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THE NUMBER OF people with influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) doubled over the course of last week, according to the HSE.
The HSE has said it expects that upward trend in the number of RSV and flu cases to continue until the end of the month.
A combined total of almost 2,000 cases of Covid-19, RSV and influenza have been notified in the past week, the health service said. This has led to significant increases in the number of people presenting at emergency departments with those illnesses.
“The impact of flu circulating in the community has a direct impact on the capacity of health services, both in hospitals and in primary and community care settings,” the HSE said in a statement.
The CEO of the HSE Bernard Gloster said over 600 people were hospitalised in the last week due to Covid, flu and RSV.
“When this is added to the usual demand placed on the health service, it brings significant pressure on the public and healthcare staff,” he said.
“People can expect to see all access points to healthcare under pressure over the next few weeks.”
Gloster added that older people and the young are most vulnerable, followed by those with underlying conditions.
“Covid-19 has been relatively stable, and RSV in older children is clearly significant,” Gloster said.
“The good news is that the number of cases of RSV among infants (less than 3 months) has sharply decreased since the HSE began a vaccination programme for newborns.
“Only 24 babies were hospitalised with RSV since the vaccination programme started, a significant fall from the 413 cases in the same period last year- this is a reminder of the importance of progressive vaccination programmes.’’
The HSE is particularly concerned about Influenza at the moment.
“We expect the week of Christmas and the New Year to see flu cases to be at their highest so far this season, and modelling shows hospitalisations from flu alone to be in the region of 600-900,” the HSE said.
The health service said it expects this Christmas season to be busier than ever, and “this higher demand from patients will create delays getting through to the service at peak times or in waiting for a call back from a triage nurse, and again longer waiting times for an appointment”.
Gloster asked people not to go to an emergency department if they have a mild illness of a condition that is not urgent, adding that other options are available.
“We know that our Emergency Departments will be where people will experience the most delay and pressures. We absolutely want people with an emergency to come to the hospitals and have the service they need,” he said.
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What the hell are Homeland Security doing checking suspected video piracy in cinemas?
Deterring future occurences maybe?
That’s not their charter though…
“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the United States and its territories (including protectorates) from and responding to terrorist attacks, man-made accidents, and natural disasters.”
Video piracy is the remit of the FBI.
USA is now a police state in many ways
America is a very strange countries these days.
I’d imagine they were in the cinema to prevent any more mass murders, like the 24 deaths in the cinema in Aurora in 2012.
If Homeland Security don’t want anyone recording this movie then I REALLY have to see it, sounds like an endorsement to me. Can they do that?
“Writing anonymously” I.e. hes making it up. A far fetched story and not believable at all.
Are we sure that it wasn’t “Captain Phillips” that was showing.
Piracy funds terrorists. Or at least that’s what the start of all my DVDs tell me.
You wouldn’t steal a bag.
You wouldn’t steal a car.
Why would you steal a movie. Piracy funds terrorism.
You wouldn’t steal a handbag.
You wouldn’t steal a car.
You wouldn’t steal a baby.
You wouldn’t shoot a policeman.
And then steal his helmet.
You wouldn’t go to the toilet in his helmet.
And then send it to the policeman’s grieving widow.
And then steal it again!
Downloading films is stealing.
If you do it, you will face the consequences.
Given that it was in America it’s surprising the police didn’t shoot him dead
Shoot first, download files later..
It’s like what the USSR was in the 60′s, 70′s and 80′s. A police state with thousands of spies.
Haven’t much sympathy for him. Should have a normal pair of glasses too if he needs them to see. Same thing as holding up your phone pretending to record and then saying that’s fine because your phone was off. How are the staff supposed to be able to tell that you’re not recording without taking the device off of you? He was either looking for attention or just stupid
Let’s say he was stupid etc like you say, what’s it got to do with homeland security?
As stated by Alan Kennedy, the ICE branch of Homeland Security deals with piracy.
“the Glass user said that he had the device turned off during the screening, but still wore them for its prescription lenses.”
They were normal prescription glasses.
So you’d call glasses with videocapture capability as well as a host of other technology built in “normal prescription glasses.” I’d like to live in your world
Google glasses, I really hope they’re a complete failure, the thought of people walking about recording everything 24/7 kind of worries me and I’m pretty sure that they’re going to create a whole new set of problems for people down the road.
The implications of the use of the technology in this fashion have clearly not been fully thought through. At the very least there should be a light on the outside of the glasses to indicate you are being filmed & therefore decide if you want to be in shot or not. Hope these fail miserably…….Step too far for my liking
pros and cons, on the upside even car based ones will become more common so can sort out road rage etc. and otherwise a lot of bad behaviour , casual violence etc occurs because people assume they have a right to anonymity
There is an internet group (irony?) called “stop the cyborgs” or something similar highlighting such concerns.
Why wasn’t he stopped before he went in, why wait an hour into the screening
crazy stuff, even if he was the quality would be dire with a bobbing head for 90 minutes. The cinema Im sure is free to ban them. Just imagine if he’d eaten a pastry into the shape of a gun, it would have been death by cop.
Complete overkill. Homeland security getting involved had little relation to what occurred.
God bless America. Intrusive invention results in intrusive intervening.
There must be more too it.
Though it is america
So they invaded this man’s privacy among privacy fears? The US Government agencies are paranoid androids.
No, it wasn’t “privacy fears” and nor was his privacy invaded. He was suspected of movie piracy and was questioned. Which is what usually happens when you’re suspected of a crime.
Re the Glasses, never mind Piracy id be more wary about the implications on Privacy!!
As in when people where these & have their Camera consistently on without asking who they are viewing directly or indirectly their permission to film. Normal cameras are very obvious when photos/video is being taken so you can decide if you want to be in shot or not. These glasses do NOT give you that option. Huge Infringement on peoples privacy. So just for future ref if yer in my eyeshot in a restaurant or in a public place & you will be asked by me to turn the camera off.
Massive amount of overreaction here in the comments section at the mention of the US.
Police state my hairy hole.
As explained in the article the Homeland Security’s involvement is down to the officers involved were from homeland security’s ICE unit – which monitors piracy. ICE – US Immigration and *Customs Enforcement*.
Should’nt their responsibility be piracy, as in piracy on the sea, not piracy of goods.
Why don’t you go and marry America Alan!!
Your Ma would be lonely then, Colin.
Oh you’re THAT Alan Kennedy? Do you mind if i call you dad?
ICE is the equivalent of our customs and excise. This was not the DHS tasked with counter terrorism etc. misleading headline again there Journal….
Bs!! He was obviously of middle eastern decent, ice don’t work for Hollywood
have your say