CLARE’s retail and hospitality sector continues to feel the brunt of COVID-19 with plenty of disruptions caused to businesses in light of rising cases in the county.
Initial indications detail that daily cases of COVID-19 in Clare are double what they were before Christmas with public health officials in the Mid-West predicting a further sizeable increase in positive cases over the coming weeks.
Multiple temporary closures of businesses have been announced across Co Clare in recent days, a trend which has been replicated all over Ireland.
Ennis bars including McHugh’s, Taylor’s Bar and the Halfway House closed their doors in light of “close contacts” and “government restrictions”. A spokesperson for McHugh’s outlined, “We were really hoping to make it through to the end of the year without making another closing post but like so many families this Christmas, we realised that unfortunately there is no escaping. It is with great disappointment that we have decided to close temporarily until such a time as it is safe to open”.
Power’s Pub in Clarecastle were also forced to stop pulling pints temporarily due to some positive cases in the village. The Goal Post Bar in Shannon operated by Wolfe Tones na Sionna GAA club shut its door in light of very high community transmission in Shannon.
Due to staff being designated as close contacts, both Michael A’s in Miltown Malbay and The Woodcross Bar in Cratloe were left with little option but to close for a number of days prior to New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Similarly, The Creamery Bar and Restaurant in Bunratty had a number of staff unavailable to work because of the virus and closed until further notice.
A high level of close contacts among staff resulted in The Sherwood Inn announcing that they would stay closed until Friday.
Hotels such as the Shannon Springs have had to close temporarily due to very high levels of community transmission in the town. 75 people are employed by the four star hotel located five minutes from Shannon Airport. In a statement, co-owners Dermot Kelly and John Gavin outlined, “We collectively have made the decision to remain closed due to the high community transmission in the area, we simply do not have enough staff to open and run our hotel”. They are hopeful of reopening this week.
For the first time in its forty five year history, O’Connor’s Texaco in Shannon closed on New Year’s Day amid a shortage of staff who were either self-isolating or awaiting a test result. The store reopened on Monday morning.
Most recent Health Protection Surveillance Centre data for the county which is from December 24th highlighted that the county had a seven day incidence rate of 64.79, the third highest in the country.
Dr Rose Fitzgerald, Specialist in Public Health Medicine, said: “We have yet to see the true impact of Christmas celebrations and the current Omicron wave. If you have symptoms, if you are awaiting a PCR test result, if you are a close contact, or if you are in any doubt that you may have been exposed to COVID-19 through social activity or work, please do not attend any gathering or meet other people this weekend. Due to the current high levels of infection in the community, any social encounter increases our risk of infection or of becoming infected.”
