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.

Even better that it's now coming to light that the four cases in Clare (a family) one parent was a doctor who has been out and about treating patients. The other parent a teacher.

The rumour mill is that they checked, were told it was ok to go to work.

The whole 'self-isolate' if you have returned from and infected area and are showing symptoms just seems redundant to me. Those returning from an infected area needed to be quarantined (though logistical this isn't probable) as those first 14 days are asymptomatic and infectious.

I can't believe the parade is going ahead.

I went into a shop today, small boutique, there was one other customer talking to the sales assistant. Customer was saying she thought all the fuss about the virus was ridiculous, then she said 'look at me, I'm perfectly healthy, I was in northern Italy 2 weeks ago for the mid term break. There's nothing wrong with me and yet my office won't let me go back to work. 😵

The assistant said ' so you're supposed to be self isolating but you think it's fine to be out in public, side by side with elderly people who are at high risk from catching this disease. Don't you think that's a bit irresponsible?

Woman replies, we all need to be out in the fresh air and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and we'll be fine'

I despair.

I despair as well. I agree we should be calling off big events etc.

60 health care staff isolating in Cork?? If that was replicated in every hospital we'd be utterly fucked.

I don't have faith in the Dept of Health and the HSE.
Just think of Cervical Check and the fiasco ( with tragic results ) that turned out to be.

Three more cases in NI. Linked to an existing case and recently returned from Italy. Hopefully they were self isolating.

Will any of you be taking your kids out of school if it gets close to you? Confirmed cases in another school just 2 miles from my sons school, a teacher would you believe in Craughwell, Galway. And theres plenty of people from the area in his class/school. Not sure what to think. He has Asthma and been hospitalized several times for it so theres that also. Would love input, thabks

So my local Dunnes was almost completely out of pasta and rice this morning. I didn't check for loo roll as I already have a decent stash. I had no problems getting painkillers either.

Kaychi my kids have all finished school so I haven't thought much about it. Could you contact your GP and get their opinion? I can understand your concern.

Situation seems grim in Cork, so many staff members in self isolation in 2 hospitals. Listening on the radio now, they are preparing for an Italy style blow up in numbers in CUH.

And can someone PLEASE cancel the parade?!

@Kaychi DS had pretty severe asthma when he was younger. He's an adult now and it is much more moderate now and easy to control.

Having been through the Swine Flu with my 3 Dc, they all picked it up at school, and asthmatic DS had a more severe and longer lasting bout that his siblings.

However this virus seems to be very mild in children, so I hope that eases your worry. If there are cases close by I would keep my D.C. at home. A couple of weeks off school won't impact on their education, and will help you sleep at night.

Agree St P's day parades should be cancelled.

It seems to be milder in children but that's no reason to be complacent. They can spread it to people who are vulnerable.

Parade has been cancelled. It's good they made that call.

Hello all,

Have just found the thread.

DH and I are just mulling over taking the kids out of school, I'm starting to think the spread is inevitable now and figure why wait until the government decide to commit to more stringent measures.
I know they are saying its milder in children but one of mine tends to get every dose to the nth degree and I have elderly parents that we are in regular, necessary contact with.
Anyone else thinking the same?

I think the schools will close next week anyway. I think they're hoping to get to two weeks from Easter so it can be a four week closure without too much disruption.

It really is scary, when you look at what happened in Italy.

Certainly lots of rumour that the schools will close for four weeks.

It'll result in a heavy burden for working parents.

I met two teachers today, both were expecting that schools will be closed after St Patrick's day, but neither had heard anything official.

I heard Tony Holohan say that schools will probably close but not just yet.

I had heard yesterday that the schools were being shut from today. Obviously not true.
Rumour and counter rumour.
Cheltenham going ahead was a crazy decision.

I watched my Junior Infant with his buddies in the lína yesterday - no amount of handwashing in school is going to help when they feel the need to be an inch from each other's faces to chat 🤦‍♀️
I really don't understand what they are waiting for. We've seen how this goes in other countries.

A lot of decisions will be made this week. Its Wednesday now, the schools and a lot of places will be closed for Mon and Tues anyway. I'd say things will stay closed for a while.

Cheltenham was crazy.
I can see the bind officials are in - balancing needs, trying to minimise disruption- but this is unnecessary

My sons teachers (17, in 5th year) are all starting to send study plans & work to the students via google classroom to cover a good few weeks in anticipation of a closure so I think they’re expecting it.

Lots of chatter at the school gate taht they will shut for all of next week seeing as they are shut Monday and Tuesday anyway. Doesn't make sense to send them back for. 4.5 days. And then off for another 2 weeks

Lots of rumour and speculation. It would be good to know the facts on the schools and travel. I'll be happy then to cancel my travel plans and we will all stay home and hunker down.

I think another week of this will show us exactly what needs to be done, especially if it increases at a rate of 10 per day which they are expecting.

I'm stuck between panic and relaxation. We have a very irish mentality of "ah sure it'll be grand" and it wont be taken seriously at all. The amount of people who dont wash their hands is frightening.

The first death has occurred, a female in the east of the country. May she rest in peace.
The selfish people who went to Cheltenham should be banned from re-entering the country or forced into self isolation.
But the dithering HSE/ Department of Health won't have the spine for that.