Coronavirus Part V - 34 cases in ROI, 16 in NI (as of 10 March) *Read warnings in OP*

STB. wrote: »

It has been downplayed here by medical representatives with a clear mantra not to scare people. Lobby groups have been extensive air time to protect their own interests.



Like Italy, ridiculous comparisons with the flu have been "bandied about" to downplay this pandemic with no known viral treatment.



They were running the same testing regime, i.e. not testing at all, unless you were displaying respiratory issues and a fever.

Many of those not meeting testing criteria where asked to "voluntarily" isolate. Many didn't for economic reasons or the everyday inconvenience.

It spread to communities. The ability to carry out contact traceability became academic.



We have had children who have returned from Northern Italy in recent weeks who were told by the HSE to return to school, at the same time the NHS (including NI) was telling those who returned from similar trips to self isolate. Infact as recent as last week, the HSE and D/Education had issued advice prohibiting any immediate planned skiing trips by schools.



Many returning may never show symptoms and community spread is/was inevitable.



Then we had a Doctor in the West, who had returned from Italy and was carrying out his everyday doctoring duties in the community, despite showing symptoms. Now himself and his family are among the positive numbers. Contact tracing would have been a nightmare.



There are a large number of front line health workers who have had to "voluntarily" isolate because they have been potentially exposed to the virus. One of the latest to be diagnosed down in Bon Secours was sitting in ICU for a period of time before being tested for coronavirus. They have advised staff who have had contact with the patient and who are displaying "symptoms" of coronavirus to self isolate.



The hospitals in Northern Italy who are streets ahead of ours are fire fighting, so much so that surgeons are forced to turn to the media to tell how bad it is in order to get the public's attention.


Our hospitals are not equipped to deal with the increased numbers which are now inevitable, due to the do nothing approach in testing, preventing visitors to or from badly effected regions, putting in preventive spread measures (at mass gatherings) and general playing down by those advising due to economic influences.


There is ample evidence.

New Home wrote: »

It definitely is embarrassing for the vast majority of the doctors I've had to deal with.