As the government announced tighter restrictions on communities after a spike in Coronavirus cases, Limerick was dealing with further outbreaks of the deadly virus.
The Limerick Post can reveal that University Hospital Limerick (UHL), Hanratty’s Direct Provision Centre and St Patrick’s GAA Club are the latest to be hit by Covid-19.
As UHL announced measures to tackle an outbreak of the virus on one of its medical wards, the HSE confirmed it was in the process of managing another Covid-19 cluster at a direct provision centre in the city.
The HSE told the Limerick Post that a letter sent to residents at Hanratty’s Hostel was “a standard letter that we use when there is a number of cases in a congregated setting”.
Management at the centre, located on Glentworth Street, which had 212 residents on the books, declined to comment.
St Patrick’s GAA Club, meanwhile, joined a growing list of local sports clubs who had announced they were testing or had players test positive for Covid-19, including Claughaun, Ahane and Cratloe GAA clubs as well as Shannon, Old Crescent and Munster Rugby.
On Wednesday morning, St Patrick’s confirmed that “a player from an adult group, who trained with others in an outdoor setting” had contracted the virus.
The player is considered low/casual risk and the club is working with the HSE and the Limerick County Board to deal with the issue.
An outbreak control team was established at UHL after two Covid-19 cases, involving a patient and a staff member, were confirmed on Tuesday.
Staff who have been identified as contacts were asked to self-isolate while further testing and contact tracing continued.
Meanwhile, in what was a first for fee-paying Glenstal Abbey School, international pupils were welcomed into a period of self-isolation in Murroe, ahead of the start of the new school term.
“The first of our students from outside Ireland have been arriving over the weekend, to spend their 14-day period of restricted movement here in Glenstal. It is great to see students back in our school at last! #iloveboarding #growatglenstal,” Glenstal tweeted.
