BREAKING: 724 new cases of Coronavirus in Ireland and 43 more deaths
A total of 724 new cases of Coronavirus have been diagnosed in Ireland today. This is an increase on the 12,547 cases from yesterday and takes the overall total to 13,271.
629 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 are reported by Irish laboratories. While an additional 29 confirmed cases of COVID-19 are reported by a laboratory in Germany – this brings the total figure to 13,271.
While now 486 people have died from the disease – an increase of 43 from yesterday. It would be 487 but one of the previous deaths has been declassified as Covid-19.
Eight residents at Laois hospital die from Coronavirus over Easter weekend
Eight residents at St Fintan’s Hospital in Portlaoise passed away from Coronavirus over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
A total of nine people died in the Maryborough Centre in St Fintan’s and all but one of those tested positive for the virus.
You can read the piece in full here.
Laois TD demands clarity for Leaving Cert students
Fianna Fáil TD for Laois-Offaly has called on the Minister for Education to provide full clarity in relation to the rearranged Leaving Certificate exam.
Plans to delay the exams until late July or August were announced last week but students, teachers and parents still have many unanswered questions surrounding the exams.
Deputy Fleming has asked for details of school time, equality and mental health appraisals which informed the plan for July/August.
You can read the piece in full here.
Further support needed for St Fintan’s staff and patients, say Laois-Offaly TD
Sinn Féin TD for Laois-Offaly Brian Stanley is calling on the HSE to do more to protect staff and patients at St Fintan’s Hospital in Portlaoise.
Nine patients died in the residential Maryborough Centre over Easter weekend – with eight of them confirmed as Coroavirus victims.
“The deaths of over one third of the patients last weekend has shocked people in the local community,” said Deputy Stanley in a statement today.
You can read the piece in full here.
HSE release map with locations of Coronavirus cases in Laois
The HSE have released a map containing the rough locations of Coronavirus cases in Ireland. The map is marked with red dots where confirmed cases of the virus have been diagnosed up to Monday, April 13.
The map, which they say is rough, also shows the locations in Laois. Portlaoise is the area with the greatest amount of red dots and as it is the most densely populated area in the county – this is not surprising.
And the trend continues into the next biggest towns with clusters occurring in Portarlington and Mountmellick. The map would also appear to show that there are a number of cases in the Stradbally area.
You can also see on the map that there are a number of cases in Carlow town, with a part of that crossing the Laois border into Graiguecullen.
‘A tragedy in our community’ says Minister Flanagan in relation to St Fintan’s deaths
Minister for Justice and Laois-Offaly TD Charlie Flanagan has said that heart-breaking deaths in St Fintan’s Hospital in Portlaoise “underline the devastating effect of the Covid-19 virus”.
Nine patients died in the residential Maryborough Centre in St Fintan’s Hospital over Easter weekend, eight of whom had been diagnosed with Coronavirus.
The other 17 patients are being treated as if they have the condition, even if they haven’t been tested.
Studying during Coronavirus: Portlaoise CBS student on prepping for state exams in a pandemic
“If we can not sit our exams in late July or early August I would personally prefer to just predict grades” says Stradbally native and Portlaoise CBS student Darragh Carolan.
“This would finish the school year and relieve students of a mountain of stress.”
You can read the piece in full here.
Canney Commends Anglers who are respecting Covid 19 measures and helping to save lives urges all to abide by Public Health Measures
Sean Canney TD, Minister with responsibility for the Inland Fisheries Sector has commended the action of the vast majority of anglers during the Covid-19 measures and urged all to continue to respect the current measures and #stayathome.
Minister Canney said that ‘angling is an activity that brings physical and mental benefits and can be practiced safely in these unprecedented times. I commend the vast majority of our anglers who have lead by example but I urge those all who wish to engage in angling to do so following the advice set out by the health authorities and reflected in guidelines set out by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) on March 28th”. “I appreciate that anglers will be itching to get out on our world-class rivers and lakes but, if that involves travel, now is not the time – stay within 2km of your home”, he added.
Tweet of the Day:
FUNKY MONKEY – €5.00
FUNKY MONKEY – €5.00
FUNKY MONKEY – €5.00
FUNKY MONKEY – €5.00
EMBER PORTL – €13,457.78 https://t.co/gtxACg1Zc5— Adam (@AdamStafff) April 14, 2020
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