Coronavirus ROI/NI part 3

[YoungsterIwish]

The 3rd thread

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

That's lovely but not very practical for winter. DS's class have been going for walks just to get them out the classroom for a while.

I work in retail, where the door opens and closes all winter. It can be a little chilly.

@SionnachRua I love the look of that classroom. The could put a pergola or marquee up over it for the rain. Like in the picture.

That would be no match for sideways Irish rain

That outside classroom looks amazing. Our primary school has a fair bit of outside space and in the summer the teachers take the classes outside for games or reading. Our school is doing a bicycle/scooter ride on Friday. It's a great idea to get them out of the classroom for a while if possible.

Yes, Sionnach, that will be a polite 'no' to the invite. I don't know the family either, so it doesn't help. There could be five, fifteen or twenty-five children invited for all I know. My DD is a bit put out about it as she knows that another pal of hers in the park is going. That's typical about the people complaining about the pods in school organising sleepovers!

The rising numbers are worrying. I hope people will use their cop on and follow the advice.

I know, JaneJeffers 😁

I love the look of that pergola @rivierliedje ! Though I do agree the Irish rain wouldnt be challenged by it... I'd say some secondary schools must be looking into things like that now. A school near me has marquees up for the kids to eat in, they are so limited on space otherwise. I expect the marquees to take off if we get any winter storms

You're definitely making the responsible choice @IsFuzzyBeagMise , hopefully other parents will too!

NI people - can someone clarify for me: under the new regs this week can we bubble with another household, even if neither are single, like before? So, can we (DH, 2 DDs and I) bubble with my parents??

Listening to Clare Byrne radio show. Reporter went to Bray to see if Dublin residents were breaking the county limit.
They were.
With some stupid excuses to the guards.
Covid restrictions don't apply to them, apparently.
Gardai very polite. They could do nothing.

I think there should be fines. Hit them where it hurts - their pockets. They might see sense.

That's shameful, LadyEloise. I agree, there is no deterrent.

I'm a little out of touch of what's happening in the North. I dont read the news that much. Is it in lockdown? I'm meant to be going to Belfast during Halloween break. Doing Titanic and the outdoor tourists sites.
I really dont know if I should go. I'm really nervous about going anyway these days.

iblinked Same, nervous about going anywhere.

I love doing a run to Belfast for a day out, but it's off the cards this year.

Was listening to Claire Byrne earlier and they had dr Gabriel Scally on. He said to treat the virus like "c

Hit the post button too soon..
He said to treat the virus like cigarette smoke .. couldn't hear all the interview as DD was emptying the pots and pans out of the drawer at the same time..
I think we will have to be creative re Halloween this year.. we will have to find new ways to enjoy it that don't involve going door to door especially in areas with older people .

@Iblinkedandiamold

I'm a little out of touch of what's happening in the North. I dont read the news that much. Is it in lockdown? I'm meant to be going to Belfast during Halloween break. Doing Titanic and the outdoor tourists sites. I really dont know if I should go. I'm really nervous about going anyway these days.

Not total lockdown - no mixing between households but restaurants, shops etc all open.

Iblinked......... I'm in NI and just as mrsfeatherbottom says the enhanced restrictions are mainly regarding households socialising inside. I was in Belfast city centre on Saturday with my 15 year old and we did our usual route of Primark, Primark, Primark with a side of Urban Outfitters . We had our lunch out and I was more than happy with the social distancing being enforced. We have very similar plans to yours over the Halloween break and are hopefully pressing ahead with them.Kids are going free at the Titanic Museum at the minute.

mrsfeatherbottom we were looking at that change with regards to bubbling. We've double checked and it looks like yes a household can now bubble exclusively with another household- one of the households no longer has to consist of just one adult.

Can anyone tell me what is the official situation now, in ROI, with regards over 70s? We haven't seen DH parents since January and have booked a hotel to visit in a couple of weeks time. They are both late 70s but in excellent health, no underlying conditions and very well and active. I hate the thought of bringing the DC to see them but not actually being able to hug them or be in close contact. Is this still really necessary? My own mum is late 60s and has been around all her grandchildren all the time, we wash our hands when we come in or out of course but don't wear masks and all has been fine. Are older GPs really not interacting with grandchildren at all? Our DC are 10 & 12 if that makes any difference.

Can anyone tell me what is the official situation now, in ROI, with regards over 70s?

What county are they in?

They are in the West, not in lockdown or anything, very few cases where they are.

And we're not in Dublin or a high-case area either.

Ok, you should be fine. These are the level 2 restrictions.

www.gov.ie/en/publication/18e18-level-2

Most of the country is at level 2. The exceptions are Dublin and Donegal.

It just says "Those aged 70 years and over and the medically vulnerable should exercise judgement regarding the extent to which they engage with others and in activities outside home."

I suppose I'm just wondering what other people are doing - are grandparents hugging grandchidren? or still looking at them through the window?

Most people I know are acting as normal. Presumably this is up to the grandparents in terms of what they feel comfortable with. But until we got level 3 slapped on us (Dublin) my kids were interacting normally with their grandparents.

They can’t see them now because they live outside the county.

The best time to interact normally with grandparents was early in the summer when numbers were really low.
It's a matter of personal choice really whether you allow children to hug or not. My parents live near us (also in their 70s with good health) and we have started limiting our contact a bit more.
They have not gone back to minding ds2 after school and we are trying to see them for brief outdoor visits.
However ds1 (secondary school) has called to them today after school, at their request.
It's hard to know what to do, and really down to personal choice/comfort with risk.
We're not likely to be at level 1 until some time next year, so we have to think about what is sustainable in the medium term.

It's very hard. One GP is super-anxious about it all, the other is cautious but at the same time very conscious of the fact that this could go on for a very long time and the need for human contact outweighs or is worth the risk? So hard to know what to do for the best.