Waterford is at "a critical juncture" with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The city and county has seen an alarming rise in the incidence rate in the past week. 99 cases were confirmed in Waterford in the two weeks up until midnight on Friday to give an incidence rate of 85.2 cases per 100,000. This is highter than the level Kildare was at when it went into lockdown recently.
As a result, Waterford is now one of several counties potentially facing increased restrictions in the coming weeks as the virus surges in different parts of the country.
In response to the seriousness of the situation, a joint statement has been issued by the Mayor Cllr Damien Geoghegan, Chief Executive of Waterford Council, Mr Michael Walsh, Chief Superintendent of An Garda Síochána, Padraig Dunne and Chief Officer of South East Community Healthcare, Ms Kate Killeen White on the issue.
They urged people to remember to adhere to the basics of social distancing and hygiene.
“We are now at a critical juncture for this disease. We have a window of opportunity to bring this disease under control and to keep Waterford at Level two restrictions.
“To do so, we all need to act now and break the chains of transmission.”
They are asking people to take the following precautions:
- Meeting less people inside your home.
- Limiting the number of people you meet outside your home as much as possible.
- Avoiding crowds.
- Prioritising the people you need to see, keeping groups small, and seeing them regularly, rather than meeting lots of different people from different households. Concentrate on your core circle in the coming weeks.
- With those you do meet, be particularly attentive to safe practices - keep your distance, wear a face covering where appropriate, cough into a tissue and bin it, wash your hands.
"We all know the core messages, and it’s time to double our efforts to stay safe.
Remember this disease can spread even if you have no symptoms. Act as though you have the virus to protect your family, friends and colleagues and others you meet going about your day. Keeping that little bit of extra distance from others is really important as we try to work safely while living with the threat of this virus.
If you have symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of smell, loss or change to sense of taste, isolate yourself from others and phone your GP for advice - remember that a referral and test for COVID are free and you do not have to be registered with a GP.
Our individual actions do matter. They all count. They do work. The good news is that we know the most effective tools to keep this virus at bay. We just need to keep working with them.
As a collective we are appealing to the people of Waterford to please maintain social distance and limit your number of close contacts in the coming days. Whether in our workplaces, our homes or social settings let us all be advocates of Covid good behaviour."
