Tag Archives: coronavirus

This morning.

Baggott Street, Dublin 2.

Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Health, and Paul Reid, Chief Executive Officer, HSE launch the Department of Health and HSE COVID Tracker App outside the Department of Health HQ.

It’s for your own safety.

Nothing untoward.

Move along now.

Previously: Tracker App Report Card

Leah Farrell/Rollingnews

Meanwhile…

Um.

Where’s Mehmet Ali Ağca when you need him.

This afternoon.

Liveline with Joe Duffy.

Anyone?

Rollingnews

From top: Testing centre at Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2 last month; Former Minister for Health Simon Harris (left) and Phelim Quinn, CEO of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA)

 

This morning.

Via RTÉ

A new report from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) shows that while Covid-19 caused a 13% increase in deaths in Ireland between March and June 2020, the number of excess deaths linked to the virus may be “substantially” less than has been reported.

The analysis assesses the number of deaths that occurred in Ireland from 11 March 2020 to 16 June 2020 relative to the expected number of deaths, using data from the death notices website RIP.ie.

It found that while there were 1,200 more deaths during that period, this is less than the 1,709 people recorded as having died from coronavirus during those months.

Um.

Anyone?

COVID-19 causes 13% increase in deaths in Ireland between March and June 2020 – HIQA (HIQA)

Excess deaths ‘substantially’ less than Covid-19 figures – HIQA (RTÉ)

Meanwhile…

Investigative article on the number of deaths in current The Big Issues.

Continues here.

Rollingnews

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health

Last night.

Holohan ‘taking time out’ from role over wife’s illness (RTÉ)

Rollingnews

Part of The Report Card for the HSE/Department of Health Covid tracker app includes reference to Google Firebase and Twillo possibly obtaining patient data

This morning/afternoon.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) and Digital Rights Ireland (DRI) have issued a report card evaluating the HSE/Department of Health Covid-19 tracker app prior to its launch.

How did it do?

Regarding the app’s efficacy, experts have given the app a D.

Dr Stephen Farrell, Research Fellow, School of Computer Science and Statistics, Trinity College Dublin (speaking in a personal capacity, said:

“We have no clear evidence before us that the app accurately detects close contacts to Covid-19. In the alternative, our independent research shows that app signalling accuracy varies substantially depending on user environments.”

Regarding the app’s clear and limited purpose, experts have given the app a D.

ICCL’s Information Rights Director Elizabeth Farries said:

“European data protection guidance says Covid-19 apps must pursue a single purpose of contact tracing to alert people potentially exposed to Covid-19. Unfortunately, location data and symptom tracking extend beyond this single purpose.”

Regarding the app’s statutory oversight, experts have given the app a C.

Digital Rights Ireland Director Antóin Ó Lachtnáin said:

“We would question the legal basis of consent the government appears to be relying on under the GDPR. Furthermore, long term, we are very concerned that Google/Apple will have ultimate control over most of the EU’s Covid-19 app ecosystem, and not our governments.”

We’re not angry.

Just disappointed.

FIGHT!

Full report card here.

Experts Issue Pre-Release Report Card on the HSE Covid-19 Tracker App (ICCL)

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly (above) has said public health officials are concerned a big increase in international travel could see ‘a second wave’ of Covid-19 in Ireland

This morning.

Via RTÉ

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Donnelly said the Government still plans to publish a “green” list of countries on 9 July, but no decision has been made on when it will be activated.

“July 9 is a decision that has been taken to publish a list.There may be a recommendation to Cabinet [on Monday] that that might change,” he said.

The minister said he understood that the issue is of great concern to people, who may have already booked holidays or who may be planning a trip abroad, and the National Public Health Emergency is meeting today on the issue.

Cases of Covid-19 in Ireland from international travel was at 2% for the last few months, but has risen to 17% in the last few weeks, he said.

Fears overseas travel could trigger second wave of Covid-19 – Donnelly (RTÉ)

Rollingnews

You mean like work cubicles with non-concealed hooch.

Hic.

This afternoon.

Fade Street, Dublin 2

The formerly open-plan Market Bar re-opens following a €60,000 boxed off partitioning job to help kill the buzz  flatten the curve.

The makeover has reduced the bar’s capacity from 800 to 350 and their accountant from fairly calm to a quivering mess.

Monday: The Snugs Don’t Work

Sam Boal/Rollingnews

Stop that!

Stop packing!

This afternoon.

Via RTÉ

The 27-member bloc is expected to give outline approval to leisure or business travel from tomorrow to 14 countries beyond its borders when they vote on the list, the diplomats said.

The countries are Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay, they said.

Russia and Brazil, along with the United States, are among countries that do not make the initial “safe list”.

The vote is aimed at supporting the EU travel industry and tourist destinations, particularly countries in southern Europe hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Russia, Brazil and USA.

Not political at all.

US reported not on EU ‘safe’ travel list (RTÉ)

Reuters

Before

After

Um.

This afternoon.

Fade Street, Dublin 2.

RTÉ’s Will Goodbody tweetz:

Previously open plan, this is what the radical alterations made by the Market Bar in Dublin to enable it to reopen today look like. Individual booths for all customer groups. Capacity has more or less halved as a result, but it still needs the same number of staff.

Market Bar