to receive additional 3.3m Covid-19 vaccine doses under EU deal (RTÉ)

RollingNews

From left: Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health Dr Tony Holohan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group Professor Philip Nolan and Dr Ronan Glynn at the Department of Health press briefing last night

Last night.

Professor Philip Nolan – chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group – told the briefing that at no time since the start of the pandemic in March had it exceeded 1.4 or 1.6 (the R rate)…

Prof Nolan said this was certainly, “at least in part explained by the very high levels of socialisation and social contact” in the last weeks of December

Curbs on sale of alcohol next in line as Holohan says it fuels spread (Independent.ie)

Meanwhile, curbs on the sale of alcohol by forcing off-licences to cut their opening hours may be the next step in the fight against the Covid-19 crisis after chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan warned it is helping to fuel the spread of the virus.

Hic.

Curbs on sale of alcohol next in line as Holohan says it fuels spread (Independent.ie)

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar in government buildings last night

This morning.

Further to Taoiseach Micheal Martin’s call that ‘No publican should be selling takeaway pints…’

The Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said the Government is considering banning the sale of alcohol after a certain time of day.

Mr Varadkar told Pat Kenny the issue of on-street drinking will be doubled down on as part of these new restrictions.

“We’re working on new public health regulations that strengthen the law in this regard around drinking alcohol in public streets, and that will give the Gardaí more powers of enforcement”.

 

Meanwhile…

Fluffybiscuits writes:

Rumours abound that there is going to be a ban on take away pints. The little things get us through the pandemic, I enjoy a casual can by the canal at six feet with a friend one on one the odd Friday.

We reduce contacts, cannot have people over to the house, stay within 5km and work hard. That little thing of two or three cans by the canal is an outlet for human contact. All of us make sacrifices but can we not have the little things that keep us sane in these difficult times?

Government Considering Alcohol Curfew (Newstalk)

RollingNews

Taoiseach Micheál Martin

“Forget about takeaway pints. No publican should be selling takeaway pints….it leads to congregations, leads to gatherings, which can spread the disease and the virus. That’s a very clear message from me and Government.”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin this evening.

Ah here.

First he came for the cigarettes…

Time to forget about takeaway pints, says Taoiseach (RTÉ)

RollingNews

Home brew recipes to broadsheet@broadsheet.ie marked ‘housebound hooch‘.

Minister for Education Norma Foley

This afternoon.

FIGHT!

Meanwhile…

Um.

Cabinet agrees range of tighter public health measures (RTE)

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee

This morning.

RollingNews

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (left) with Chinese President Xi Jinping before a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China last January

This morning

The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) says he is “very disappointed” China blocked the entry of its investigators.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ team had been due to investigate the origins of Covid-19 in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Via Financial Times:

Beijing has barred the entry of a 10-member World Health Organization team investigating the origins of the coronavirus pandemic after their visas were not approved.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said on Tuesday that he was “very disappointed” after China blocked the arrival of the virologists.

“Two members [of the team] had already begun their journeys and others were not able to travel at the last minute,” Mr Tedros said.

Anyone?

China blocks WHO team sent to probe Covid’s origins (FT)

AFP

Meanwhile…

Last night.

Prime Time on RTÉ One.

Fianna Fail Further Education Minister of State Niall Collins sets a date.

Government ‘absolutely committed’ to hold ‘traditional’ Leaving Cert this year, Minister of State Niall Collins says (Independent.ie)

Meanwhile…

Anyone?

This afternoon.

RTÉ Radio One’s News at One.

RollingNews