3,500 fines issued over lockdown house parties

MORE than 3,500 fines have now been issued to people attending or organising house parties, as gardaí say they were still finding groups gathering in breach of Covid regulations.

House parties, social gatherings and exercise groups are a risk to the individuals involved, their families, neighbours and community, An Garda Síochána said.

A spokesman said gardaí would be continuing patrols at public amenities, parks and beauty spots across the country this weekend.

He warned that illegal parking at such locations can result in cars being towed and impounded, and that all adults in a car found to be undertaking a non-essential journey outside of the permitted distance may be liable for a €100 fine each.

To date, An Garda Síochána has issued around 20,280 Covid-19 fines throughout the country across the range of breaches.

The public have been advised to plan their activities over the weekend to take account of the new limitations on non-essential travel, which are now to travel within your county or 20km from your home. The spokesman said travel restrictions do not apply in the case of domestic violence or to escape a risk of harm, and that gardaí would support any victim of crime, regardless of whether they were in breach of health regulations at the time.

The Department of Health said last night it had been notified of 11 further deaths related to Covid-19, and 420 new cases. The number of Covid patients in ICU is up two to 53.

Of the deaths reported, three occurred this month, one in March, two in February and five in January or earlier. The median age of those who died was 88 and the age range was 77-94.

Meanwhile, the head of the World Health Organisation said coronavirus cases are continuing to rise globally at ‘worrying’ rates. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the number of new cases ‘is approaching the highest rate of infection that we have seen so far in the pandemic’.

Dr Tedros said some countries, such as Papua New Guinea, that had been able to avoid widespread outbreaks are now seeing steep increases.

20,280 fines issued by gardaí for breaches of Covid rules