Inishowen Garda Inspector urges people to ‘stay at home’ and heed Covid 19 restrictions

Inishowen’s Garda Inspector has urged people ‘now, more than ever,’ to stay at home and heed Covid 19 regulations and public health advice.

Garda Sean Grant was speaking as over 120 people were being treated at Letterkenny University Hospital for symptoms of Covid 19,with six in critical care.

He also confirmed that a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to a business premises in the Inishowen area for alleged nonadherence with Covid 19 guidance.

Insp. Grant said Gardai ‘had reason to attend’ the premises recently.

Inspector Grant urged people to ‘stay at home,’ unless it is for a specified essential journey.

“Now, more than ever, we need people to adhere to the regulations and public health advice.”

He added that anyone in the community who feels isolated or vulnerable can reach out to Gardai and they are ‘there to help.’

Additionally, Insp. Grant stressed that the travel restrictions do not apply to those trying to escape violence or harm.

He stated anyone in this situation can also reach out to Gardai for help and support. (Buncrana Gardai can be contacted on 00353 74 93 20002.)

Nationally, over 400 fines have been issued by Gardai for non-essential travel since January 11.

Inspector Grant said that Inishowen Gardai, like their fellow colleagues, adopt the ‘4 Es’ of Engage, Explain, Encourage and then Enforce, and would issue Fixed Charge Penalty Notices to those who show a ‘blatant disregard for regulations.’

The most recent Local Electoral Area figures have shown that Covid 19 cases in Inishowen increased in the two weeks from December 29 to January 11.

In those two weeks, North Inishowen, with a population of 16,964 recorded 184 cases and has a 14 day incidence rate of 1084.6 per 100k of population. This is lower than the national rate of 1410.3 but is double the rate of the figure published the week previously, up to January 4, when 88 cases were recorded and the incidence rate was 495.2 per 100k.

South Inishowen, with a population of 22,366 recorded 229 cases up to January 11 at an incidence rate of 1023.9, up from 158 cases and an incidence rate of 706.4 per 100k.

The data may not include any backlog cases not reported to that date and include cases reported around the country after Christmas and New Year. The figures can be found on www.covid19ireland-geohive.hub.args.com

Figures from the Central Statistics Office also confirmed there have been 73 Covid 19 confirmed deaths in Donegal since the start of the pandemic. The median age of those who died was 83 and there were six deaths in the week of November 27.

Meanwhile, the HSE’s Daily Operations Update for January 17 confirmed there were 113 patients diagnosed with Covid 19 in Letterkenny University Hospital and five in critical care. To date, there have been 77, 303 people vaccinated across the country.