Early September, and the good news that schools were getting back to near normal was greeted with good cheer in the UK and Ireland.
However since the start of the month the tally of covid cases in both jurisdictions has been on the way up.
There seems to be more details available on new cases in Ireland than in the UK. For example Irish data shows workplace outbreaks have involved a variety of facilities, including food wholesalers/distribution centres, pizza delivery premises, factories, primary care centres and garda stations. Of the 85 workplace outbreaks, 31 were in meat/poultry processing plants, five were in mushroom farms/facilities, while seven have been linked to a retail outlet.
The 85 workplace outbreaks have led to 1,877 laboratory confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 49 cases required hospitalisation. The timeline for these outbreaks is presumably since the virus first arrived here - i.e since March. Five outbreaks in mushroom facilities has to be a bit worrying for the sector. Hopefully though, with tight adherence to covid hygiene and isolation protocols, a lot of outbreaks can be minimised.
It would appear that the second wave is well underway in many countries including Ireland and the UK. So stay safe out there.
