Coronavirus: A Further 44 Patients Have Died

Latest updates for 21st April 2020.

Latest figures:

A further 44 people are confirmed to have died from Covid19 in the Republic. 

388 new cases have also been confirmed today.  

It now brings the death toll to 730 & the number of confirmed cases stands at 16,040. 

The State's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tony Holohan has details on the number of people who have recovered from the illness:

The most up-to-date number of confirmed cases in the midlands now stands at 749.

Westmeath continues to have highest number - up eight from yesterday to 377.

In Offaly, there are now 195 recorded cases, a jump of five from yesterday.

And there are seven more cases in Laois, bringing the total to 177.

Gatherings:

Mass gatherings are banned until the end of August. 

The government says events for over 5000 people will not be granted licenses.  

It means all summer gigs and music festivals are cancelled until September at the earliest.   

Recession:

We're entering the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s according to new government figures. 

The economy is expected to contract by more than 10 per cent this year - with unemployment forecast to reach its highest ever level at 22 per cent.

Things will recover a certain amount in the second half of the year - but the economy won't return to pre-crisis levels until 2022. 

The forecasts are based on the restrictions being in place for three months and get worse if they last longer.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has said there are tough times ahead:

GPs:

GPs insist they continue to care for patients in nursing homes.

In a joint statement the Irish Medical Organisation and Irish College of General Practitioners acknowledge there are significant problems in some areas.

However, they says GPs are conducting on site consultations where appropriate.

They also conduct telephone or video consultations, provide advice to Nursing Home Staff and continue to monitor patients.

It follows reports some GPs were refusing to go to private nursing homes.

Discussions on restrictions:

Senior health officials have been meeting to discuss if any Covid-19 restrictions might be eased in two weeks.

There are now 15,652 confirmed cases here and 687 have lost their lives.

Dublin still has the highest number of coronavirus cases nationwide followed by Cork and Kildare.

However if you break it down in incident rates per 100 thousand, Dublin still has the highest number with Cavan very close behind and then Westmeath.

There are now 478 clusters across the country – including 168 in nursing homes which is down one from yesterday.

Infection rates remain highest in the over 65 age bracket but young people have been affected too – 30 babies have had the virus and 54 children aged between one and 4.

77 deaths were recorded yesterday – the highest number to date.

However the Chief Medical Officer says these deaths occurred over a number of days as far back as the beginning of the month. 

Meanwhile, the National Public Health Emergency team has been meeting to discuss if any restrictions could start to be eased in two weeks.
They’ve also been discussing plans to provide childcare for workers on the frontline. 

Nursing homes:

The health watchdog is to issue a checklist to nursing homes to ensure they have the right measures in place to deal with Covid-19.

The Health Minister Simon Harris is meeting with HIQA and Nursing Homes Ireland today.

406 covid-19 related deaths in Ireland are linked to nursing homes and other residential settings.

This accounts for over 60% of all deaths.

Today following a meeting with the Health Minister and Nursing Homes Ireland, HIQA will release a checklist for nursing homes to ensure they have the right measures in place to deal with the outbreak

From next week, HIQA will follow up on the checklist and begin inspecting nursing homes around the country to see if the guidelines are being followed correctly.

Testing has also been increased in nursing and residential care homes to tackle the spread of Covid-19

Flights:

People should get their money back for flights they are due to take during travel restrictions, according to the Business Minister.

Customers have reported being told by an airline that they will be given a refund, and then later offered vouchers.

People who have booked flights with airlines including Ryanair and Aer Lingus say they received confirmation of a cash refund, and that their request was being processed.

They were later offered vouchers, to be used within the next 12 months.

Under EU law, customers are entitled to a refund for flights that do not operate.

The European Consumer Centre Ireland says where a flight is cancelled an airline is "obliged to respect the passenger rights" and that remains unchanged, even under circumstances such as COVID-19.

GPs:

Some GPs are refusing to go to private nursing homes due to concerns over the spread of Covid-19. 

According to the Irish Independent, it's led to fears some residents aren't getting the medical care they need. 

Almost half of the Republic's 657 coronavirus deaths have taken place in nursing homes. 

GP Martin Daly, a former president of the Irish Medical Organisation, doesn't believe many doctors are not carrying out on-site visits:

Keelings:

The Business Minister says the government is trying to find the right balance on allowing people into and out of the country.

The Cabinet met yesterday where it discussed several options on tightening travel restrictions in airports and ports. 

It’s after Dublin fruit company Keelings was criticised for flying in workers to pick fruit. 

Business Minister Heather Humphreys says the government’s weighing up the best options:

Childcare:

The country's top health officials are meeting around now to consider childcare help for frontline staff working during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

They'll also discuss how any relaxing of the current restrictions would work, IF they were to be eased from next month.

There are now 15,652 confirmed cases here and 687 people have lost their lives. 

Infectious diseases consultant Eoghan De Barra says the figures, though upsetting, are improving:

Transport:

The National Bus and Rail Union says free bus travel should be introduced here during the coronavirus crisis.

In London, buses are now free in order to keep passengers away from drivers, after the deaths of 20 workers from the virus.

The NBRU's Dermot O'Leary says protective equipment is also vital for drivers: 

COVID-19 payments:

The Social Protection Minister says her department isn’t running out of money 'any time soon' to cover Covid payments.

Just over one million people are now either partially or fully dependent on the State for income support.

Regina Doherty says it’s hard to know how long the payments can go on for:

UK:

Frontline health workers in the UK could be put at risk IF the British government starts advising the public to wear face masks too.  

UK scientific advisers are carrying out a review on the possible benefits - but hospital bosses have warned it might jeopardise the supply to the NHS.

The World Health Organisation says people who aren't in health and care facilities should only wear them if they're sick or caring for those who are ill.

US:

Donald Trump has temporarily banned all immigration into the United States because of the coronavirus. 

It comes as the the price of crude oil in the US has crashed below zero for the first time in history.

It's because there's too much supply, and there's not enough storage space - and what is available is too expensive.

Traders have effectively been paying anyone to take it off their hands.

World Health Organisation:

The World Health Organisation is warning the worst of the coronavirus pandemic may be ahead of us. 

The number of cases of Covid-19 across the world has almost reached 2.5 million. 

More than 170,000 people have died of the virus.

The WHO's director general, Tedros Ghebreyesus, is calling for unity in the fight against the illness:

Trump Oil:

Donald Trump has temporarily suspended all immigration into the United States. 

The US president says he has signed an executive order to protect American citizens from the coronavirus. 

Falling demand for crude oil has sent prices in America crashing into negative figures for the first time in history.

Sky's Economics Editor Ed Conway says oversupply means storage has been filling up, and becoming more expensive:

Restrictions Meeting:

The National Public Health Emergency Team meets this morning to consider how any Covid-19 restrictions MIGHT be eased from next month. 

A further 77 people have lost their lives after being infected with the virus, bringing the death toll to 687. 

401 new cases have been diagnosed, meaning there have been 15,652 confirmed coronavirus cases since it began spreading here.

Chief medical officer Tony Holohan says this morning's meeting will look at how relaxing any measures would work:

Latest Figures:

In the midlands, there are now 729 confirmed cases of the virus.

That includes 369 in Westmeath, up 11 from yesterday/Sunday.

In Offaly, there's been an increase of three, bringing the total to 190.

And there are now 170 confirmed cases in Laois, a jump of 2 from yesterday/Sunday's figures.