Tag Archives: NPHET

 

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar

This afternoon.

The Tánaiste said the Government’s new mandatory requirement of a PCR test is being met with a very high degree of compliance and fines are being issued for those who breach the rules.

He said the three main reasons for opposing mandatory quarantine were that it is “disproportionate”, because positive Covid-19 cases within the State were not quarantined; the EU’s stringent rules on the freedom of movement; and the fact that Ireland cannot control its border, ie with Northern Ireland, in the same way that other island states can…

Meanwhile…

Fight!

Meanwhile…

Oh.

RollingNews

Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group (IEMAG)

This morning.

RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland.

NPHET believes even the severe measures coming into effect today and just after Christmas will ‘not be enough to bring the reproduction number down as low as it needs to go’.

Via RTÉ News:

The chair of NPHET’s Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said “we are in a surge” and the virus is spreading rapidly.

Professor Philip Nolan said he does not think the measures being introduced from today will be enough to bring the virus under control and this time it is coming “really fast and really hard” and the next few days will determine what happens in January.

He urged people to keep numbers to a minimum and not to spend too much time together as it is long gatherings in indoor settings where control of the virus is lost.

Prof Nolan said if people have been out and about a great deal recently they should stay away from loved ones who may be vulnerable.

Minister who tested positive for Covid after shopping trip ‘followed all rules’ (Independent.ie)

Sam Boal/RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Turn that frown upside down.

FIGHT!

Public House ad agency

Irish-made stocking fillers to broadsheet@broadsheet.ie marked ‘Irish-Made Stocking Fillers’

Thanks Alan Bracken

Earlier…


Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Government Buildings tonight where he addressed the nation on exiting from Level 5

Tonight.

Earlier….

Earlier…

From top: Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Health

This afternoon.

Government Buildings, Dublin 2.

Cabinet Ministers arrive for a meeting where it is expected they will confirm the lifting of Level 5 and the re-opening of all shops and gyms from next Tuesday, against NPHET advice.

Earlier: Life, Gym

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee arrives for cabinet amid a continuing storm over Séamus Woulfe’s Supreme Court appointment.

Earlier:  Howlin Woulfe

RollingNews

From top: Doctor Owen O Flynn discusses his experience with Covid-19 watched by Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health at a briefing last week; Senator Michael McDowell

This morning.

Independent Senator Michael McDowell in the Irish Times has called for public access to NPHET’s data, “raw or distilled” and its briefing or advice so its decisions can be “understood and evaluated”.

He writes:

If decisions are to be taken by the Government on the basis of Nphet data, modelling, projections and advice, is there any case for one comma of it to be kept secret? Is there any justification for according Nphet the function of sole State advocate or editor or interpreter of unseen data or propagator of secret proposals?

With Nphet allies being granted access to the airwaves to predict 20,000 or 30,000 deaths as has recently happened, surely we are entitled to know exactly what scenarios were painted by Nphet for the Government’s consideration – and in minute detail?

We know that some of their advice around nursing homes has been wrong in the past. Likewise, we know that they have flip-flopped dramatically on the safety and utility of mask-wearing.

Exactly what were the proportions of the projected crisis that they outlined to the Government which persuaded Ministers including the sceptical Leo Varadkar to “come on board” the Nphet agenda?

Senator McDowell added:

On September 3rd, RTÉ broadcast an item about an unfortunate young doctor who contracted Covid at the age of 23. The nation was informed in detail of the very serious effects and the dangers he encountered during his treatment.

A month later, the same young doctor was presented by Nphet at its daily press conference to repeat his sorry tale. That demonstrates that Nphet does not consider itself to be a purely advisory body to the Government, but also accords itself an advocacy role.

Michael McDowell: What exactly is the price of accepting this Nphet advice? (Irish Times)

Previously: Doogie O’Howser

RollingNews

This morning.

An open letter to the Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly from a group of doctors declaring no confidence in NPHET and requesting immediate review and oversight, as well as consideration of an alternative strategy ‘that might help us navigate out of this crisis’.

Earlier: Derek Mooney: NPHET And Government Must Get Behind The One Mask

Previously: It’s A Small Club

Meanwhile…

This morning.

A report by the Special Dáil Committee on Covid-19 has recommended a public inquiry into each of the almost 1,000 coronavirus-related deaths in nursing homes.

Via RTÉ

The report notes how public health authorities “became overly focused on preparing acute hospitals for the ongoing pandemic in February and March” and that the State “failed to recognise the level of risk posed to those in nursing homes”.

Committee members also highlight the State’s “silo type approach…that did nothing to prevent the spread of the disease“.

…The committee recommends the public inquiry should examine the “large scale discharge of patients from acute hospitals to nursing homes at the beginning of March” as well as the response of the HSE, Department of Health, NPHET and Government to virus related difficulties in nursing homes.

The Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has consistently defended NPHET’s decision not to recommend visitor restrictions on 6 March – however the committee recommends a public inquiry should examine this decision further.

Meanwhile,

TDs say there should be greater transparency around the data used by NPHET to recommend restrictions- and the data should be peer reviewed by an Independent expert panel.

Committee on Covid-19 recommends inquiry into nursing home deaths (Barry Lenihan, RTÉ)

Previously: Left To Die: Nursing Home Timeline

From top: Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly; Chief Medical officer Dr Tony Holohan

This morning

Claims that Dr Tony Holohan, the Chief Medical Officer said he spoke to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly both before and after NPHET met on Sunday, need to be addressed, say opposition TDs.

Dr Holohan said Minister Donnelly had been “clear about the level of concern that I would have, and had”.

Tanaiste leo Varadkar among others expressed surprise when NPHET’s Level 5 recommendation was leaked.

Meanwhile…

Via Newstalk:

Sinn Féin’s health spokesperson claimed that the Health Minister “allowed the impression to be formed that NPHET went on a solo run”.

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall said: “I am calling on the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, to make a full statement of what he was told on Sunday morning and evening and what he did with that information.

“The country was distracted by an unseemly row between the Government and NPHET at precisely the moment when all attention should.”

Labour leader Alan Kelly (above) reiterated the calls for a Dáil statement from the minister, saying Minister Donnelly “must clear up this latest controversy”.

Donnelly Urged To Give ‘Full Explanation’ (Newstalk)

Last night: Disposable Heroes

RollingNews

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

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.

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