Off Topic Thread 4.0

Squidgy Black · 17-04-2020 08:33AM

thomond2006 wrote: »

This Keelings story is a headscratcher.

It's so bizarre. There was reports of zero social distancing in the chartered flight to bring them over, and you'd wonder where they're going to be accommodated and how they could apply a quarantine period to them.

And it's only for strawberries as well. I understand it'd probably be a massive income loss to keelings I'd they didn't do it, but it's still mental that 200 non citizens were allowed fly in during the lockdown and just walk straight on through Dublin airport

Panda Killa · 17-04-2020 08:50AM

Squidgy Black wrote: »

It's so bizarre. There was reports of zero social distancing in the chartered flight to bring them over, and you'd wonder where they're going to be accommodated and how they could apply a quarantine period to them.

And it's only for strawberries as well. I understand it'd probably be a massive income loss to keelings I'd they didn't do it, but it's still mental that 200 non citizens were allowed fly in during the lockdown and just walk straight on through Dublin airport

I don't see an issue.
They advertise every year for Irish workers...they don't apply.
The WHO and EU guidelines were followed on the flight.
It's not easy work...it's a low wage and accomodation is subtracted from pay.
They are all living on site, and not mixing with the general Irish populace.
There were more confirmed cases, and deaths from Covid in 1 day in Ireland than there has been during the whole pandemic in Bulgaria.
They have more to fear from the Irish tbf.

Buer · 17-04-2020 08:59AM

thomond2006 wrote: »

This Keelings story is a headscratcher.

Is it though? It's food production which is essential services. They need seasonal staff to harvest said food.

Lets be honest, are they going to be able to source a couple of hundred Irish people to pick strawberries in fields in north Dublin even with the current situation? I'd imagine the vast majority of people are going to be much happier collecting their €350 a week and watching Netflix.

I can understand it's far from desirable in the current situation and it gives a vehicle for complaints but I'd think that if they don't get those people in, they risk losing a significant chunk of the crop for the season. The workers are going to be based out on site and aren't going to have much scope to be out and about and mixing with crowds. If they're observing the required guidelines after arrival, I really don't see how Keelings could do anything else other than lose the crop.

DGRulz · 17-04-2020 09:19AM

https://www.facebook.com/335635313192033/posts/2857910290964510/

So basically ... its a complete non-story and some journo broke it before getting the facts so they could get some clicks?

Buer · 17-04-2020 09:25AM

Surprised we're not seeing a bigger deal being made of the announcement yesterday that the reproductive rate is now between 0.7 and 1. Forgive my feeble, non-scientific mind but my reading of that is now that active numbers should start to decrease from here if we're maintaining anything below 1?

Obviously, the death rate will probably continue to increase as we've seen the highest number of infections in recent weeks (although the backlog numbers from March are likely to no longer be active cases). It seems the activity and presence of cases within elderly care locations is now the greatest challenge and the ball was dropped here. I was baffled how these locations didn't go into lockdown instantly.

My company has a contract for maintaining a large chain of nursing homes throughout the Leinster area. After the lockdown commenced, these sites were still contacting our company/contractors for techs to come in and carry out elective repairs. On the first Monday after the lockdown (which was announced on Friday, I think), they were insistent that an electrician attend site to look at why there was no power to a television in a room. Crazy stuff.

Buer · 17-04-2020 09:30AM

DGRulz wrote: »

https://www.facebook.com/335635313192033/posts/2857910290964510/

So basically ... its a complete non-story and some journo broke it before getting the facts so they could get some clicks?

I read the first half dozen comments and now I think I have cancer.

People don't care if they've released a statement. They were already fully primed for outrage and they're not going to let any silly logic get in the way of at.

Im not buyin Keelings evr again. Lik if u agree.

17-04-2020 09:34AM

Keelings issue is a non story and the replies on that facebook post are a healthy reminder of the volume of idiots living among us.

This is also a bit of a sore point for your average brexit supporter who were certain this sort of thing would no longer be necessary.

