Kildare will remain closed for an additional two weeks. Offaly and Laoise back to normal
Kildare: Laoise and Offaly counties have been completely excluded from the local lockdown announced in view of the Covid spread. Meanwhile, lockdown in Kildare has been extended for another two weeks as there were no significant reduction in virus spread.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has announced that the Covid-19 regulatory exemptions announced for Laoise and Offaly have immediately taken effect.
The 14-day infection rate in Ireland is 27 per lakh in the country. But, Donnelly said that the rate in Kildare is 200 per lakh. Therefore, the travel restrictions on Kildare will be extended for two more weeks. Most cafes and restaurants will be closed, except for takeaways and limited outdoor dining.
Theaters, museums, bingo halls, leisure centers, swimming pools, gymnasiums and studios are not allowed to open. In the last 14 days, 455 cases were reported in Kildare, 81 in Offaly and 41 in Laoise.
Although the lockdown has been announced, Donnelly said schools in Kildare will reopen as early as next week as previously planned. The health minister said it’s a relief that the country’s number of Covid cases is on the increase but at a low pace.
Of the 79 cases newly reported yesterday, 43 were in Dublin and 9 in Kildare.
The Acting Medical Officer, Dr. Ronan Glynn conveyed thanks to the people of three counties since they obeyed the control measures.
“Teachers and students alike are concerned about the return of children to school,” he said. But there is no basis for concern, he added.
Glynn clarified that it has been shown that the virus is not usually transmitted from children to children or adults.
Kildare’s TD, Martin Hayden told that, weeks of lockdown had posed difficulties to people. However, he said the people of the county were once again ready to follow government directives for the good of all.
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