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.

Heard from a usually reliable source that lock down is commencing in roi from 11am tomorrow.

The 9 o clock news was very depressing & a reality check tonight...

What does lockdown involve?

I mean I assume everyone must stay in their homes, but what if you need food or medicine?

Italy is on lockdown, possibly France and parts of Spain too? I’m guessing lockdown would mirror what they’re doing.

Some provinces in China are reporting massive reduction in new cases. An Irish man living in Jilin (sp?) province has said there have been no new case for 2 weeks. There were 93 cases a month ago, 1 has died, 91 recovered and 1 still recovering.

In Italy you have to queue to get into the supermarket as only a few are allowed in at a time. In Tesco yesterday there was no social distancing, everyone on top of each other in the queue. The young man at the check out had no gloves or hand sanitizer, when I asked he said management wouldn't allow gloves as they'd frighten the customers. He said the staff had complained and it was sent to to head office. Incredibly irresponsible behaviour from Tesco IMO.

Rumours and more rumours. They are spreading faster than the virus.
But, I dont think lockdown is far away.

It feels the same as before the school closures. No one was surprised. Stunned, that it has come to this. But not surprised

Chartreuse - That's unbelievable about Tesco! Whereabouts in the country was this? Rough area, obviously

It still feels utterly bizarre doesn't it?

It was Glenageary, deep in South County Dublin, definitely not rough!!

My local Dunnes Stores didn't have any sanitizer for customers to use, Supervalu did and had posters up advising people to keep their distance at checkouts- they also had staff disinfecting trolleys and shopping baskets.

The best place I've seen is a local independent supermarket that has sanitizers at the entrance to the shop and you will not be allowed in until you use it. There's a staff member assigned to disinfecting all the trolleys and baskets. There are posters up around the shop advising people of social distancing and all the checkouts have more posters requesting customers to stay 2m apart. Some staff were wearing gloves but all staff used the sanitizer between each customer.

I'm shocked at Tesco.
And reports of gougery at other shops.
This wont last forever, and people will remember.

Anyone in West Dublin? I hear little scumbags were running around causing bother to the emergency services.

I still can’t quite get my head round it. Was in Dunnes today and talking to a woman with a small child about how strange it all is. We both had tears in our eyes.

I have a restaurant and I’m closing the doors this week. I don’t want to put staff or customers at risk but it is with a heavy heart as staff will go without wages and we most likely will go under in the next few weeks without significant govt support (which I doubt we will get). All through no fault of our own.

What is haunting me is my mum crying down the phone earlier at not being able to see her grandkids for 4 months.

Oh Linwin
It's just awful on so many levels.
It's a natural disaster, all we can do is limit even more damage.
My own mother has a few risk factors and is of an age to be worried. She has done her big shop and is staying home on her own. (Me and DB are a couple of hours away) Hasn't come straight out but is definitely saying stuff that make me think she is 'settling her affairs'. Shes only 74! But I see where she is coming from.

I miss seeing my Mum too. My brother will be able to run errands for her as he's working from home and lives by himself, but she doesn't want to meet up with me because I have children. And I agree with her, she's safer away from them. We are phoning each other instead.

@Linwin would this be feasible for you to do in your restaurant, they have the money to pay ans you won't be opening to the public?

www.gofundme.com/f/feed-the-heroes

Ni here 👋 some bars in Belfast have announced on social media they will be closed for st Patricks day, Laverys and the Harp bar are the ones I know for sure. Others are promoting the shit out of st Patricks celebrations 👀 I can't help feeling tomorrow there will be a decision to limit large gatherings. So many social things have been cancelled or postponed. Scary times.

Kelly’s cellars are closing for st patricks day too. And the sunflower? Is that the name? And whatever their sister bar is too.

In fact the sunflower, and the American bar are closed from today.

So they are. I've just read some of the 'ragin, where we gonna Drink now' comments 😔

The confusing thought I have about all this is the more bars that are closed, the less bars people are spread over 🤷‍♂️ don't get me wrong I fully support and applaud the bars who have made this choice. I won't be over the door

Yes it’s a risky decision. Ideally all the bars and pubs would close but until they are ordered to they won’t. Fair play to those that are taking the financial hit for the greater good.

One thing that has happened today & yesterday is loads of cafes/hotels/restaurants have said they are offering free food & delivery to elderly/vulnerable people in the community. Which is commendable but I worry about how they can afford this. Particularly as their paying footfall will drop significantly over the next days and weeks.

My parents now live in England. Not going to deny in the last few days I've had a few dark thoughts that I might not see, at least one of them, alive again.

Good on the Belfast pubs that are closing before St Patrick’s. The government should be closing them all to stop the spread and reduce the burden on emergency services.

Friend sent this last night. I'm keeping dc home but dh has to get the train to work in busy office in Belfast ☹️

This will be last day I send my DC to school. They are closed tomorrow anyway for paddy’s day and we will all be at home (on no income) trying to get through as best we can from Wednesday.
The worst thing is not knowing how long it will last.

I hope there isn't going to be a carry on in the Holy Lands tomorrow.

What do you mean Coco?