CoVid19 Part X - 1,564 cases ROI (9 deaths) 209 in NI (7 deaths) (25 March) *Read OP*

bilston wrote: »

Does anyone think they will open then?

If the lockdowns/govt measures work as they should, maybe schools could re-open in June, but at that stage I would expect govt will decide it's not worth the risk and the closures will extend until September.

I would say end of May would be a good bet. All the indications are that the virus has an 8-10 week cycle and then starts to lessen.

On South Korea:
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/south-korea-coronavirus


The backbone of Korea’s success has been mass, indiscriminate testing, followed by rigorous contact tracing and the quarantine of anyone the carrier has come into contact with. As of March 19, the country has conducted more than 307,000 tests, the highest per capita in the world. The UK has conducted 64,600; The US even less that. “You have countries like the US right now, where there's a fairly strict criteria of who can be tested,” says Kee Park, a lecturer on global health at Harvard Medical School. “I know people personally who have symptoms that are highly suspicious, but they don't meet all the criteria and so they're not being tested.”

“[South Korea’s] extensive testing is a very valuable tool to both control the virus and understand and measure the effectiveness of the responses that are taking place,” says Michael Mina, assistant professor at the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics at Harvard University. “It’s allowed individuals to take matters into their own hands and make social distancing decisions on their own, both to protect those around them and to protect themselves from those who are infected around them.”

To carry out testing at this scale requires extraordinary coordination. The Wall Street Journal reports that the country can test more than 20,000 people a day at 633 testing sites nationwide. A smartphone app provides GPS maps to track the infection’s spread. Medics pitch massive white tents on roadsides, where citizens receive free drive through testing, reducing the need to clean infected hazmat suits. Results are swift, too, coming by text within 24 hours.

JDD wrote: »

I don't think the government's policy is for us all to stay indoors forever either. They're just trying to avoid the initial surge while the health system is still in transition - and every extra day will provide additional resources, beds, staff, doctors etc. Also every further day we can reduce the number of infections in the next three months will allow further research into the virus, with better treatments, and better experienced health workers.

We may be able to loosen restrictions in June or July. At that point there will be thousands who had have the virus and have recovered. They will be able to go back to work, or indeed may be able to assist with the contact tracing. We are probably hoping that warmer weather will destroy the virus somewhat, and we can go back to opening cafes and restaurants and shops, with social distancing still encouraged. Those who work from home will probably continue to do so. The real catch will be whether childcare facilities will be allowed to reopen. I guess that will depend on the rate of infections at that stage.

What brave politician is going to announce the relaxing of restrictions and get the blame from the fickle Irish public for any deaths or infections that occur subsequently. Also we can expect a tsunami of lawsuits from people who will blame ‘the state’ for getting the virus.

gabeeg wrote: »

No, we're now going against WHO guidelines

Actually we're using the latest definition from WHO so no we are not. Resetting our system where 94% tested are not infected is an obvious move. Then we will continue with test, test test.

He explained that Ireland’s response was based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines which encompass social distancing and social restrictions accompanied by heavy testing, contact tracing and quarantine.

Curious_Case wrote: »

It follows that being positive may contrast to being negative in terms of outcome.

Sigh. If only that were true

STB. wrote: »

Varadkar is telling people we are following the South Korea model. We are doing nothing of the sort.

Yep I was astonished when I heard that!

And it is not just about testing. Varadkar must not have seen pictures of South Korea with everyone wearing masks, must not have seen their policies with regards to screening/restricting people entering the country, and must not know the extend of their contact tracking and confinement enforcement policies. Either that or he is deliberately lying when he is saying we are supposedly "following the South Korean model".

dougm1970 wrote: »

that nephew of mine....the 16 yr old.....who was very sick last week, but nearly fully recovered now....he got sick 10 days ago and was waiting all last week for a test, was told every day they would try and get to him next day.....dunno if theres any point at all now, is there ?

bit of background....he was extremely sick, couldnt get out of bed to shower for 3 days of it...fever (39.1)...persistent dry cough, headache, sick stomaOch...his face was so swollen and red...hes very fit, does boxing and football, and never sick, fit as a hare with no weight on him...and its the fact that he has those symptoms on that week...he had to self-isolate until next week, not just to the house, but to his bedroom only.
family are all on isolation...my wife getting their shopping etc and leaving at their gate.

anyway...my question is...is testing him at this stage worthwhile at all ?