Basically a lot of very low information people have gotten the wrong end of the stick and are upset. Again.

Bazzo · 17-04-2020 09:39AM

Buer wrote: »

Surprised we're not seeing a bigger deal being made of the announcement yesterday that the reproductive rate is now between 0.7 and 1. Forgive my feeble, non-scientific mind but my reading of that is now that active numbers should start to decrease from here if we're maintaining anything below 1?

Obviously, the death rate will probably continue to increase as we've seen the highest number of infections in recent weeks (although the backlog numbers from March are likely to no longer be active cases). It seems the activity and presence of cases within elderly care locations is now the greatest challenge and the ball was dropped here. I was baffled how these locations didn't go into lockdown instantly.

My company has a contract for maintaining a large chain of nursing homes throughout the Leinster area. After the lockdown commenced, these sites were still contacting our company/contractors for techs to come in and carry out elective repairs. On the first Monday after the lockdown (which was announced on Friday, I think), they were insistent that an electrician attend site to look at why there was no power to a television in a room. Crazy stuff.

Yes, in theory if the reproductive rate remains below 1 the virus will die out on its own. For that to happen it will need to get to that level consistently internationally or Ireland would need to close the borders though. Neither seems likely.

Squidgy Black · 17-04-2020 09:43AM

Keelings supports the 5g rollout.

You heard it here first.

Podge_irl · 17-04-2020 09:54AM

swiwi_ wrote: »

I’m actually surprised how fast Switzerland’s graph is heading down given the situation in neighbouring Italy and France. One thing about the Swiss: if you put out a decree it’s by and large strictly followed by the populace, especially in the German part. Unlike the French who love a good bit of rebellion, strikes, general mayhem.

What I find interesting is that the lockdown here was started earlier than UK/Ire but has never been as severe. Groups up to 5 still allowed, no restrictions really on travel within Switzerland. I see a lot of people out on the streets in Geneva, hordes of cyclists when I'm out cycling - though no large groups obviously. As the weather is getting nicer the lakeside is getting fairly busy - probably not as much as normal but still far from empty.

It nonetheless seems to be sufficient to be having an impact.

17-04-2020 10:17AM

Buer wrote: »

Surprised we're not seeing a bigger deal being made of the announcement yesterday that the reproductive rate is now between 0.7 and 1. Forgive my feeble, non-scientific mind but my reading of that is now that active numbers should start to decrease from here if we're maintaining anything below 1?

Obviously, the death rate will probably continue to increase as we've seen the highest number of infections in recent weeks (although the backlog numbers from March are likely to no longer be active cases). It seems the activity and presence of cases within elderly care locations is now the greatest challenge and the ball was dropped here. I was baffled how these locations didn't go into lockdown instantly.

My company has a contract for maintaining a large chain of nursing homes throughout the Leinster area. After the lockdown commenced, these sites were still contacting our company/contractors for techs to come in and carry out elective repairs. On the first Monday after the lockdown (which was announced on Friday, I think), they were insistent that an electrician attend site to look at why there was no power to a television in a room. Crazy stuff.

A big problem a lot of old folk homes have is agency staff. So homes that required no agency staff (you'll have to forgive my anecdotal evidence for this bit) seem to be ok, as it's just the same people in and out so tracing and containment is easier. 2 care homes I know went into hard lockdown 6 weeks ago.

But if you require an agency nurse you have someone who could possibly be in 3 different wards in different hospitals before getting to you.

Panda Killa · 17-04-2020 10:22AM

When you see pissant politicians like Ken O'Neil from cork weighing in with his hand wringing rubbish you'd despair of quite a large section of this countries populace..
I can't wait for Gemma O'Doherty to tell us the Bulgarians are in league with the devil and strawberries are the route to our souls

thomond2006 · 17-04-2020 10:28AM

Buer wrote: »

Is it though? It's food production which is essential services. They need seasonal staff to harvest said food.

