Public Health Measures

The special health measures that were in place in Kildare were lifted on the 31^st August. We are, however, still experiencing some increases in the rate of COVID around the country. Advice and restrictions are continuously being reviewed with recommendations being made by NPHET and the Government. These measures aim to protect our priorities – caring for vulnerable people, keeping health services open and getting children back to education.

You can view the latest national public health measures here.

Protecting your Child from COVID-19

COVID-19 can affect children as well as adults, but cases of coronavirus are much less common in children. Children generally get a milder infection than adults or older people. Often, they have no symptoms. Children have rarely been the person who brought coronavirus into a household when household spread has happened. They are less likely than adults to spread infection to other people. You can find out more about protecting your child from coronavirus here.

For more information and resources for schools and parents, please see:
www.gov.ie/backtoschool

For more information on protecting your child from COVID-19, please see:www.gov.ie/adviceforparents

Updated COVID-19 Advice Posters for Entering a Building, GP Surgery or Pharmacy

Updated posters have been created and can be used by GP surgeries, pharmacies and other buildings/places where visitors should be alerted not to enter if they have COVID-19 symptoms. The posters are available under the ‘Posters’ drop down menu available here.

COVID-19 Video for Members of the Roma Community

A new video has been made for members of the Roma Community explaining what to do if travelling into Ireland from another country.

Escape Your Chair Campaign

The Irish Heart Foundation’s Escape Your Chair Heart Month campaign supported by HSE Health & Wellbeing is calling on the nation to Escape Your Chair by moving for a minute each hour during the day. A survey conducted by Ipsos MRBI in early August found that more than half of all Irish workers are now working from home, with 53% of them sitting down for longer than when they commuted to work. While one in four are remaining sedentary for at least three hours longer than when they commuted to work. The evidence shows that being sedentary for long periods of time increases your risk of developing heart disease.

For more information about the campaign visit: www.EscapeYourChair.ie and for tips about maintaining a healthy heart while working from home go to: https://bit.ly/2EV70MW

New Emergency Card Scheme for Family Carers

Family Carers Ireland (FCI), in partnership with An Garda Siochana, the National Ambulance Service Community First Responder Schemes, The Irish Red Cross and The Order of Malta has developed a new Emergency Card Scheme for family carers.  If a family carer is involved in an accident, has an unplanned hospital admission or is suddenly taken ill, there is a risk that the person who needs their care and support could be left at home alone and uncared for. The Emergency Card Scheme (free to family carers with access to a 24/7 emergency helpline) is intended to give peace of mind to family carers as well as ensuring that the person they care for remains safe in such emergencies. It involves completion of an Emergency Care plan by the family carer including nominating two people (family members/friends) to take over their caring role in such an emergency and the issuing by FCI of an Emergency Card to family carers who sign up to the scheme.

To download the Emergency Care Plan please click on the following link: https://familycarers.ie/media/1986/family-carers-ireland-emergency-plan.pdf or for more details on the scheme please go to www.familycarers.ie or call Family Carer’s Ireland Freephone Careline 1800 24 07 24. The scheme is kindly supported by Irish Life and the dormant accounts fund.

Public Health Information:

As always, for the most up to date information and advice on Coronavirus, please go to: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/c36c85-covid-19-coronavirus/ and https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/. Clinical and professional guidance relating to COVID-19 is available on www.hpsc.ie where you’ll find up to date guidance for healthcare settings and non-clinical settings. Please also check here for the most up to date partner resources for COVID-19.