Coronavirus: 31 More Deaths Confirmed

Latest news updates on Wednesday 29th April.

Latest figures:

A further 31 people with Covid19 have died in the Republic.

The Deaprtment of Health has also confirmed there are 376 new cases.

The death toll now stands at 1,190.

The number of confirmed cases stands at 20,253.

There are 28 new confirmed cases in Offaly, bringing the total to 264.

The number of patients in Westmeath has increased by 13 to 461. 

And in Laois 216 people have tested positive for the illness - up from 212. 

Checkpoints:

The Garda Commissioner has defended the presence of armed Gardaí at some COVID-19 checkpoints.

At a meeting of the Policing Authority this evening, Drew Harris was asked whether the measure was appropriate.

Gardaí have maintained the message that enforcement will always be a last resort when it comes to policing the restrictions.

Commissioner Harris says the presence of armed Gardaí shouldn't be read into: 

Masks:

Wearing cloth facemasks will give people a greater "margin of safety" during the pandemic.

This is the message from Assistant Professor in General Practice at Trinity College Dublin, Dr Brendan O'Shea.

It comes as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said today that any guidance from the government would relate to face ‘coverings’ rather than masks.

Kildare GP Brendan O'Shea, says they need to be worn correctly to be efficient:

Economy:

Employers body IBEC says the reopening of the economy needs to be gradual but happen soon.

CEO Danny Mc Coy says more clarity is needed on the government's plans to lift the lockdown:

Junior Cert:

The Education Minister says it's too early to say if a new system of assessing Junior Cert students will stay in place beyond this year.

It's been confirmed pupils will no longer sit class-based exams in the autumn.

They'll instead get a "certificate of completion" and a teachers' report based on their performance over the last three years.

Schools will also have the option of setting further assessments - like a project or essay.

Minister Joe McHugh says any suggestion of this system being kept is premature:

"Offaly Footballer Warning Of Dangers Of Gambling During Lockdown" - read more ⬇️ #COVID19 #LockdownIreland https://t.co/g5GHHmUwby

— Midlands103 (@Midlands103) April 29, 2020

Research:

The government has announced 5 million euro in funding for 26 research and innovation projects related to Covid 19.

They cover areas like infection control, contact tracing and mental health.

One of them - led by Maynooth University - has received funding of 402 thousand euro to build a new data platform, as Business Minister Heather Humphreys explains:

Global figures:

Britain now has the second-highest death toll in Europe from Covid-19.

Worldwide, the deadly virus has killed 218,000 people, and infected over 3.1 million.

The number of people dying with covid 19 in the UK has risen sharply to more than 26-thousand.

The figure now take in people in care and at home and include a 14-year-old in England with no other health conditions.

It means Britain now has Europe's second-highest official death toll.

In Italy - the world's second worst affected country - more than 27-thousand people have lost their lives.

That's a daily rise of 323 - a much smaller increase than in recent weeks.

Worldwide, more than 3.1 million Covid 19 cases have been recorded and 218,000 fatalities.

The US death toll went up by over 2,000 in the past 24 hours alone and stands at 58 and a half thousand.

In Spain which has seen 24,000 deaths, there's a new 4-phase plan to lift lockdown, including the reopening of hairdressers by appointment, takeaway restaurants, and people allowed out for Short walks and some individual sports from next week.

Vaccine:

The government's Chief Scientific Adviser says Ireland can manage the Covid 19 pandemic without a vaccine.

Professor Mark Ferguson says more than 80 coronavirus vaccines are currently under development around the world.

But he says we need to be prepared in case there isn't an effective one found:

Funny:

An American TV reporter has surprised his colleagues by accidentally appearing on air without his trousers on.

Journalist Will Reeve was broadcasting live on Good Morning America from his home, but hadn't realised the camera was pointing too low.

He's tweeted that it was "hilariously mortifying" - adding that he was wearing shorts and not underwear.

Restrictions not expected to be lifted:

The Taoiseach says he expects to reveal the country’s exit plan from lockdown in the next few days.

But Leo Varadkar is warning we’re still not in a position to ease restrictions.

The Taoiseach is expected to reveal a phased exit plan from lockdown with a number of stages.

