Monday, 27 April 2020

COVID-19 CRISIS IMPACTING SOME PEOPLE MORE THAN OTHERS

UPDATED LINKS: The organisation representing people with intellectual disabilities and their families will meet Minister for Health Simon Harris today, amid continuing concern about outbreaks of Covid-19 in long-term residential care homes. Inclusion Ireland said it is concerned about a lack of reporting of the number of people with disabilities within institutions who have died from Covid-19. The organisation said there are almost 3,000 people with intellectual disabilities living in institutional settings in Ireland. Its chief executive, Enda Egan, said this was a very anxious and worrying time for them and their families. The organisation wants assurances that the number of people with disabilities in institutions who die from Covid-19 will be reported and that families will be kept informed if there is an outbreak in a facility.

The minister said last night he wanted to see what could be done to support organisations representing those with disabilities. Health Service Executive Chief Operations Officer Anne O'Connor said the executive was providing supports to 285 nursing homes, 82 disability services and 33 mental health services. She said staff and other supports had been deployed to deal with the very significant challenges. The latest figures from the HSE show more than 1,000 people are in hospital with confirmed or suspected cases of Covid-19. At least 133 are in intensive care and there are just over 150 critical care beds still available.
Walkers On The Summit of Howth Head. With The Bailey Lighthouse 
In The Foreground County Dublin, Ireland.
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The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has made a number of recommendations to ensure human rights are upheld in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Last Friday, the IHREC met as part of its ongoing consideration of the human rights and equality implications of the Covid-19 crisis. Arising from its deliberations, the commission made recommendations and said it intends to pursue some matters. The commission considers that more information is required to assess whether new powers under emergency legislation introduced in response to Covid-19 are being exercised proportionately, and whether they are being implemented in line with human rights and equality principles.

CENTRAL TO THE RIGHTS ENJOYED BY HUMANS
IS THE RIGHT TO USE A TOILET.
The independent body plans to contact Garda Commissioner Drew Harris for detailed data to consider how the implementation of the legislation is impacting people in different sectors of society. It has also called for parliamentary oversight of the implementation of emergency legislation introduced in response to Covid-19. Failing that, it has called on an Oireachtas Committee to examine this.

In line with its mandate to keep law and practice as they relate to human rights and equality under review, the IHREC will keep the exercise of emergency legislation and other State responses to the Covid-19 crisis under active review. Following the commission's meeting on Friday, Acting Chief Commissioner Tony Geoghegan said that the Covid-19 crisis has impacted some members of our society more acutely than others. S"As we move into a phase where we are going to be living with the threat of this virus for some time, it is critical that the principle of equality and the dignity afforded by human rights are central to efforts to keep people safe and healthy," he added.
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Later this week Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is expected to finally outline the roadmap for relaxing lockdown restrictions. https://www.independent.ie/


However, Covid-19 restrictions may not ease at all - or only very slightly - on May 5.

Cormac McQuinn outlines the key factors involved in any decision to roll back on the rules - and why we’re not quite there yet.

GPs Dr Caroline Cowley and her husband Dr Hugh Ó Faoláin have both recovered from Covid-19. They are among the frontline workers who share their stories of life in the eye of the pandemic.

Marianne Heron writes about her frustration with the language used in relation to older people and Covid-19 and argues that the coronavirus stereotype may have a dangerous impact on their mental and physical wellbeing.

And Liadan Hayes reports on the tension that exists for women between being seen, and being safe, and why the coronavirus crisis may be making things worse.

Read:

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If you or someone you know has been affected by mental health issues you can contact:

·                  Samaritans - 116 123, text 087 2609090 or email jo@samaritans.ie

·                  Pieta House (Suicide & Self-harm) - 1800 247 247 or 01 623 5606

·                  Aware (Depression, Bi-Polar Disorder & Anxiety) - 1800 80 48 48

·                  Grow (Mental Health support & Recovery) - 1890 474 474

·                  Bodywhys (Eating Disorders Associations of Ireland) - 1890 200 444

·                  Childline (for under 18s)

·                   

·                   - 1800 66 66 66.
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