Clare public urged to stay home and avoid socialising with cold and flu symptoms

THE DEPARTMENT of Public Health Mid-West (PHMW) is appealing to the people of Limerick, Clare, and North Tipperary to stay at home and to avoid socialising if they are showing signs of cold and flu.

The Mid-West region is seeing a significant rise in respiratory infections, and this is having a considerable negative impact on our health service, which is experiencing unprecedented levels of pressure.

Social activity and attending work while unwell will increase the risk of outbreaks in the community and in healthcare settings.

COVID-19 and flu are widely circulating in the community, which means outbreaks are more likely to occur in congregate or busy healthcare settings, including hospitals and long-term care facilities.

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PHMW is investigating more than 15 COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities, involving more than 200 cases among residents and staff - four long-term care facilities have more than 20 cases.

Area director of PHMW Dr Mai Mannix said: “The nature and reality of respiratory diseases is that continued social activity throughout the festive season has likely led to significant transmission in households, and indoor and family gatherings during Christmas.

“We are likely to have higher numbers of people with flu and COVID-19 for the next few weeks throughout January, which will have an impact on our health service.

“However, we can reduce this burden by staying at home if we are unwell, availing of COVID-19 and flu vaccines, and avoid visiting vulnerable or elderly relatives if unwell,” Dr Mannix said.

In the past seven days, Public Health Mid-West has been notified of 582 COVID-19 cases in Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary - more than double the level in the week before Christmas Day.

To be protected, people are being urged to keep up-to-date with their free COVID-19 booster vaccines.

Those aged 18-49 can now get a second booster dose – you can book an appointment for this online.

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You can get a flu vaccine from your GP or pharmacy. There is also a free nasal spray flu vaccine available for children aged 2-17 years.

PHMW are also urging the public to consider all healthcare alternatives to the emergency department (ED). Less acutely unwell patients are asked to first consider injury units, GPs, out-of-hours GP services and pharmacists before attending ED.

Injury Units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s are operating as normal.

Opening hours for Ennis and Nenagh Injury Units are 8am - 8pm and St John’s Injury Unit 8am-7pm.