HEALTH bosses have confirmed 2,605 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland today.
As of 8am today, there were 487 Covid-19 patients in hospital, of which 99 are in ICU.
Meanwhile, parents have been urged to not bring their children trick-or-treating this Halloween if they display symptoms of Covid-19.
But NPHET have still given the go ahead for most of the Halloween celebrations as planned this weekend.
During yesterday’s briefing, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said: “I think it comes back to the basic measures, people can trick or treat, things they would normally do at Halloween but maybe don’t do it every day over the weekend.”
But the health chief noted there was a “key message” that NPHET wanted to remind parents about.
HIGH INCIDENCE
Dr Glynn added: “Maybe don’t meet up with multiple groups of children over the weekend and the core and key message and it will mean some children are very disappointed, but if you have a sick child then please isolate them and don’t let them mix with other children.
“It’s not a message that any of us want to be giving or a message parents want to hear but we do need to take the basic precautions.”
Most read in The Irish Sun
The Deputy CMO continued: “If your children are going on playdates or engaging in sport, think about all of the other activities they’re engaging in and just see do they need to be engaging in everything that they’re engaging in, given how high incidence is in the country at the moment.
“On the other hand, if we do take the basic precautions, there’s no reason that people can’t do the things they normally do at Halloween.”
This comes as a further 1,631 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed yesterday, with 503 patients in hospitals, of which 101 are in ICU.
And CMO Dr Tony Holohan warned yesterday that the high community incidence “threatens all settings” of society.
DOCTOR FEARS
Meanwhile, Irish GPs have expressed concern over infections in children that could be masking the coronavirus.
Doctors have reported a marked increase in the number of children with upper respiratory tract infections, and say they are worried this is masking the true number of virus cases.
And today, a GP from Waterford said children could have between six to eight respiratory tract infections over the course of the winter.
Speaking to RTE’s Morning Ireland, Dr Austin Byrne said parents who are being repeatedly asked to isolate children are in a very difficult situation.
And the GP added that it is becoming more difficult for parents to go for a PCR test and exclude their child from school or creche.
FAMILY PRESSURES
Dr Byrne said: “We have a real mismatch between the social need for solidarity, and the pressure comes upon parents and families to meet the needs of society. So it really is a difficult place that they’re in at the minute.”
Meanwhile, a GP based in Galway also said on the same programme that there has been an increased presentation of young children with respiratory illnesses over the last number of weeks.
Dr Martin Daly said he has noticed an increase of Covid fatigue among parents, who are now more hesitant to get their children tested due to the logistical difficulties if a test is positive.
He added that there is a number of viruses circulating and many are interchange and mimic each other, adding that “we are going to have a difficult winter”.