News

Isolation Centre for City West Hotel

An isolation facility for those who have contracted Covid-19 will open imminently in City West, according to the HSE. citywest0218

The Citywest Hotel has been transformed so people who have tested positive for coronavirus but don't need to be hospitalised can isolate.

The hotel and conference centre has become the first of a series of new coronavirus centres for isolation and stepdown care in Ireland.

The hotel part of the Citywest complex will provide beds for 750 people who are unable to self-isolate due to the nature of their own living arrangements. It will open at the end of the week.

The Citywest conference centre is being turned into a stepdown care facility for Covid-19 patients who are recovering from the infection.

The 450 beds earmarked for the facility will only be used once capacity in hospital settings has been exceeded.

It will start operating, if needed, in two or three weeks’ time.

Visitor numbers up in February

New data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has revealed that the number of overseas visitors to the Republic of Ireland rose 4.1% in February despite the COVID-19

crisis.

A total of 615,200 overseas visitors arrived in the Republic last month, compared to 590,700 in February of 2019.

Visitor numbers from the UK increased 9.3% to 282,100 last month, while the number of people who visited the Republic from mainland Europe countries increased 4.3% to 217,800. However, the number of people who arrived in the Republic from North America decreased 6.3% to 81,300.

Tourists banned from Aran

No tourists are permitted to travel between the Aran islands and Galway during current Covid-19 restrictive measures, Island Ferries has said. aran

The private company has also said one vessel will serve all three islands daily for “essential/emergency services only" under a revised timetable.

“Emergency/ essential workers and those providing essential services such as doctors, Gardaí and others require transport to and from the islands,”Island Ferries has said in a statement.

Leon plans on course

The UK-headquartered fast-food chain Leon has no plans to curb its expansion in Ireland, despite the threat of an economic slowdown due to the coronavirus.

The company, which has two outlets in Dublin, plans to open 20 restaurants here by 2023.

Stuart Fitzgerald, managing director of Leon Ireland, said he doesn't expect any major change to that strategy.

"The Covid-19 crisis may extend the business plan out by six to 12 months, but I don't see a fundamental change.

"I think given our price point and given that we are a convenient and health offering there will be as much, if not more demand for it once the crisis is over," he said.

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60% cut in rail services

New public transport timetables have taken effect, with Irish Rail operating a 60% reduction in service.

Bus operators are to follow suit on Wednesday, while there has been a drop in passenger numbers by around 80%, since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. traininterior0320