Coronavirus ROI/NI part 3

[YoungsterIwish]

The 3rd thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/craicnet/3874978-Coronavirus-in-ROI-NI-part-2?pg=40

I'm worried about the numbers too. Trying to be positive and live in the moment but I'm dreading the winter, it has the potential to be really grim.

I think we all need to take a step back and really reduce the number of people we're all interacting with. So many people out and about, not keeping their distance. Lots of parties and barbecues, etc. I know they're allowed, but are they a sensible idea?

Interesting interview with Cillian de Gascun this morning, basically the health officials want everyone entering the country to be forcibly quarantined a la New Zealand, but the government can't/won't do it. Of course he was very diplomatic about it but that's what it boils down to, public health v the economy

On the plus side it's great to see so many people wearing masks now.

I dont notice any increase in the numbers wearing masks where I am. A lot of people do wear them but a lot dont.
Since going back to work I've noticed a lot more traffic on the roads. The traffic jams are back.

According to one of the experts the Limavady cluster (near Derry/Londonderry) was from a party with karaoke - caused either by singing or the microphone being shared around.
My dh has asthma and is prone to moaning - but is ok with wearing a mask. Lots of heavy trucks around the roads near us as well as general traffic and tractors. And cyclists who must be breathing in unhealthy fumes.

Does anyone know the advice for mask wearing while jogging? I've been wearing mine as I am fat and unfit back to doing a slow c25k and I am really aware that I breathe heavily when running. I read a whole back joggers should give a 4-5m passing distance rather than 2m. That's not possible most of where I run so I figured the mask was a better stop gap.

I hope we get some guidance about the schools soon. I have two in primary, the communication wasn't good during lockdown, just a few worksheets at the start of the week & a "try your best but don't worry attitude"... The school beside ours did zoom lessons twice a week & much more work sent home, phone calls from teachers etc... I haven't purchased uniforms or anything yet. At the moment it looks unlike they will be going back full time the way the numbers are heading:(

Is anyone here slightly concerned about the Northern Ireland numbers?

We were doing quite well with only 2-4 positive cases per day for a while but now they’ve shot up to just below 20.

I know there had been a few clusters - for example, in Limavady.

There were 19 positive results between Thursday and Friday - is that cluster in Limavady responsible for that? Or are positive cases genuinely on the increase in NI?

Obviously it’d be great if there were no positive cases at all but I’d love it if they’d just go back to only being a small number per day!

@mummabear1967 we were talking about that this morning.. I think numbers are in the rise. The Limavady cluster seems to be huge but there were 4 cases in Belfast alone yesterday 😔

@Smurf123 it’s a shame, isn’t it? And of course the R number is up - I know it’s not over 1 but it could potentially be at 1. It’s all so disheartening. If only these numbers would stay low

I’m actually dreading reading Monday’s statistic release where it shows the weekend stats. I just hope hope hope it is low

Ds was in town earlier, and said there was no social distance in the streets, shops were better.
I went for a walk, mum and two small kids on bikes waited for the green man and then began to cross the road. A driver in a truck had to slam on his brakes, they were lucky they weren't hit. it was the about 300 metres inside the 'edge of town', built up area, past two estates - not open road. And the open road he ad come from is very narrow and windy.
People are losing the run of themselves again.

Are Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill not going to do their press conferences anymore? Have they not kissed and made up yet?

The cluster in Limavady has caused more positive results over the weekend. Anyone think lockdown easing will be paused?

www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/limavady-covid-19-cluster-council-18625567

I'm intrigued to see if we will even get a briefing today!

@Smurf123

I'm intrigued to see if we will even get a briefing today!

Hopefully we will. It would be nice to know what’s going on and get an update

23 positive cases in NI over the weekend

It's not looking likely we are getting an update today is it?
Its worrying that we have gone from single usually low figures of new cases back to double figures

It's not looking likely we are getting an update today is it?
Its worrying that we have gone from single usually low figures of new cases back to double figures

@Smurf123

It's not looking likely we are getting an update today is it? Its worrying that we have gone from single usually low figures of new cases back to double figures

Yeah they seem to have stopped their updates when Michelle O’Neill attended Bobby Storey’s funeral - I thought things had calmed down now but maybe not!

I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that the positive cases are high atm due to the Limavady cluster situation, so hopefully they’ll drop down again after it’s been dealt with!

I thought they would have grown up a bit by now and gotten over the whole funeral thing. I get that it wasn't a great example on Michelle o Neills part but at the same time we went long enough without a government in place so get over it and get on with dealing with the more important issues at hand.
Fingers crossed the numbers go back down again soon

@Smurf123

I thought they would have grown up a bit by now and gotten over the whole funeral thing. I get that it wasn't a great example on Michelle o Neills part but at the same time we went long enough without a government in place so get over it and get on with dealing with the more important issues at hand. Fingers crossed the numbers go back down again soon

Yes I completely agree! I have just read that Arlene said that she will not be doing any joint press conferences with Michelle until the police investigation into her attendance at the funeral has finished

Loads more people wearing face masks were I am than even last week. I find the reporting in Ireland so negative. I have colleagues in Germany and the Uk and although there has been some clusters here and there , in general there’s a lot more positivity. Talking about relative normality now. Playgrounds, hairdressers and some schools with restrictions in Germany have been open way longer than us too and no major big waves
Also relatives in France saying schools (v similar class sizes to Ireland and Uk) are opening with everyone in September.
I’m not saying this is right but don’t get how other countries seem to be getting on with things and it’s getting more normal as possible or at least governments giving some hope whereas Ireland seems to be constantly reporting negatives, I even heard going back to phase two was a possibility...

I also haven’t purchased uniforms etc. There has been very little to no communication. I work in designing e/learning programs and I don’t think online learning is effective for under 10’s. If my dcs can’t go back to school properly then it’s time to think outside the box.
A lot of parents where I live are seriously thinking of pulling their dcs out of school now . There’s been a lot of criticism over the lack of support , guidance and work for our dcs. I’m not teacher bashing as who knows why this was but it’s a fact.
Anyway all of us have degrees, postgrads , recent police vetting through our jobs, also a few of us have registered with the teachers council too and have complete child protection training. We all have different backgrounds degree wise but could easily cover the core subjects. I used to teach and so have some others. We are going to organize our own classes with groups of kids therefore freeing others to work. It sounds crazy but we will make it work if it means people not losing their jobs and our kids sitting in front of screens with no guidance.

Is this part time / blended learning return to school in September only meant to be for the first term? So when they go back after Christmas in January, it’ll be full time schooling until the end of June 2021?

(Northern Ireland)

Also, has anyone heard anything about how the further education / regional colleges in NI are going to return in NI?

I’ve heard nothing. I wonder if it will be remote learning or if they’ll all be back on campus?

@Thefab3 that sounds like a great idea. It's extremely difficult for primary age dc, even worse with both parents trying to work full time. The lack of plans from the dept is really frustrating.

Dd is in TY and I'm guessing they're going to be at the bottom of the priority list for the school, understandably, so we've been looking at other online courses that she can do. All her work experience plans are down the drain until next spring.

DS is going to take a year out of college as they are planning 90% online learning and he can't deal with that, his course is very hands on and online just doesn't work.