COVID-19 CURRENT RESTRICTIONS DUE FOR REVIEW BY NPHET TODAY

The National Public Health Emergency Team will meet this morning to review the impact of Covid-19 and the existing measures in place to limit the spread of the disease. Restrictions are due to expire next Tuesday, 5 May, but no decision on lifting any of them is expected until another meeting of the group on Friday. A further drop in the incidence of the virus would be an essential part of any move to ease certain measures. New figures show that there are 752 patients in acute hospitals with Covid-19 and another 314 patients suspected of having the virus.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/concern-about-slowing-improvement-rate-as-public-patience-wearing-thin-with-lockdown-996419.html
Yesterday saw one of the lowest increases in daily cases reported in a week with 18 deaths, bringing the overall total to 1,102. 

From today, the criteria for eligibility for testing is being widened, so that a patient need only have one of three key symptoms - a fever, cough, or shortness of breath. Priority for testing will continue to be given to healthcare staff, those with conditions that make them especially vulnerable and close contacts of confirmed cases. Health officials will be watching closely to see how this widening of testing criteria affects the daily number of confirmed cases. Elsewhere, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Health Simon Harris will update the Cabinet today on the Covid-19 crisis.

---

Read:
Latest coronavirus stories 

https://www.reuters.com/news/world 

https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0428/1135225-covid19-coronavirus-world/  

https://www.bbc.com/news


(YOUR HELPLINE LINKS):

https://www.drugfreeworld.org/ & www.drugs.ie & www.drugscope.org.uk & www.spunout.org & www.childline.org.uk/ & www.youngminds.org.uk/  & https://www.cybersafeireland.org/about-us/

https://www.womensaid.ie/

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/getting-help-for-domestic-violence/

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.