Infection expert warns restrictions will be eased gradually
From this week's Galway City Tribune - Wearing gloves and masks does not give anyone a free pass to ignore the restrictions on movement to slow the spread of Covid-19, insisted the top microbiologist advising the HSE.
Martin Cormican from Galway is the National Clinical Lead for Infection Control at the Health Service Executive and Professor of Bacteriology at NUIG, regularly featuring on national media to answer concerned members of the public directly.
From his home in Clarinbridge, Prof Cormican explained that much of his work in recent years had focused on improving hand hygiene systematically among healthcare professionals and taking appropriate precautions when dealing with patients infected with so-called superbugs.
In the three weeks since all non-essential businesses were closed and people over 70 and with underlying conditions were ordered to cocoon, he says there are encouraging signs that Ireland was starting to reap benefits in terms of the rate of infection compared to other countries.
This is despite a ‘high’ in deaths of 36 on April 8. The highest number of new confirmed cases was announced two days later on Good Friday, when 1,515 were recorded.
“What we’re doing is taking effect but it takes time. People who died got infected probably ten to 14 days ago. Every death is a loss. But it could be a lot worse – it has been a lot worse in other countries.”
But Prof Cormican repeatedly stressed that it is vital that people did not travel further than 2km from their homes or head to rural areas.
“If somebody was infected, it can grow quietly for three to five days, most people don’t get sick for five to seven days after being infected. They mightn’t get symptoms at all but can spread it. If they travel to a new community that has been relatively spared up to this point it will just add to the difficulties,” he pleads. This is a preview version of this article. This week's Galway City Tribune features extensive coverage of the impact of Covid-19 locally, as well as uplifting stories of charity, selflessness and community spirit. Please remember that without advertising revenue and people buying or subscribing to our newspapers, this website, and our Facebook and Twitter pages would not exist. You can buy a digital edition of the Galway City Tribune HERE.