OMG how did he still not get tested but others with mild symptoms did

Roger_007 wrote: »

What brave politician is going to announce the relaxing of restrictions and get the blame from the fickle Irish public for any deaths or infections that occur subsequently. Also we can expect a tsunami of lawsuits from people who will blame ‘the state’ for getting the virus.

It's not a political call. National Public Health Emergency Team will make the recommendation.

Renee Kind Historian wrote: »

Are you just ignoring all the information in the last 2 pages or so that shows we're already at about half S.Korea's per capita levels of testing despite being weeks behind them in terms of the virus taking hold?

RTE Radio is reporting that the HSE will only test people with symptoms.

Sono Topolino wrote: »

Rolling back testing right now is a complete joke. Claire Byrne had no fever!

I can’t believe people still think it’s ok to go out jogging, panting into people’s faces. Should be banned.

And kids hanging out in large groups in parks with not a Garda in sight. Time for martial law!

Enforced by?

Sono Topolino wrote: »

Rolling back testing right now is a complete joke. Claire Byrne had no fever!

I can’t believe people still think it’s ok to go out jogging, panting into people’s faces. Should be banned.

And kids hanging out in large groups in parks with not a Garda in sight. Time for martial law!

They are rolling it back, they are reorganising it so that they identify more cases.

Renee Kind Historian wrote: »

Jesus christ we are not rolling back testing, what the hell are you on about?

"Those seeking Covid-19 test must display two major symptoms under new rules"

RTE News.
https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0325/1126202-those-seeking-test-must-display-two-major-symptoms/

"New rules have been introduced for Covid-19 testing, which means patients will need to meet revised criteria to qualify in future.

Patients will have to display two major symptoms - a fever and either a cough or shortness of breath - and fall into a priority group in order to be tested.

These are close contacts of a confirmed case, healthcare staff and vulnerable groups."

tobefrank321 wrote: »

The contrast in leadership between China and the EU is remarkable. The Chinese took time to react but when they did, they declared war on this, locking down and shutting down all transport in and out of Hubei province.
The EU did nothing when it was clear Northern Italy was the epicentre in Europe.

Bavaria could have been Europe's Hubei province, but the German authorities failed to act and isolate possible cases there. Northern Italy is in the state it's in thanks in no small part to a German worker who instead of following advice to self isolate went ahead with their planned holiday trip. Italy had already shutdown flights from China and was screening people who had been there. The authorities had no reason to suspect a German national with no history of travel to China would be their undoing.

dougm1970 wrote: »

that nephew of mine....the 16 yr old.....who was very sick last week, but nearly fully recovered now....he got sick 10 days ago and was waiting all last week for a test, was told every day they would try and get to him next day.....dunno if theres any point at all now, is there ?

bit of background....he was extremely sick, couldnt get out of bed to shower for 3 days of it...fever (39.1)...persistent dry cough, headache, sick stomach...his face was so swollen and red...hes very fit, does boxing and football, and never sick, fit as a hare with no weight on him...and its the fact that he has those symptoms on that week...he had to self-isolate until next week, not just to the house, but to his bedroom only.
family are all on isolation...my wife getting their shopping etc and leaving at their gate.

anyway...my question is...is testing him at this stage worthwhile at all ?

He should get an antibody test to test for iM or iG antibodies to determine if he had covid-19.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4P91VrfPGw&feature=emb_logo

Though i'm suspecting that Ireland doesn't perform such a test.