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.

My DH heard from 2 different people in Newry this morning the Irish Army cadets have been called to barracks to prepare for lockdown tomorrow, obviously it could just be rumours though.
I'm in Ards and we had one confirmed case during the week.

Lots of rumours about the army and a lockdown from tomorrow, but Pascal Donahue said that's nonsense.

To be honest I'd like them to flag it, announce today that lockdown begins at midnight on Tuesday, or whenever. It would stop the insane panic that happened on Thursday when the schools closed it a couple of hours notice.

The young people ( mid 20's to early 30's) w ho rent beside us had a get together- they werent noisy, it wasn't a party as such, but they didn't heed advice from the government re social interaction.

A relative, senior medic in a big Dublin hospital is very, very wortied.

So I take it (NI resident here) that the current government will just stay in place now or are they still trying to form a new government?

I am really not sure, to be honest.
Our news bulletins are all Covid

They need to start running a public information campaign on the radios and tv. People don’t understand. A lot of repetition needed to get message through.

Very long article here from a guy in Stanford but good reading

Coronavirus why you must act now

wiltingfast
Some people just aren't listening.
It's all over the media but some people don't think it applies to them

link to R.C. mass at different tines in case anyone else is trying to convince elderly parents not to go out this morning.

*different times

I have seen a couple of links to online Mass broadcast, if anyone wants them?

Although in our family I'd have to go round to help them get onto the website, defeating the purpose somewhat

Theres usually Mass broadcast on local radio, might be easier if they are not usually online.

People really aren’t taking it seriously. I’ve just joined a local covid 19 FB page for my area. People saying they don’t see the point in keeping their kids off because they’ll just be out with their friends anyway no. That’s the whole point. YOU have to keep them home. But they won’t. Which is exactly why mine are staying off school now regardless of govt decisions. Because people are fuckwits who couldn’t follow an instruction if it dangled a bacon sandwich in front of them.

My mum is convinced we will be on lockdown from tonight.

Hi all, I've been in the normal coronavirus threads for weeks but only joining here now.

@JuanSheetIsPlenty anyone who took kids out to supermarkets etc here has been heavily criticised here on our local Facebook pages and by the school. I'm hoping more will listen now and keep kids indoors.
We've seen most of our local pubs restaurants and even some shops saying they will be closed until further notice. I'm so glad the pub owners have had the sense to close down.

Oh that’s good to hear @Dk20. I’m glad people are speaking up about the idiocy. People just aren’t getting it.

I agree that where it’s possible keep children at home, but as a single parent I don’t really have a choice but to bring my 4yo to the supermarket. I can’t leave him home alone! The crèche is closed and my parents are normally my backup childcare but they’re both over 70 so we’re avoiding contact. We went to our local shop today - washed hands before we left, hand sanitiser going in, anti bac wipe over basket and to open fridge doors, wipe over keypad before entering pin, hand sanitiser as we left - what more could I do? There were no onlin delivery slots left for over 2 weeks. As for work - expecting me to “sort alternative childcare” - what alternative childcare? A tenner an hour to my babysitter whilst also paying crèche fees? That’s going to add up fast! At least I am work from home, albeit with lots of interruptions and too much tv time for my son. Plus I’m really worried that I won’t be able to care if him properly if I get sick so I’m stocking up the freezer. It’s so scary. I’m normally a very calm person, but I’m quite rattled by this.

@elephant of course there are cases where it's not possible for the parent to go out on their own without the kids, that is understandable. I suppose on a whole we're just hoping that where possible kids wont be brought out unnecessarily. You cant do any more than you are doing and I'm sure everyone could see that with all the precaution you took.
I am in a similar situation with wfh and having the kids here, mine also spent a lot of Friday looking at screens. All we can do it the best we can, I didn't think the schools would close this quickly.
try not to worry too much, if you are wfh you are probably not out that much meeting people which will decrease your risk of catching it in the first place.

@dk20 Thanks. I think I need to minimise the amount time on news websites and social media, it’s clearly making me uncharacteristically anxious!
A “friend” on fb just posted about loads of people out hiking in nearby mountains - in a kind of “ffs stay home!!” way. But the experts are clearly saying outdoor exercise is fine if person nearby is not sneezing/coughing on you. I found the segment on prime time with Miriam and immunologist going out and about on the Luas very helpful. This “friend” doesn’t have a high energy boy on her hands 🙄

All special schools in Belfast are closing from Monday.

Quite a few other schools closing, some just for one day.
On BBC website.

I'm in a Special School, we're all very concerned we'll pass something on to the children, some of them are life limited.

My DC are in 3 different schools, and I work in a 4th.

The school I work in has said absolutely nothing publicly. Plenty going on behind the scenes to prepare for closure, but nothing to the parents. I expect when we go in tomorrow that our attendance levels will be significantly lower than they were last week.

Primary school has sent out a message reiterating that they are open - but doing work to prepare for closure.

2 other schools have made it clear that they are only open because the DE and EA have told them to stay open, and that their priority is 5th/L6th/U6th classes.

I expect we’ll all be closed by Friday.

I hope we are - it’s a royal pain in the ass and I do genuinely feel for the kids who will struggle to be so isolated from friends in this (potentially long) season but I absolutely think it’s the right thing to do.

It’s interesting to see the differences in approach from NI schools compared to rUK - I don’t think schools in Scotland/England/Wales would dare just close or to put out pointed statements about the EA or their government like I’ve seen several schools do so far

Looks like all pubs are to close tonight till end of March. Get your booze in :)

Having a bit of a wobble this evening. It's all so scary not knowing how long our lives will be like this. So many members of my family I won't be able to visit or see and it's horrible not knowing how long for.

Our local primaries are all confirming they are open tomorrow (unless closed as planned for St patricks day) except one which has pupils with confirmed covid tests. They are stating that they respect parents choices in whether to send DC or not and attendance record will not be affected. Lots and lots of parents sayings Dc will not be going in until situation much improved. My Dc included.