Baltinglass sets up Covid team

THE community of Baltinglass is working together to help one another during the current public health emergency.

The Baltinglass Covid Response was set up by Baltinglass Tidy Towns and Baltinglass GAA Club with the support of the Community Policing Unit at the Baltinglass Garda Station. Local businesses including Gillespie’s SuperValu, Quinns Spar, McGreal’s Pharmacy and O’Reilly’s and Fishers Centre have also come on board to support the community initiative.

A spokesperson for Baltinglass Covid Response said ‘since setting up the group, our Facebook page has reached over 13,000 people. The response has been phenomenal.’

Over 50 volunteers have contacted the group to offer to assist members of the community who may be in the at risk categories, are self isolating or cocooning. Some of the volunteers have been matched up with people local to them who are in these at risk groups.

The Baltinglass Community Policing Unit has also recently received a response vehicle and have offered the use of the vehicle to the group to help with delivering essential food and medicines within the community. The Baltinglass Covid Response is also linked into Wicklow County Council’s Covid-19 Community Response Forum.

The group has urged anyone who may need support to contact them. Members of the community who may be aware of someone who may require support — a neighbour, friend or relative — at this time are also asked to make contact with the Baltinglass Covid Response team.

People can get in touch to request support through a private message to Baltinglass Covid Response on Facebook or by calling Baltinglass Garda Station on 059 6482610. Alternatively, contacting the Wicklow County Council’s free community support helpline on 1800 868399. The confidential helpline is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. The service can also be contacted by emailing covidsupport@ wicklowcoco.ie.