Covid 19 Part XX-26,644 in ROI (1,772 deaths) 6,064 in NI (556 deaths) (08/08)Read OP

John O.Groats wrote: »

Did they give any explanations or even theories as to why this was happening?

The theory they had was that it was weakening but its impossible to know really.

Santy2015 wrote: »

FairPlay to this pub owner. More should do it.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40025078.html

She's not actually doing anything wrong. Could have opened weeks ago doing the same thing that she'll do from today

A relative out west said to me that the recent uptick in cases in Clare is due to a nursing home cluster. Cant find anything online relating to it myself so not sure how true it is.

Anyone out that way with any local knowledge ?

shinzon wrote: »

Am I right in thinking the Dail is off on it jollies for 6 weeks and this still hasnt been signed off on.



Shin

Correct hasn't been signed off yet but could be under the emergency powers so they don't need the Dail to be sitting.

Cabinet meeting still next Tuesday.

Legislation would need to be drafted and then brought before cabinet and if agreed just needs minister for health to sign it off under the emergency acts

polesheep wrote: »

Perhaps, but I was speaking in terms of public well-being.

Of course.

shinzon wrote: »

Am I right in thinking the Dail is off on it jollies for 6 weeks and this still hasnt been signed off on.



Shin

I think that's semi-intentional in that there's no great rush to do it. Mask wearing has increased overall since it was announced, even if people see low numbers at times in shops.

I was in Blanchardstown shopping center on Wednesday. More people are wearing masks now or so it seems to me.

But the compliance in An Post parcel collection center was not so good.

stephenjmcd wrote: »

Also ties in with the experience of Italy to name just one other country. Italian doctors were flagging weeks ago that they weren't seeing new cases translate into cases that needed hosptial treatment compared to what they experienced at the beginning

There is a phrase called 'harvesting' in epidemics which is the impression that the more vulnerable get hit first and succumb to the virus. What is actually happening is the virus is spreading heavily with lots of susceptible people available, and all are getting it. During this time, vulnerable get very sick and may die, fill up hospitals etc. Younger, less vulnerable people are getting it too, but are going unnoticed, or untested, due to overburdened public health systems. When the initial wave subsides, more cases are found as testing capacity improves.

This seems to be happening here as well. It appears like more young people are getting it, as we can see by the median age dropping, when it could be theorised that it is actually just less old people are getting it, and/or younger people are now being found to be infected with more accessible testing.

Interestingly, testing can 'keep the pandemic alive' by finding more cases. The more you test, the more you find, the worse the picture gets. A bit like trump saying if we didn't test, we'd have less cases. That's the extreme view, but obviously a true statement, but worded callously.

Numbers to watch are hospitalisations, ICU admissions, and deaths. Which all seem to be following similar patterns in most countries, whether it's Italy who were hit first, NY who were hit hard, UK who locked down late, Ireland who locked down arguably on-time, or Sweden who did not lock down officially. I'd love to see actual death rates from Spain, their recent change to reporting is suspect unfortunately.

stephenjmcd wrote: »

Also ties in with the experience of Italy to name just one other country. Italian doctors were flagging weeks ago that they weren't seeing new cases translate into cases that needed hosptial treatment compared to what they experienced at the beginning

Wasn't that just one doctor a couple of months ago? I don't think anybody else has claimed the virus was in some way weakening. My guess is that the more vulnerable are now better protected and the average age of those becoming infected is lower than it was.

What Username Guidelines wrote: »

There is a phrase called 'harvesting' in epidemics which is the impression that the more vulnerable get hit first and succumb to the virus. What is actually happening is the virus is spreading heavily with lots of susceptible people available, and all are getting it. During this time, vulnerable get very sick and may die, fill up hospitals etc. Younger, less vulnerable people are getting it too, but are going unnoticed, or untested, due to overburdened public health systems. When the initial wave subsides, more cases are found as testing capacity improves.

This seems to be happening here as well. It appears like more young people are getting it, as we can see by the median age dropping, when it could be theorised that it is actually just less old people are getting it, and/or younger people are now being found to be infected with more accessible testing.

Interestingly, testing can 'keep the pandemic alive' by finding more cases. The more you test, the more you find, the worse the picture gets. A bit like trump saying if we didn't test, we'd have less cases. That's the extreme view, but obviously a true statement, but worded callously.

Numbers to watch are hospitalisations, ICU admissions, and deaths. Which all seem to be following similar patterns in most countries, whether it's Italy who were hit first, NY who were hit hard, UK who locked down late, Ireland who locked down arguably on-time, or Sweden who did not lock down officially. I'd love to see actual death rates from Spain, their recent change to reporting is suspect unfortunately.

Agree with everything. Very well put tbf . The problem is that the virus is causing longer side effects to even very mild cases. Hospital cases, ICU and Deaths obviously take priority. But if a virus is let silently spread its likely to lead to more long term health problems in some minor cases which wasn't understood back in March. Post viral syndrome does seem to be emerging as a worrying development.

jammiedodgers wrote: »

From Reddit so take with a pinch of salt.

Cheers, I'm sure there'll be plenty of rumours. Couldn't find anything relating to Clare specifically myself so was wondering.

Ce he sin wrote: »

Wasn't that just one doctor a couple of months ago? I don't think anybody else has claimed the virus was in some way weakening. My guess is that the more vulnerable are now better protected and the average age of those becoming infected is lower than it was.

Agree with this. Virus is probably the same (unless science says otherwise), but most vulnerable are taking more precautions and we're better at testing. At least hopefully that's the case and there isn't a large undiagnosed spread.

I'd still hate to be a public health official, because you're walking this tightrope between the virus and the economy/society, and trying to make decisions based on very little information - knowing full well that the captain hindsights will be after you if you get it wrong. The stress must be unbelievable.