Covid testing uptake in nursing homes and meat plants may be higher than HSE data shows
HSE records show over 70% of staff at nursing homes and meat plants have been tested - but this figure may be even higher in reality as staff lists are out-of-date in some areas.
A swab kit for testing Covid-19. Out of date staffing lists at nursing homes and meat factories may be distorting actual figures for those that have been tested. Picture: Marc O’Sullivan
Sun, 28 Feb, 2021 - 19:30
Niamh Griffin
Out-of-date staffing lists for meat plants and nursing homes mean that HSE data on serial testing is not reflecting the reality on the ground.
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The ending of drought in Australia in early 2020 has led to a period of herd and flock rebuilding,
The Australian National Farmers Federation (NFF) has put the cost of trade disputes at AUS$36.9bn (€23.5bn) this decade in a pre-budget submission to the Australian government.
They are calling for a strategy that “deepens access to existing markets, diversifies export destinations, improves supply chains and builds domestic value-adding capabilities”.
Overall, the NFF is calling for a AUS$3.5bn (€2.23bn) investment by the government over four years to the sector to become a AUS$100bn (€63.7bn) industry by 2030.
China
Last year, China imposed tariffs on Australian grain and a number of meat factories have been suspended from supplying China because of individual issues.
Attempts by meat factories to talk down the beef trade “are not justified”, based on the latest market reports, IFA livestock chair Brendan Golden has said.
The prime export benchmark price for the latest week has increased by 5c/kg, Golden said, but the Irish price is not keeping pace, only increasing by 2c/kg over the same period.
Supermarket prices for beef in the UK has strengthened in the past week and sales remain strong, he added.
In the UK prices have risen by over 7p/kg since the beginning of January, with sterling strengthening by 3% over the same period. This means market conditions for Irish meat factories are favourable, Golden said.