1,000 Covid cases recorded in mid west over past 14 days, causes concern for potential serious surge of virus

coronavirus
Stock photo: CDC/Unsplash.
DESPITE the continuing rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, the virus shows no immediate sign of abating in the mid west where almost 1,000 new cases have been recorded over the past 14 days, according to figures released by the Department of Public Health Mid West.

 

Over the two-week period 998 cases were recorded across Limerick (624), Clare (188), and North Tipperary (186), bringing the total number of cases in the region since May 16 to 4,457.

The build up of cases (over 220 were recorded in the region at the weekend) has sparked concern among Limerick public health officials of a potential surge in the virus with many on Shannonside expected to host private social gatherings to mark Limerick’s appearance in next Sunday’s All Ireland Hurling Final at Croke Park.

Limerick GAA, Limerick City and County Council, An Garda Siochana, the HSE, and Public Health Mid West, are to release a joint statement tomorrow urging GAA supporters to “behave sensibly”.

The joint statement will also ask those operating in the hospitality sector to continue to stick to public health guidelines around COVID-19 to prevent a potential serious outbreak of the virus.

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Informed sources said they did not expect a traditional open-top bus style homecoming would take place in the Treaty City, should Limerick claim their second All-Ireland hurling title in a row next Sunday, however ways of celebrating in an outdoor setting were still being reviewed.

The reigning Limerick champions face Cork in an all-Munster final at Croke Park on August 22.

Meanwhile, a public health source said: “The allure of that type of event would not be good.”

The 1,000 cases identified over the past 14 days is seen as “a worrying trend” and even though vaccines continue to be rolled out, “there is still a lot of people who don’t have the vaccine or who are not yet fully vaccinated”, they added.

“Due to the transmissibility of the Delta variant there is still a high risk for people who aren’t yet vaccinated or who have yet to be fully vaccinated. Remember, it still takes between seven and 14 days for people to be fully vaccinated after their second jab, depending on the type of vaccine they have had.”

Public Health Mid West stated last Friday, that because “the vast majority of new cases have multiple exposures and close contacts, our ability to map the disease is becoming more difficult”.

Dr Marie Casey, a local specialist in public health medicine warned: “We should not be taking chances with COVID-19 as it could cause considerable disruption to our everyday lives if an infection does occur.”

On August 15, University Hospital Limerick (UHL), the region’s largest hospital, was treating the second highest number of Covid patients (21) in the country and was awaiting test results for 53 patients suspected of having the virus, the largest number of suspected cases in any hospital.

There were four general beds available in UHL and three intensive care unit beds available with three COVID patients being treated in the Limerick ICU.

There were zero general beds available in Kilkenny, St Vincent’s, Tallaght, and Tipperary, and zero ICU beds available at Cavan; Cork University Hospital; Mater; Mayo University Hospital; Mercy University Hospital; Naas General; Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan; Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise; Sligo University Hospital; St Vincent’s Hospital; Tipperary; University Hospital Kerry, according to HSE figures for August 15.

The Mater hospital and Galway University Hospital were each treating the most number of Covid patients (6); St James’s Hospital, and Beaumont Hospital (4); University Hospital Limerick, St Vincent’s, Sligo, Connolly (3).

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