The HSE has confirmed that nightclubs and music venues are not considered “priority areas” of interest.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) contact tracing team did not collect or analyze close contact data relating to positive Covid-19 cases that occurred in nightclubs and concert halls, it said. it was revealed.
A letter published by the HSE and posted to Twitter by Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon on Tuesday highlights a list of designated ‘priority areas’ for contact tracing, which nightclubs and live streaming venues are not associated with .
“Following the easing of restrictions since October 22, the Contact Management Program (CMP) has experienced extremely high sustained demand for Covid-19 services,” the letter notes.
“In this current period of high activity, the CMP is targeting its resources to support our colleagues from the Public Health Departments in their priority areas.
“The priority areas we are focusing on include special education, nursing homes, residential care facilities and members of traveling/Roma communities.
“As a result, we are not currently collecting information on nightclubs and concert venues.”
The letter goes on to say that when an outbreak is identified as being linked to a nightclub or concert hall, it is then managed by the relevant regional public health body who then carry out a risk assessment.
“In response to a parliamentary question I asked, it was revealed that the heavy burden placed on the late night sector in terms of online ticketing and collecting customer details, has resulted in absolutely no tracking contact tracers,” Gannon said when sharing the letter on social media.
In response to a parliamentary question I posed, it was revealed that the heavy burden placed on the late night sector in terms of online ticketing and collecting customer details, resulted in no tracking of contact tracers.https://t .co/Kg1cv7hxel pic.twitter.com/Oml87yyrmW
— Gary Gannon TD (@GaryGannonTD) December 7, 2021
The letter is likely to be registered as another blow to Ireland’s entertainment sector, arriving on the same day that indoor events are officially limited to 50% capacity, while nightclubs have once again been completely closed.
These latest restrictions are expected to remain in place until at least January 9, although many in the live music and nightlife industry have viewed the move as devastating in the long run, regardless of the reintroduction this week. payment of unemployment in the event of a pandemic.
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