Bray People

‘The power to make a difference is in our hands’

- By MARY FOGARTY

MINISTER for Health Stephen Donnelly has made an appeal for the people of County Wicklow to reduce social contacts, maintain social distance, wash hands, and wear a mask. ‘I know there is an element of fatigue out there, but the power to make a real difference is in our hands,’ he said.

The latest 14-day data regarding the incidence rate of Covid-19 have shown a surge of cases in Bray West, with 38 confirmed cases and an incidence rate of 206.5 per 100,000 people. The national average incidence rate during those two weeks was 70.7. That data is currently approximat­ely one-week old and refers to the period of September 8 to 21, with updated ‘ twoweek’ numbers expected this week.

NPHET will meet tomorrow (Thursday) and will consider whether County Wicklow will move to Level 3 restrictio­ns.

In the seven days up to Monday evening, a total of 36 cases had been confirmed across County Wicklow.

THE Minister for Health has appealed to the people of Wicklow to help reduce the risk of Covid-19, following an increases of cases in the county.

Minister Stephen Donnelly is urging people to reduce social contacts, maintain social distance, wash hands, and wear a mask. ‘I know there is an element of fatigue out there, but the power to make a real difference is in our hands,’ he said.

The latest 14-day data regarding the incidence rate of Covid-19 have shown a surge of cases in Bray West, with 38 confirmed cases and an incidence rate of 206.5 per 100,000 people.

That data is currently approximat­ely one-week old, with updated ‘two-week’ numbers expected this week.

In the seven days up to Monday evening, a total of 36 cases had been confirmed across County Wicklow.

The 14-day figures, released through the Government’s Covid-19 Data Hub, cover the period of September 8 to September 21 and give a breakdown of the number of cases per Local Electoral Area (LEA) as well as the LEA rate per 100k of population.

Bray West had 38 cases in that 14-day period, and an incidence rate of 206.5 per 100,000. The total population of Bray West is 18,404. The area includes parts of Ballywaltr­im, Fassaroe, Kilmacanog­ue and Enniskerry.

The previous two weeks had shown 16 cases in Bray West, and an incidence rate of 86.5.

The town’s other LEA, Bray East, had 23 confirmed cases in the same 14-day period of September 8 to 21, and an incidence rate of 134.3. The population of Bray East is 17,127.

During the previous two-week period, Bray East had 18 cases and an incidence rate of 105.1.

The national average incidence rate during those two weeks was 70.7.

The LEA of Greystones, which includes Delgany, Kilcoole, Newcastle, and Killadreen­an, had 18 confirmed cases between September 8 and 21, and an incidence rate of 68.4. The population of the Greystones district is 26,323.

Wicklow LEA, with a population of 28,219, had 6 confirmed cases, and an incidence rate of 21.3.

Arklow LEA, with a population of 26,185, had 6 cases and an incidence rate of 22.9 per 100,000.

Baltinglas­s LEA also had 6 cases and an incidence rate of 22.9. The population of that district is 26,167.

By Monday evening of this week, there had been a total of 896 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in County Wicklow since the start of the pandemic.

The National Public Health Emergency Team will meet tomorrow (Thursday) and are expected to discuss whether Wicklow should move from Level 2 to Level 3.

Restrictio­ns under level three include additional restrictio­ns for pubs and restaurant­s; staying in the region; and having visitors from just one other household. The current situation whereby Dublin pubs and restaurant­s are only permitted to serve outdoors is in fact officially a Level 4 restrictio­n.

Other counties to be discussed amidst rising numbers include Louth, Cork and Galway. Dublin and Donegal are currently at Level 3.

‘I would appeal to the residents of Wicklow to do everything they can to reduce the risk of Covid being spread,’ said Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly. ‘One useful way of thinking about it is to have a look at all the people you were planning to meet this week and see if you can halve that number.

‘I have been asked if it is not possible to simply separate out areas of the county where infection rates are highest to spare the rest of the county. But that is not the public health advice we are getting for the simple reason once you stop using the county borders it creates an element of confusion.

‘We do know from our experience with Laois, Kildare and Offaly that the increasing of restrictio­ns does work but we want to avoid going that route if at all possible. No decision has been made with regards to Wicklow but it will be looked at when NPHET meets on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Pluck’s in Kilmacanog­ue announced this week that it has closed temporaril­y due to a staff member having tested positive for Covid-19.

‘It is with major regret that one of our young kitchen staff has been tested positive for Covid-19,’ the business announced. ‘It has put us in a very difficult position as many of our staff have to self isolate. Shane and Caroline (McNamara) have reached the decision to close Pluck’s of Kilmac with immediate effect.’

They said that this will be short term, but in the interest of staff and customers the right thing to do. ‘We will be back soon and hopefully stronger than ever!’

Two further cases have been linked to St Patrick’s National School in Bray, and another to Coláiste Ráithín.

 ??  ?? Minister Stephen Donnelly.
Minister Stephen Donnelly.

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