Galway COVID-19, local news and discussion

Bus to centre suggests 21min bus & 15min walk


Bike to centre is 21min

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Got my vaccine appointment on Saturday out in Ballybrit. Not ideal on a bank holiday Saturday afternoon as I imagine the traffic could be horrific. Just wondering how long I should give myself driving out from the city centre? And I hear the entrance isn't the main entrance but is at the back of the racecourse or something?

I usually just use Google maps which factor current traffic into pretty accurate estimates. Also, it's just a 20 min bike ride or a bit over an hour to walk there.

Shop St/ High St look like it’s a massive party form some WhatsApp videos going around. Looks nuts, but at least seems pretty good natured so far. Even fully vaccinated, I don’t think I’d fancy being in the middle of it!

Mervyn Skidmore wrote: »

Was in town around 5pm. Huge crowds drinking everywhere, plenty of rubbish on the streets and a strong stench of pi$$ coming from the portaloos. Wasn't a very welcoming place today.

Sooner the pubs are open the better. At least then it will all be in a controlled environment.

Salthill already jam-packed, heaving with humanity, long queues for the funfair rides

New general Covid info, I'm sharing because it's relevant to people in Galway because if we are aware we can be vigilant and hopefully keep our local area well and functional.

Symptoms of the newer Delta variant have changed somewhat.
From the Dr running the NHS ZOE program that tracks symptoms :

"Since the start of May, we have been looking at the top symptoms in the app users - and they are not the same as they were," he says.

The change appears linked to the rise in the Delta variant, first identified in India and now accounting for 90% of Covid cases in the UK.

Fever remains quite common but loss of smell no longer appears in the top 10 symptoms, Prof Spector says.

"This variant seems to be working slightly differently," he says.

"People might think they've just got some sort of seasonal cold and they still go out to parties and they might spread around to six other people.

"We think this is fuelling a lot of the problem.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57467051

I know lots of people who assume it's not Covid unless your smell is affected.


Most all between 60 -70 and huge numbers of very vulnerable still only have 1 dose of Astrazeneca and that only gives them 30% protection on average. Also we aren't sure how effective the vaccines are yet. A little extra caution now, particularly in avoiding older/vulnerable if you're unwell at all, while numbers are low could do a lot.

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

New general Covid info, I'm sharing because it's relevant to people in Galway because if we are aware we can be vigilant and hopefully keep our local area well and functional.

Symptoms of the newer Delta variant have changed somewhat.
From the Dr running the NHS ZOE program that tracks symptoms :



I know lots of people who assume it's not Covid unless your smell is affected.


Most all between 60 -70 and huge numbers of very vulnerable still only have 1 dose of Astrazeneca and that only gives them 30% protection on average. Also we aren't sure how effective the vaccines are yet. A little extra caution now, particularly in avoiding older/vulnerable if you're unwell at all, while numbers are low could do a lot.

Received my first dose of the AZ vaccine in early April. Second does on Monday.
It's a hell of a lot busier out at the racecourse than it was in April (as you'd expect). They have 2000+ appointments lined up per day for the next 3 weeks in the racecourse alone together with whatever gets done at local GP's and pharmacies etc so I'd exect a lot of bodies to be fully vaccinated in the next few weeks.

As far as the symptoms go, as far as I am concerned the symptons go from nothing to everything in between and combination of same.
The only way to know whether you have covid is with a test, preempted by a combination of symptoms and/or close contact with a known case.

klr87 wrote: »

I got my second shot (Moderna) at the racecourse this morning. I can endorse what others have said: It was very efficiently run from beginning to end, as I left the observation area just 30 minutes after my 10:20 appointment time. This despite the much larger numbers being processed - both second and first doses, judging by the apparent age profiles.

I'm feeling tired right now, but I doubt that's the dreaded second dose side-effects. Bit too soon for those. More like waking up at some ungodly hour this morning, and having done a lot of walking already today, most but not all of it getting too and from Ballybrit.

I am here now and it is very well run, can't fault it. I will be walking back to my car at 1450, 30 minutes after my scheduled time.

Any Galway cases of the Delta (Indian) variant?

oxygenman wrote: »

3 confirmed cases in GRETB training centre in Mervue yesterday, don't know if it's the Delta variant.
Wouldn't be surprised if there was a lot more, place is full of young people from all over the country.

Strange its not on the news if its true, have you proof of this there is nothing on their twitter or any other news platform surely if they had three cases they would close and isolate.

Any recent experiences with the delay between registering for the vaccine and the appointment date?

A new walk-in Covid testing centre will open 29th in the old tourist office Forster Street. Open 1000-1700 seven days