Measures not met for Level
The Covid-19 pandemic isn’t over because we are tired of living with it, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said.
He said the Government has taken the best decision for the country by moving to Level 3.
‘Rising cases are now leading to more people being infected with Covid-19, increased cases in older people, hospitalisations rising, ICU admissions rising and very sadly more deaths occurring,’ said Mr Donnelly.
The total number of cases increased by 6 per cent in the week to September 28 but the number of cases has increased by approximately 50 per cent in the week to October 4, with 3,063 cases notified.
And in Wicklow things have been changing rapidly over the past two weeks.
The latest 14 day rates between September 15 and 28 show in some parts of the county the rate has more than doubled.
While in Bray West the numbers actually dropped slightly from 206.5 cases per 100,000 population to 190.2 there was an increase in Bray East which saw their rate rise from 134.3 to 146.
Elsewhere in the county there was a sharp rise in the Wicklow numbers from just 21.3 to 46.1.
Similarly, Baltinglass has seen a doubling of the incident rate from 22.9 to 57.3 in the space of a fortnight.
There was some good news as the rate in Arklow actually dropped slightly from 22.9 to 19.1 while Greystones remained the same at 68.4.
‘When you look at how the incidence rate of confirmed Covid cases in Wicklow has changed
so rapidly in the space of just two weeks you get a clear picture of why we had to act,’ he said. ‘We have taken the very significant step of moving to Level 3.
‘And while we looked carefully at all the advice and evidence it was the Government’s view that the measures required to move to level 5 have not yet been met. We also believe that to move from Level 2 recommendation on a Thursday to a Level 5 recommendation on a Sunday, to warrant that we would need to have seen an absolute turn in terms of the data over those three days,’ said the minister.
‘While the situation has deteriorated, it has deteriorated to the point that we’re moving to Level 3.
‘We’ve been provided with advice, we’ve taken that advice and we have made what we believe is the best decision for the country and by extension County Wicklow.
‘This pandemic isn’t over because we are tired of living with it,’ said Minister Donnelly.
‘We must behave and interact as though we ourselves have the virus to protect ourselves and our families, so that Covid-19 does not take root in our communities again.
‘Please reduce the number of people you meet to a minimum, keep your distance from others, wash your hands, and wear face coverings. We know how to break the chains of transmission of this virus – stay apart and protect each other.’
At a press conference on Monday night, reporters asked Minister Donnelly who would be responsible if cases and deaths continue to rise, the Government having rejected NPHET’s advice.
‘The virus is responsible, this isn’t an us or them situation,’ he said.
‘The only enemy here is Covid-19. That’s what we’re fighting, that’s why we’re moving to Level 3.’
Minister Donnelly’s remarks came after Taoiseach Micheál Martin addressed the nation, outlining a national move to Level 3 restrictions for a period of three weeks, with measures to increase compliance stepped up.
There is an exponential increase in the rate of transmission right across the country, the Taoiseach said.
‘Until there is an effective vaccine and it has been widely distributed, the virus will continue to have an impact.
‘The most important thing for us all to understand is that what will happen rests in our own hands and in our responsibility to each other. Whether or not you are afraid of the virus every one of us can have an impact on the lives of others.’
THE ONLY ENEMY HERE IS COVID-19. THAT’S WHAT WE’RE FIGHTING, THAT’S WHY WE’RE MOVING TO LEVEL 3