County Leitrim has been described as being "at a critical juncture" in terms of its Covid-19 cases.
State agencies in the county, including Gardai, the local authority and the HSE are urging the public to change their behaviour in order to bring the disease under control.
In a joint statement issued last night, the Cathaoirleach of the County Council, Mary Bohan, Garda Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken, and Director of Public Health HSE North West, Dr. Anthony Breslin asked people to "act as though you have the virus" to protect friends and family and colleagues
Leitrim has recorded twenty two cases of Covid-19 in the last two weeks - with its incidence rate per 100,000 at 68.7 - slightly above the average of 63.2.
Roscommon has recorded 21 new cases and Longford 20 over the same period of time.
The statement in full is below:
It is clear that the COVID-19 numbers in Leitrim have been growing in recent weeks and 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 Leitrim at Level 2 restrictions. To do so we all need to act now to break the chains of transmission, to ensure we live as optimally as we can with the virus, keeping our schools open, resuming non-COVID-19 healthcare and protecting our vulnerable people.
We are asking you and your family to take positive action immediately and change your current behaviours.
This means:
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 the friends and family 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.
Know the symptoms and come forward quickly for testing if you have any concerns. Isolate yourself from others and phone your GP if you feel unwell - remember that a referral and test for COVID are free.
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 Leitrim 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-19 good behaviour.
It is in our hands!