Lets be honest, are they going to be able to source a couple of hundred Irish people to pick strawberries in fields in north Dublin even with the current situation? I'd imagine the vast majority of people are going to be much happier collecting their €350 a week and watching Netflix.

I can understand it's far from desirable in the current situation and it gives a vehicle for complaints but I'd think that if they don't get those people in, they risk losing a significant chunk of the crop for the season. The workers are going to be based out on site and aren't going to have much scope to be out and about and mixing with crowds. If they're observing the required guidelines after arrival, I really don't see how Keelings could do anything else other than lose the crop.

It's a surprise to me that the flights were allowed. I've no issue with the workers themselves.

17-04-2020 11:14AM

Podge_irl wrote: »

What I find interesting is that the lockdown here was started earlier than UK/Ire but has never been as severe. Groups up to 5 still allowed, no restrictions really on travel within Switzerland. I see a lot of people out on the streets in Geneva, hordes of cyclists when I'm out cycling - though no large groups obviously. As the weather is getting nicer the lakeside is getting fairly busy - probably not as much as normal but still far from empty.

It nonetheless seems to be sufficient to be having an impact.

The big numbers are where this virus becomes a real problem. Once it goes beyond a certain spread it's impossible to track and trace and it will explode on the health service in concentrated pockets like in Italy.

Even the difference of days can stop tens of thousands of people getting infected and make controlling things substantially easier.

I think we (Ireland) were likely a week or so late in the clampdown but still early enough that it looks like we have some kind of handle on the disease spread.

pickarooney · 17-04-2020 01:44PM

Podge_irl wrote: »

What I find interesting is that the lockdown here was started earlier than UK/Ire but has never been as severe. Groups up to 5 still allowed, no restrictions really on travel within Switzerland. I see a lot of people out on the streets in Geneva, hordes of cyclists when I'm out cycling - though no large groups obviously. As the weather is getting nicer the lakeside is getting fairly busy - probably not as much as normal but still far from empty.

It nonetheless seems to be sufficient to be having an impact.

French people seem to be by and large obeying the rules, at least in the small area I've moved in over the last 5 weeks. It's hard to say if it's having any significant impact.

irishbucsfan · 17-04-2020 02:05PM

Panda Killa wrote: »

I don't see an issue.
They advertise every year for Irish workers...they don't apply.
The WHO and EU guidelines were followed on the flight.
It's not easy work...it's a low wage and accomodation is subtracted from pay.
They are all living on site, and not mixing with the general Irish populace.
There were more confirmed cases, and deaths from Covid in 1 day in Ireland than there has been during the whole pandemic in Bulgaria.
They have more to fear from the Irish tbf.

Having lived in Sofia for a bit a few years ago I’d be incredibly skeptical of any numbers they put out! Not that I think there’s be a huge number of cases or a giant conspiracy, the population just have a very different relationship with whatever government is in power this week than we’d have over here and it’d make it almost impossible to get anywhere near the same sort of data. All for pretty good reasons to be fair. I’d be shocked if their data for Sofia is accurate, let alone rural areas!

If you’re in public without a face mask there currently you can get fined 5,000 lev on the spot I’ve heard. That’s 4-5 months wages for average people. So I’d say their number of cases are indeed pretty low, and would be across most ex-soviet states where they can get away with that sort of strong armed law making still. But the flip side of that is you’re never going to get people to voluntarily get tested in a country where the government own your labour book.

Rigor Mortis · 17-04-2020 03:48PM

Saw this response on a FB thread earlier and I want to turn it into a movie

"Dead People Don't Eat Strawberries"

molloyjh · 17-04-2020 07:48PM

Whiskey brewers dont use strawberries or raspberries either......D*ve!

Zzippy · 17-04-2020 09:24PM

molloyjh wrote: »

Whiskey brewers dont use strawberries or raspberries either......D*ve!

That was the best facepalm moment of the day!

molloyjh · 18-04-2020 09:03AM

Zzippy wrote: »

That was the best facepalm moment of the day!

