Such volunteers are now being singled out as the unsung heroes of Ireland’s pandemic response.
“Last March, when everyone realised the scale of the pandemic, I volunteered to help out at the emergency department at CUH,” Amy said.
After thinking she would be there as a support volunteer for just two days a week over less than a month, Amy ended up staying for six months.
While hugely demanding, she said it was an incredible experience.
“It convinced me that emergency medicine is where I would eventually like to work,” she said. Amy paid tribute to Professor Conor Deasy and the emergency department team at CUH for the incredible work they did throughout the pandemic and for helping the volunteers settle in and feel part of the team.
virus surge
14-day Covid-19 incidence rate triples to 6,031 per 100k in Mayo area as five of top ten hotspots in border areas
Updated: 15 Jan 2021, 12:55
ONE in 17 people living in the town of Belmullet, Co Mayo have contracted Covid-19 in the last two weeks, as its incidence rate tripled to 6,031 per 100,000.
14-day Covid-19 incidence rates across the country have surged into the thousands, doubling in several areas in the last week.
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The areas marked dark red hold a Covid-19 rate over 960 per 100,000 of its population - many in the thousandsCredit: Department of Health
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Local area incidence rates continue to skyrocket with no area holding a rate below 480 per 100,000 populationCredit: PA:Press Association