03/12/2020 - Appeal to Keep up our Guard and Continue to Protect Lives and Our Communities

Appeal to Keep up our Guard and Continue to Protect Lives and Our Communities

We need to Stop the Spread of Covid-19

From the HSE, An Garda Síochána and Donegal County Councils

The incidence rate of COVID19 in counties Donegal has come down very slightly in recent weeks. This is welcome but as the country has now moved from level 5 to level 3 restrictions it is more important now than ever that we continue to build upon this good work.  It is difficult but we need to keep up our guard, play our part and work with our families and communities to stop the spread of Covid-19.

In the last 14 days to the 1st of December there were:

• 338 new positive cases in Donegal
• 212.3 cases of Covid-19 per 100,0000 of the population is the 14-Day incidence rate in Donegal. This far exceeds the national 14-Day incidence rate of 84.7 cases per 100,000 of the population.

The HSE’s hospital and community services, in Donegal County Council and An Garda Síochána are working together through emergency management structures to co-ordinate the community response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. They wish to issue an ongoing appeal to the citizens of Donegal to continue to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Dr Anthony Breslin, Director of Public Health in the North West stated “As we move out of level 5 into level 3 restrictions and we prepare for Christmas, I would urge everyone to go about their daily lives in a safe manner. Please make sure you social distance, wear a face covering and wash your hands and follow coughing or sneezing etiquettes. We know these measures work”.

“Please also prioritise who you plan to meet as this is our first winter with Covid and the risks of transmission in winter months are high. Until we have a vaccine and better protection of our vulnerable population, we cannot afford to let our guard down.”    

Sean Murphy, Letterkenny University Hospital Manager said, “We know the incidence of COVID-19 is very high in the community in County Donegal and on behalf of LUH I cannot emphasise enough how critical it is for all of us to follow the HSE’s public health advice”.

Chief Superintendent for the Donegal Garda Division, and Chair of the North West Major Emergency Management Interagency Group Terry McGinn said “An Garda Síochána are appealing to the public over the next number of weeks to stay at home unless their journey is absolutely essential. We are asking the public to drive down the virus by thinking twice before driving for non-essential purposes. We need to heed the public health advice to not have visitors to our homes, outside of any necessary visitors in a support bubble, until the 18^th of December.”  

The Chief Executive of Donegal County Council Mr John McLaughlin said “As restrictions are eased It is up to every person, individually, to remain alert to the spread of this disease, to assess the risk that is involved in any social activity. We acknowledge that is a difficult time for people.  If anyone needs assistance, I would ask them to call the Covid 19 Community Helpline.”