By Michelle Devane, PA
Restrictions on household visits and on the hospitality sector could be introduced before New Yearâs Eve, the Taoiseach has said.
Micheál Martin said the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) had recommended that stricter restrictions be introduced before the end of the year as case numbers continue to rise.
Mr Martin said he was âworriedâ by the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in recent days and the Government would take Nphetâs recommendation âvery seriouslyâ.
âThe anticipated period of going from tomorrow to the 6th of January will be shortened,â he told RTÃ on Thursday night.
UPDATE 1-Northern Ireland hospital treating patients in parked ambulances Reuters 12/15/2020
(Adds DUP comment)
DUBLIN, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Patients were being treated in the back of ambulances in a Northern Ireland hospital car park on Tuesday, a health official said, a day after a warning that COVID-19 was putting healthcare under unbearable pressures .
The British-run region has been in and out of some form of lockdown since mid-October when it was one of Europe s worst COVID-19 hotbeds. The most recent curbs were lifted last week, when all shops, restaurants and pubs serving food reopened.
While those measures slowed the spread of COVID-19, cases have risen in the last week and are at their highest in Mid and East Antrim, near Antrim Area Hospital where Irish broadcaster RTE showed footage of ambulances lined up with their engines on to keep patients warm inside.
CORRECTED-Northern Ireland hospital treating patients in parked ambulances reuters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reuters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
(Adds DUP comment)
DUBLIN, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Patients were being treated in the back of ambulances in a Northern Ireland hospital car park on Tuesday, a health official said, a day after a warning that COVID-19 was putting healthcare under unbearable pressures .
The British-run region has been in and out of some form of lockdown since mid-October when it was one of Europe s worst COVID-19 hotbeds. The most recent curbs were lifted last week, when all shops, restaurants and pubs serving food reopened.
While those measures slowed the spread of COVID-19, cases have risen in the last week and are at their highest in Mid and East Antrim, near Antrim Area Hospital where Irish broadcaster RTE showed footage of ambulances lined up with their engines on to keep patients warm inside.
BBC News
Published
image captionDr Michael Watt worked at the Royal Victoria Hospital as a neurologist
The Independent Neurological Inquiry (INI), established after concerns were raised about potential misdiagnoses by neurologist Dr Michael Watt, has been converted to a public inquiry .
Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann said he had advised the assembly on the matter.
Dr Watt was at the centre of Northern Ireland s biggest ever patient recall, involving approximately 3,000 patients linked to his work at Belfast s Royal Victoria Hospital.
The INI was established in May 2018.
Mr Swann said Brett Lockhart QC will remain as the chair of the inquiry, supported by Professor Hugo Mascie-Taylor as an Inquiry Panel Member.