Statutory agencies in the Cork and Kerry region have thanked the people of both counties for adhering to new temporary restrictions which are now in place to stop the spread of Covid-19.
The regional steering group for emergency management meets regularly to discuss the regional response to the Covid-19 emergency. The group is made up of representatives from the HSE, An Garda Síochána, Cork County Council, Cork City Council and Kerry County Council.
Moira Murrell, chair of the regional steering group and Chief Executive of Kerry County Council, thanked the people of the region for their hard work recently in stopping the spread of Covid-19.
We continue to work closely at a regional and interagency level to do all we can to curb the spread of the coronavirus, and, as the three mayors of Cork and Kerry have emphasised this week, everyone has a part to play.’
‘Our emergency and frontline services continue to coordinate efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus and integral to that is the support and cooperation of the wider public.
All the agencies have been working together over the last seven months to co-ordinate the community response to the crisis caused by Covid-19, and today praised the people of Cork and Kerry for their efforts so far.
Michael Fitzgerald, the Chief Officer of Cork Kerry Community Healthcare said that the collective efforts of communities across Cork and Kerry over the last few months have been remarkable.
Now, we need to ask you to pull together again in order to make sure that we contain the spread of Covid-19 that we’ve seen in the last few weeks. We need the public’s support in adhering to the guidelines particularly on self-isolating at home if you are referred for a test, are waiting for a test result or have a positive test result.
Acting Director of Public Health for the Region, Dr Anne Sheehan, appealed to the public to isolate if they have any symptoms (even mild) of Covid-19, and to present for testing if they are asked to do so.
It’s more important than ever that anyone with any symptoms of Covid-19 isolates at home and immediately phones their GP to arrange a test. Appointments for tests are now arranged very quickly, and the test itself is very fast.
All agencies appealed to everyone in Cork and Kerry to continue the good work they’ve done when it comes to keeping a distance, wearing face coverings, catching coughs and sneezes and washing hands.
In addition, they reminded the public of engaging with the testing and tracing system if needed.
Assistant Commissioner for the Southern Region, Michael Finn said:
Under Operation Fanacht, there will be an extensive network of checkpoints in Cork and Kerry, as well as throughout the country. There will be static checkpoints on primary roads and they will be supplemented by hundreds of rolling checkpoints on secondary roads.
There was very good compliance by the public with travel restrictions when they were in place before. It is vital that we see that high level of compliance again this time. By limiting our travel, and our interactions with one another, this will help save lives. We would ask people to think about their journeys and not exercise or travel outside the 5km limit unless it meets the essential criteria. If anyone need assistance or if you know someone who does, please contact your local Garda station. We are here to help.
The joint message follows a video appeal from the three Mayors in Cork and Kerry to the people of both counties to come together to stop the spread of Covid-19, which can be viewed at:
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