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» Spring in the air as country finally starts to open up again Travel extended to 20km and back to school for some
THERE is cause for optimism as the country prepares to come out of full Level 5 lockdown for the first time this year, HSE chief Paul Reid said yesterday.
Monday will see some easing of Covid-19 restrictions which came into effect on December 30, 2020 – more than 100 days ago.
From April 12, and on into May, new measures will begin to take place on a phased basis.
Tomorrow will see travel restrictions relaxed, with people being able to travel anywhere within their county, or up to 20km from their home if crossing county boundaries.
In-person teaching will fully return for all school students.
Two households can meet up with each other outdoors for social and recreational purposes – socially distanced – but not in gardens and only while wearing face coverings.
All residential construction can restart, as well as early learning and childcare projects.
The blanket moratorium on evictions will expire, with the earliest anyone can be made to leave their accommodation April 23.
It comes as Covid-19 hospital numbers fell to 208, with 51 in ICU.
Mr Reid tweeted: “Good start to the weekend as #Covid-19 hospital numbers are down to 208 & 51 in ICU.
“We could be on a good trend with the early benefits of the vaccines reducing the sickness levels for the most vulnerable.
“The light is shining a little brighter for now.”
The Department of Health revealed yesterday it had been notified of 14 additional deaths and 455 new
Covid-19 cases. Of those fatalities, three occurred in April, one occurred in March, six occurred in February, and four occurred in January.
There has been a total of 4,783 Covid-19-related deaths in Ireland since the pandemic started, with 240,643 confirmed cases of Covid-19 here.
Experts predict our exit from restrictions will hinge on the vaccination programme and how quickly it can be achieved – and new advice on the Astrazeneca vaccine due early next week. GP practices are to participate for the first time in the Covid-19 vaccination of medically vulnerable people aged between 16 and 69. Around 1,100 practices are preparing to take part in the vaccinations. They are expected to deliver more than 46,000 doses by the end of next week and will continue vaccinating medically vulnerable patients for a month. GPS will also continue vaccinating people over 70, bringing the total number of vaccine doses they alone will have administered by next weekend to 620,000.
Hospitals and vaccination centres will also continue administering jabs to the medically vulnerable.
More than one million vaccine doses have so far been given and it is expected 20% of the adult population will have received at least one in coming days.
And the chairman of the Irish Medical Organisation’s GP committee said he was “confident” the HSE target of delivering 180,000 to 190,000 vaccines this week would be reached. Dr Denis Mccauley added: “GPS are probably contributing to around half of the vaccines being administered.
“The biggest issue we have had is not getting good notice of deliveries but that situation has improved greatly.
“There was a reduction of Pfizer in the last week or so but we had been warned about that.”
Meanwhile, five new temporary walk-in test centres for Covid-19 began operating yesterday and will stay open until Friday – three in Dublin and one each in Limerick and Waterford.
Good start – the light is shining a little brighter for now PAUL REID DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE HSE