Coronavirus in Ireland/N Ireland

[beanaseireann]

The first case of Coronavirus has been confirmed in Northern Ireland.
A passenger travelled from Italy to the North via Dublin.
I don't know how we will cope in the Republic if we have large numbers ill with the virus as our health service is already at breaking point.

@myshitisreal she wrapped it in tin foil and put it in the fridge and I assume there was praying or something but I never got a straight answer out of her, just stinkin turnips to throw away!

Happy St Patrick's day everyone, it's definitely our weirdest one yet!

How is everyone doing? We're trying to get out for a walk every day, blue sky and sunshine make the world of difference to my feelings of anxiety, which I'm sure many of us are suffering with at the moment. Fingers crossed the weather will continue to be kind to us throughout this ordeal. I'm also trying hard to limit my time on the internet and dd and I are challenging each other to read a chapter of our books at times when we usually scroll on our phones.

I've been watching the government and HSE briefings (they are on the RTÉ news channel) and after watching Boris yesterday I'm thanking my lucky stars we live here. The Irish are way more in control of the situation and are giving really clear information rather than the shambles the U.K. are making of it (sorry MN).

I've switched to shopping at Supevalu, they are far more on the ball regarding hygiene and social distancing than Tesco. People will remember these things, I spend an absolute fortune in Tesco on an annual basis, but I'm not going to do it if they don't spend some of their profits on keeping staff and customers safe.

Linwin I'm really sorry to hear about your business, it must be incredibly stressful for you. I think when this is over people will make huge efforts to support local small businesses and I hope you are able to reopen and thrive,

My neighbour told me that lockdown is coming on Thursday night according to her brother who's a Garda. I know everyone in the country has heard one rumour or another, most of them turned out to be false, but this coincides with people needing to be back from Spain by Thursday night so possibly some credence to it.

We’re getting outside every day too. Having to prod the teenager. He isn’t coping well. Didn’t help that today is very wet. But I forced them out. I know it’s better for his mental heath to get out even if he doesn’t feel it. Also routine is good. Our schools (NI) aren’t shut yet but I’m keeping them off so have made up work to last them two weeks. I know I’ll need more but this will do for now. After initial stropping from 10yo he has accepted it and it’s actually keeping him occupied. I tried to keep it all interesting. Not easy.

I had to go and get food shopping today. Unavoidable as we had little in and I’m worried about a lockdown being imposed. I had to go to so many different shops as there was so little of everything in all of them. Went to Lidl, Asda, Poundland, savers and B&M. Only Lidl cashiers wearing gloves. Asda staff seem to be on holiday mode, all standing round chatting and shouting across the aisles about their personal lives. Cashier was lovely though. Pissed off to see so many kids/teens running round the town in large groups. And McDonald’s was packed (I wasn’t in it- just saw from outside) do their parents or even they not understand what no non essential contact and social distancing is? Why is this message not getting through? Is the message not being made clear enough? Why aren’t people taking it seriously?

Thanks I'll check the thread in a bit. Tell me does anyone know of a map showing the confirmed cases in both parts of our lovely island???

I'm sure there is a map. In a north south divide mil in Belfast says there are far more down south. She refused to accept that the higher population might explain it in parts.

I'm assuming that a lock down will be needed as some people do not seem to understand (or care about) social distancing and will only comply when it forced on them.
I assume that schools will extend their closure, I am hoping until after Easter school holidays but it might be more. DD is in Junior infants but the amount of homework they sent her, would swear she's doing her leaving.

I'm also expecting lockdown from Thursday night, largely because people who are abroad have been told to get back into the country by then. Our normally bustling village is like a ghost town today.

I'm sure I seen a map @eggandonion but I can't seem to find it. Im North here, and have friends in parts of NI saying it 'hasnt hit them' 🤯

If anyone knows of a map please let me know. I'm fairly certain I seen one for Ireland but not NI, and now I can't find either

www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1yCPR-ukAgE55sROnmBUFmtLN6riVLTu3&ll=54.59084765094467%2C-5.925679264343103&z=12&fbclid=IwAR1cGhNXBi1gUDBDewu2RxLuXUV9Nr3dA82pcriz1RqDUVXkFle0K_FEm4Y

I'm using this Google maps link, sorry if it doesn't work,,, never posted a link here before

I expect it as well, tbh
Would tie in with getting people home and extra garda units being set up

The news from Italy seems vaguely encouraging, rate of infections declining slightly, and more recovered cases than new, for the first time I think.
Rte.ie, on the live blog.

