Coronavirus Part III - 9 cases across the Island - 503 errors abound!! *read OP*

51 new cases in Spain, it is the fourth EU state to have more than 200 cases, Germany reports 41 new cases bringing it 244

The parades need to be cancelled as a matter of a urgency.

Also the Limerick International band parade on the 15th needs to be nixed too.

A lot of the bands attending there will also be moving up to Dublin for the "Big" parade on the 17th.

Bringing together so many people, so many international travellers and indeed even the "local' travel within Ireland!
Be it bands or community groups heading up to Dublin to participate in the Big show, or just the local parade.
It needs to be postponed/cancelled or just abandoned.

Moving people towards crowded and exposed interactions, is a risk that does not need to be taken.

caveat emptor wrote: »

I'm not I'm referring to common sense. N95 Masks and above do prevent viral transmission of various pathogens hence their use in a health setting. Their is ample academic research on the topic if you would care to look into.

I think that there is also research that most people wouldn't be able to use effectively. I hate when my face gets itchy so I'd probably scratch it. Then die. So would be ineffective in practice without extensive training. There is also evidence out of china of being infected via eyes. Hence need for goggles or full face respirator.

That is a lot to cover and take a lot of time to verify best believe the nice HSE person.

Of course you could just apply common sense and ask a good question like , "why is everyone who knows anything about this stuff either professionally or personally wearing a mask" Why is every country securing their supply of them. Either we are right and rest of world wrong or rest of world is right and we are wrong.

We don't have masks so best to extend and pretend.

I am not quite sure but you seem to be agreeing that face masks are not effective as a general public prophylactic (for whatever reasons). As you say, the N95 standard is the only one that may be effective in some circumstances but this does not seem to be the one we see in mass use in the Far East.

There are far more effective ways that we in the general public can act to protect ourselves, particularly around hygiene standards. And, yes, we if we want to be responsible (and propect ourselves in the long run) we should be reserving them for people who are trained to use them and people who need them because they are in front line contact with the virus - or people who may be infected, to stop the spread.. Instead of turning it into a conspiracy or a paranoid rant, and tying to draw WHO into it as a support:

caveat emptor wrote: »

Exactly the difference in approach is evident and based on European CDC decision that we (Europe) can't contain it. (see previous post) WHO is in disagreement with this and thinks it can be contained based on places like Singapore and HongKong.

But as other posters have stated what that means in practice HSE telling people "masks not effective" cause we don't have any.

WHO have not advised face masks for general use - based on evidence, I assume, but then lacking access to your "common sense".

The Government needs to clarify what will happen to people in the gig economy, part time unemployment etc.

The core of the plan depends on everyone being responsible and self isolating, if it is necessary to do so.

Those workers need some assurance that they won't starve or get evicted if they self-isolate, otherwise they will have no choice but to work and the virus will most probably spread unchecked.

RugbyLad11 wrote: »

They have a completely different mentality than the "sure it will be grand" Irish mentality.

Everyone in china wear a mask so even if someone has the virus its much moredifficult to spread it

• They literally shut the entire province of Wuhan down, with temperature checks when entering your own apartment...this will never happen in Ireland

The advantage we have compared to Wuhan is that Ireland is not as densely populated. It will be easier to identify clusters and limit community spread to some extent

Pacifico wrote: »

Who exactly would be responsible for cancelling st patrick's day parades and events?

Likely Dublin City council at first but then the governement can obviously tell them to cancel.
One of our clients is participating (I had a call with them yesterday) and they are expecting it to be cancelled but waiting on word from DCC.

Local councils for the ones around the rest of the country.

6 weeks ago the death toll in China was 17 with more than 550 infections.
1 weeks ago the death toll had risen to 2,595 while the total number of cases reached 77,262. They are reporting that numbers have levelled off.

In Italy, the region of Lombardy reported the first local transmission of the virus with three new cases bringing the total in the country to six infections on the 21st of Feb. A week and a half later there are 77 recorded deaths from 2,502 cases.

With the UKs infection rate jumping today it seems only a matter of time before ours does as well. Some strong leadership is going to be needed from government to make hard decisions now re flight restrictions and mass participation public events.

The figures above give an opportunity to glimpse into the future in terms of time lines.

Pacifico wrote: »

Who exactly would be responsible for cancelling st patrick's day parades and events?

Another Simon Harris solo run should do the trick.

caveat emptor wrote: »

Why do other countries mandate it then and we don't? The country who has had the largest exposure to the new virus has made it mandatory when venturing outside.

To stop people who may have the infection from spreading it. Not to prevent being infected.

Pacifico wrote: »

Who exactly would be responsible for cancelling st patrick's day parades and events?

The ultimate authority in this will likely come from the insurers.

There are emergency powers available, but there's a good bit of red tape. Most likely what will happen is that there will be official advice from the Dept. of Health / HSE that large-scale public gatherings should not go ahead, and they will specifically mention the likes of the Paddy's day festival.

DCC and the Festival organisers will consult with the insurers to find out what kind of compensation is available for the costs already incurred and whether they are still insured if they go ahead.

If the insurance say they will still cover the parade and will not compensate if they cancel now, then it will go ahead.

If the insurers offer to compensate for the cancellation and will withdraw cover if it goes ahead, then it will be cancelled.

caveat emptor wrote: »

Most people who have ever cared for a sick relative / loved one are "front line" medical staff. Especially during an epidemic / emergency. That's why airlines say attend to your oxygen mask before helping children. You are no use to them if you are dead.

Not disagreeing with you there. But that is different from everyone going about their daily lives in public wearing a mask as a prophylactic.

It has been said that warm weather will kill virus.

Can someone explain how virus has now spread to British woman in Tenerife hotel, unconnected to original Italian group. Temperatures in 20s during day and people isolating outdoors in sun.

Why don't we just scrap St. Patricks day completely and stop celebrating a man who helped wipe out Irish culture and took part in a genocide of Irish people.

We look like idiots celebrating this man every year.

I guess people still go to mass too despite the churches disgraceful activities here for centuries. All morons.

Fics wrote: »

Sounds like Ireland is taking the American Approach.

No tests unless you've travelled from an effected area or have been in close contact with a confirmed case.

Doesn't bode well for either of us...

https://twitter.com/into_the_brush/status/1234685467682979840?s=19

They are getting rid of the testing restrictions in the US now. Anyone who has reason to believe they may be infected can be tested