Due to the sheer volume of notices in relation to the Coronavirus, we can’t do an individual story on each one.
So we are compiling a daily bulletin that includes updates from various community groups, clubs and organisations.
The noticeboard will be published on LaoisToday and shared on our social media every evening.
295 new cases; 8 more deaths
A total 295 of new cases of Coronavirus have been diagnosed in Ireland today.
This is an increase on the 2,615 cases from yesterday and takes the overall total to 2,910.
While now 54 people have died from the disease – an increase of eight from yesterday.
You can read the full detail from Alan Hartnett’s daily update here.
In Pictures: Portlaoise Hospital triple number of ICU beds as Coronavirus pandemic continues
Portlaoise Hospital has trebled the amount of beds it has in their Intensive Care Unit as staff and management brace themselves to deliver critical care to patients who have been hospitalised with Coronavirus.
Sandra McCarthy, the Director of Nursing in Portlaoise General Hospital, explained on social media last week that staff have vacated the staff room and offices to create additional isolation facilities.
HSE sources confirmed to LaoisToday that prior to this, Portlaoise had two ICU beds.
However, they have now increased capacity to six as they brace themselves for the worst of this pandemic.
Tullamore Show cancelled
Day by day more events are being cancelled.
Today’s big announcement concerns the Tullamore Show, the hugely popular and well-attended one-day agricultural show in Tullamore in August.
Rodney Cox, the chairperson of the Tullamore Show, confirmed to AgriLand that the show – originally set for August 9 this year – is cancelled and that the 2021 show will take place on August 8 next year.
Cox explained to this publication that one of the key reasons that the committee made the decision to cancel the show was to be “respectful to the other shows”.
“It wouldn’t be fair for us to pick a date later in the year and clash with another show. We’re all in this together. We enjoy the relationship with the other shows.”
You can read the full story on Agriland here.
Ryan Tubridy tests positive for Coronavirus
RTÉ presenter Ryran Tubridy has tested positive for coronavirus, RTÉ has said.
Tubridy has been self-isolating after symptoms of a persistent cough; he hasn’t presented his RTÉ Radio programme or the Late Late Show since he had these symptoms.
Ryan Tubridy said; “Like so many other people in Ireland, I tested positive but I was in the very fortunate position to have a very unintrusive experience, which I now have come to the end of.
Private hospitals to be leased for duration of Coronavirus crisis
The Taoiseach has announced that private hospitals will be leased for use as public hospitals for the duration of the Covid-19 outbreak in Ireland, treating both patients who have the virus and those with other non-related illnesses.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Health Minister Simon Harris today announced a new public private partnership between the HSE and the Private Hospitals’ Association.
The arrangement will be in place for an initial three-month period, with an option to extend it after that on a mutually-agreed basis.
The private hospital sector, which is made up of 19 hospitals, has an estimated bed capacity of 1,900 inpatient beds, 600 day beds as well as 47 ICU and 54 HDU beds.
Japanese figures?
A spike in Tokyo’s coronavirus cases following the postponement of the Olympics has raised questions as to whether Japan purposely understated the extent of the outbreak in the hope the games would run as scheduled.
Meanwhile, the Olympics will take place between 23 July and 8 August next year.
The International Olympic Committee confirmed the news this afternoon, which followed a meeting of the Tokyo 2020 organising committee.
The Paralympic Games, meanwhile, will take place from 24 August to 5 September 2021.
Irish Open in Mount Juliet postponed
The Irish Open has become the latest sporting event to be postponed due to the spread of Coronavirus.
The European Tour announced this afternoon that the Dubai Duty-sponsored event has been deferred after being scheduled to take place at Mount Juliet Estate in Kilkenny from 28-31 May with 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell as host.
A decision on when to reschedule the tournament is yet to be made with the European Tour stating they will wait until they ‘have clarity on the global situation’ in relation to postponed tournaments.
Grealish apologises after crashing car during lockdown
Grealish apologises after crashing car during lockdownAston Villa captain Jack Grealish has issued a public apology following an incident that saw him break the coronavirus lockdown in Britain before being involved in a minor car crash.
The English international, who played at underage level for Ireland, crashed his car on Sunday morning.
According to the Press Association, West Midlands Police said they were called just before 10am on Sunday to the Dickens Heath area of Solihull, where the two parked cars suffered minor damage.
The force said the driver left his details with a member of the public before leaving on foot.
The incident came less than 24 hours after Grealish urged people to stay in doors during the lockdown.
Wife in the boot; windows in the car
A driver in the UK defied the Coronavirus lockdown to pick up £15 windows with his wife in the boot of his car.
The man, who had bought the windows on eBay, was stopped by police on the M6 in Cheshire on Sunday after collecting his purchase in Salford.
Police said his wife had to sit in the boot as she “could not fit in the vehicle” for the return journey to Coventry.
North West Motorway Police issued the man with a traffic offence report.
You can read the full story on the BBC website here.
Studying during Coronavirus: Portlaoise CBS on prepping for state exams
In the first part of our series chatting to students who are trying to prepare for their state exams amid this uncertain period, we chat to Portlaoise CBS student and Stradbally native Eamonn Delaney.
You can read the piece in full here.
Laois school launch online well-being week for students
Dunamase College, a multidenominational, bilingual secondary school in Portlaoise, is launching an online well-being week from today to support students who cannot come to school while the country comes together to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Dunamase College, which has an Irish language stream and an English language stream, learning through technology is something they do everyday.
You can read the piece in full here.
Kelton Cleaners open for business in Lyster Square in Portlaoise
Laundrettes are among the businesses that permitted to stay open during the Coronavirus restrictions – and Kelton Cleaners in Lyster Square in Portlaoise is open to meet the needs of its customers at this time.
Located opposite the libary in Lyster Square, Kelton Cleaners is open Monday to Saturday, from 12noon to 4pm offering:
- Dry Cleaning
- Wash and Dry
- Ironing Service
The cleaners in Mountmellick and on the Dublin Road owned by Stapo Browne are closed at this time. They will open again on Tuesday, April 14.
Sorry for any inconvenience caused.
Contact 087 2651930 for collection and delivery.
Telfords in Portlaoise and Mountrath: We will supply goods for EMERGENCY PURPOSES ONLY
Following the Government announcement on Friday evening last both Portlaoise and Mountrath are now closed with the exception of delivery for EMERGENCY PURPOSES ONLY.
We will continue to supply goods that are for EMERGENCY PURPOSES ONLY!
If you need an emergency delivery, please TEXT the details of 087 9448265 or email info@telfords.ie or order online at www.telfordselectric.ie.
A member of staff will come back to you as soon as possible.
Worth a read – Coranavirus cluster in US choir
The LA Times have a fascinating – and worrying piece – about a choir in Washington whose rehearsal on March 10 was attended by 60 members.
Less than three weeks later 45 of them have been diagnosed with Coronavirus, three have been hospitalised and two are dead.
You can read the full piece here on the LA Times website.
SEE ALSO – Coronavirus Daily Update – Sunday, March 29, 2020
