Council Called On To Convene Emergency Committee Over Coronavirus Outbreak

Clare County Council’s being called on to convene it’s emergency committee today, to discuss whether St. Patrick’s Day parades here will go ahead.

A number of events have been cancelled in the county, as the number of confirmed cases of COVID 19 nationally continues to rise.

But the county’s largest parade is currently still going ahead, as things stand.

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A decision on whether St Patrick’s Day celebrations will be allowed to go ahead nationally is due to be made in the coming 48 hours.

Kilkee and Miltown Malbay are the latest parades to be cancelled, adding to the already announced cancellations in Ennistymon, Liscannor, Lisdoonvarna and Fanore.

Anne Pilkington is a member of the organising committee there – she’s explained the reasons behind their decision.

Other events in Clare have also been called off, owing to the virus.

Organisers of an historical talk in Miltown Malbay tomorrow night and an event with Eugene Lambe in Corofin on Thursday have told Clare FM they’re cancelling the events as a precaution.

Buts it stands, the county’s largest parade in Ennis is due to go ahead, with Clare County Council saying in a press release today that in excess of ten thousand people expected to line the streets of the county town.

The Council, who organise the Ennis parade, has told Clare FM it will continue to follow the advice of the HSE and national agencies.

The March meeting of Clare County Council is taking place this afternoon but Kilrush Independent Councillor Ian Lynch is calling on the local authority to convene its Emergency Committee ahead of that.

He says it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Meanwhile, the family at the centre of Clare’s first confirmed cases of COVID-19 are said to be recovering well in hospital.

The four cases were confirmed last Wednesday – one of those concerned is a healthcare professional.

Miltown Malbay GP Dr Billy O’Connell knows the individuals concerned and has told Clare FM;s Morning Focus that after they returned from holiday in Northern Italy, the healthcare professional was given clearance to go back to work.

He says that was because the area they had stayed in was not an area of concern at that time.