I'm sorry, I'm spreading fake news, it is not the case there are more recovered cases than new in Italy, I picked up the information wrong. Sorry again. But the rate of infection is the lowest since Feb 21st.
Rte.ie for the source

That is my worry Juan when they close the schools. The kids will treat it as a social unless the parents force them to stay at home.
Went to the pharmacy today to get some medication. They were only letting 3 people in at once.
DH surgery is making patients who need prescriptions nominate a pharmacy to collect from. DH picked the one who, even when empty, goes at a snails pace and are only letting 2 people in at a time. Made even worse by a confirmed case in the area.
Glad to hear some people are managing to get their shopping easily. All the shops I was in today were decimated, with only keck left.

and have friends in parts of NI saying it 'hasnt hit them'

I’m in NI too & I heard a lot of this kind of chat whilst in the shops earlier. People saying it hasn’t hit us yet. I know I’d several confirmed cases personally within my town. There will be countless unconfirmed. The problem is no testing. So people think it isn’t as bad as it actually is. Because they are only hearing the ones that have been tested.

69 new cases confirmed today.

I think the government are doing a good job but there are still selfish gobshites who think the advice doesn't apply to them so it's time for a lockdown to save us from the stupid.

To be fair I get why people think it hasn’t hit them yet. There is so little information available. I have no idea where to find out where confirmed cases are located. The advice is so woolly and there has been no leadership from Stormont, and I occasionally catch myself thinking that whatever comes out of Westminster doesn’t apply here. Don’t get me wrong very much social distancing, I can just see why people may have the impression it’s not really a problem for us yet.

You’re right maiden. Stormont have been utterly neglectful during this crisis. I do think once it’s all over there needs to be an inquiry into how stormont have failed the people of NI.

@dk20 thank you so much.
OK so the map shows 1 in musgrave hospital, 1 in royal hospital, 1 in Craigavon hospital and 0 in Ulster hospital. Can anyone help me understand why the hospital cases haven't been reported and are not showing on the map??? I can't help feeling the diagnosed cases aren't being reported accurately. Is it just me???? I suspect we've far more cases than listed 🤷‍♂️

@juansheetisplenty is bizarre isn't it. The town this person is in had no cases listed on the map but we all know how quickly that can change. They're all still socialising and going to the gym etc 🤮 and very much unaware. It's been in my neighbours work and I know of several people working in a hospital where many cases exist. It feels very close to home indeed. I feel that NI has been abandoned, I don't know if that's a reasonable thing to say. There should be communication of where cases are, how they've spread within that town or area, and unaffected areas (although I would also worry those areas might then say oh well let's not worry). Sorry, im spiralling a bit.

Sorry there's loads of other important things being discussed on this thread but my brain isn't coping well with it all today so I'll try to catch up better tomorrow. Sending elbow bumps 😜 (instead of the unacceptable hugs 👀)

I had an elderly relative in the Ulster hospital last year, it looked amazing. All individual rooms, en suite. I'm sure if equipment is available it can be diverted to ICU use.
Last year, elderly relative died. Twenty relations from assorted parts of the globe were milling around, I was horrified at the lack of infection control. I hope our hygiene is improved after this

Has anyone tried getting a hold of Will Smith. He might have a cure, after all, he is legend.
(I'll get my coat )

Leo making an announcement at 9pm

www.rte.ie/news/2020/0317/1123774-taoiseach-to-broadcast-to-country-on-covid-19-at-9pm/

Yes it's in two parts. I was in last year in the old part which does not look so good 😂 but the food was awesome. The new part id beautiful but my family member was in and I rem seeing patients in beds in corridors. Hmmm I don't know that they do have the equipment but let's 🤞 the hospitals are preparing for an influx. Infection control 🤮

He's a great man in a crisis, like Independence Day. I'm desperately trying to learn the names of the public health experts on the telly. And RTE has put George Lee in charge, who is leading the charge in BBC NI?