That he kept replying was just as funny!

irishbucsfan · 18-04-2020 10:26AM

Zzippy wrote: »

That was the best facepalm moment of the day!

It was obviously a joke... right?

18-04-2020 10:36AM

I'd say there is a growing chance there will be a lifting of some restrictions at some point in May. I think the Government is to release a plan outlining the stages of return by the end of the month which will be pretty welcome at this stage.

On the flip side the world outside of Ireland is rapidly becoming more alarming. Growing risk of famine in east Africa and the coronavirus taking hold on the wider continent. Brazil about to descend into a humanitarian catastriohe and the American president calling on American's to overthrow the ... government?

Clegg · 18-04-2020 11:12AM

How safe would we say supermarkets are atm. SuperValu had a computer fudge up so we've had to go into the store and pick up groceries rather than pick up click and collect.

Obviously the main risk is now from close contact, but it would be reassuring if there wasn't a high likelihood.

18-04-2020 11:13AM

Clegg wrote: »

How safe would we say supermarkets are atm. SuperValu had a computer fudge up so we've had to go into the store and pick up groceries rather than pick up click and collect.

Obviously the main risk is now from close contact, but it would be reassuring if there wasn't a high likelihood.

Growing evidence that shops are relatively safe provided there aren't actively infected people there at the same time as you.

Stheno · 18-04-2020 11:19AM

Clegg wrote: »

How safe would we say supermarkets are atm. SuperValu had a computer fudge up so we've had to go into the store and pick up groceries rather than pick up click and collect.

Obviously the main risk is now from close contact, but it would be reassuring if there wasn't a high likelihood.

My local Supervalu have sanitiser and paper towel at the entrance and gloves if you want them also and have markings on the floor

They also open till about 10 or 11pm so I tend to go in after 7:30 and it tends to be quiet

Where I live though, we have two Lidls, two Aldis two or three Tescos, two Dunnes and two Supervalus

The one I go to would be one of the smaller ones it's about a quarter the size of the main one

One of the Dunnes and Lidls is a couple of minutes walk from my house and has queues most days

If you can go later

molloyjh · 18-04-2020 11:24AM

We do weekly shop (one of the two of us) in store every week. Use the sanitizer on the way in & out & make sure you arent too close to anyone for too long and you should be fine. We havent had an issue with distancing in weeks so as long as you're looking after your own side of things theres no reason to worry.

Clegg · 18-04-2020 11:25AM

Stheno wrote: »

My local Supervalu have sanitiser and paper towel at the entrance and gloves if you want them also and have markings on the floor

They also open till about 10 or 11pm so I tend to go in after 7:30 and it tends to be quiet

Where I live though, we have two Lidls, two Aldis two or three Tescos, two Dunnes and two Supervalus

The one I go to would be one of the smaller ones it's about a quarter the size of the main one

One of the Dunnes and Lidls is a couple of minutes walk from my house and has queues most days

If you can go later

SuperValu Lucan has all of that. So the general hygiene thing isn't an issue as such. Suppose it's still just the anxiety that you come too close to someone who may have it. Obviously that's not a healthy way to view things, but that's my worry.

Would've liked to have gone later, but was en route to collect the shipping from click and collect when SuperValu rang to say it was unavailable.

Stheno · 18-04-2020 11:28AM

Clegg wrote: »

SuperValu Lucan has all of that. So the general hygiene thing isn't an issue as such. Suppose it's still just the anxiety that you come too close to someone who may have it. Obviously that's not a healthy way to view things, but that's my worry.

Would've liked to have gone later, but was en route to collect the shipping from click and collect when SuperValu rang to say it was unavailable.

Try not to worry, most people are being as cautious as you tbh

18-04-2020 11:36AM

Best being sued by Jackson's lawyers. What a mess.

18-04-2020 11:37AM

I'd go to the biggest shop you can. Tesco in mount merrion is massive so there's loads of room for everyone. The likes of SuperValu in ranelagh is quite tight so you are on top of people.

Off Topic Thread 4.0

Comments