The first phase according to the Irish Times would see over 70s allowed out to exercise on a no touch basis, four people not from the same household could gather within social distancing rules and builders and gardeners could return to work.

Some shops like DIY centres could reopen, the 2km distance would increase to 5 or 10 and schools would reopen but only with restricted classes for Leaving Cert students.

We’d then move on to the next phase which would see some small shops open. T

he next phase would see cafes and restaurants open while the phase after that would allow people holiday within Ireland.

The later phases would see pubs and offices reopen - everything would be done social distancing in place.

But Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says as things stand, it might not be possible:

We’re also due to find out soon if any restrictions can be eased at by May the 5th.

But the Taoiseach’s warned the current numbers means ‘we’re not there yet.’’

Pride:

This year's Dublin Pride Parade has been called off. 

The LGBTQ event had been postponed from June until September because of the coronavirus. 

But the organisers now feel this would place unnecessary pressure on essential frontline services. 

A 'virtual' Pride parade and concert will be held in its place in June.

Hospital beds:

The number of vacant general beds in the country’s hospitals is lowering, according to figures from the HSE.

There are 1,380 available nationwide.

277 critical care beds are occupied and 113 of them are coronavirus patients.

745 people are being treated in hospital for confirmed Covid-19 at present.  

In the midlands, five confirmed covid patients are in ICU in Tullamore Regional Hospital, with one in intensive care in Portlaoise.

Global:

The coronavirus has now killed more Americans than the Vietnam war. 

More than 58,000 people have died of Covid-19 in the US, and there have been more than a million cases. 

The States accounts for a third of the world's three million cases. 

Spain has the second highest number of cases, at 232,000.

Meanwhile, nurseries and primary schools in France will reopen from May 11th - as lockdown measures there are eased.

Cocooning is a huge challenge for older people, particularly those living alone. The number of calls we have received about loneliness has increased dramatically in recent weeks. Now more than ever, we need to stay in touch. Help us spread the word #InThisTogether #YouAreNotAlone pic.twitter.com/Ffx3Cvm8vM

— alone_ireland (@ALONE_IRELAND) April 28, 2020

Childcare for healthcare workers:

Unions have been told healthcare staff will be allowed work from home on full pay if they can't find someone to mind their children. 

Discussions are continuing between workers' representatives and HSE management on how to provide childcare while schools are out. 

It's understood to be the most pressing practical issue for frontline healthcare workers right now, after the provision of PPE. 

With schools still closed and many older relatives still cocooning, healthcare unions say it's become much harder for workers with young children to get someone to mind them during the working day. 

Yesterday the HSE held a teleconference with unions in the healthcare sector. 

It's understood managers proposed allowing those who've exhausted all possible options for childcare to work from home if they can't find an alternative. 

In a statement issued last night, the HSE said it "intends to be as flexible as possible to ensure that issues relating to supporting childcare arrangements are balanced with our responsibilities to provide critical health services during this pandemic". 

Health union sources say they're waiting to see any such offer in writing. 

Don't undo the good work:

The Chief Medical Officer says he understands people's frustrations with the Covid-19 restrictions but is urging the public not to undo the good work done up to this point.

The measures aimed at stopping the spread of the virus are due to expire on May 5th, however it's anticipated they'll be extended with little change.

An update from government on its plan's expected on Friday following a meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team.

Chair of the group, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan says its recommendations to government are not done lightly:

More testing:

It's hoped 70,000 Covid-19 tests will be carried out from next week. 

So far, over 153,000 have been conducted, including 41,000 over the past 7 days. 

The death toll has risen by 59 to 1,159, while there are close to 20,000 confirmed cases. 

There's now a total of 896 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Midlands. 

Westmeath remains the county with the highest number of patients with 448, up 2 from Tuesday. 

Offaly has seen an increase of 8 cases from 228 to 236. 

Laois has the smallest number of confirmed cases in the region, they now have 212 people diagnosed up from 205 the day before. 

It's expected testing, which prioritises healthcare workers and at-risk groups, will be broadened next week, with plans to test 15,000 people a day in three weeks' time. 

Dr Cillian De Gascun, chair of the Covid-19 expert advisory group, hopes they'll soon test people without symptoms: