Galway COVID-19, local news and discussion

kippy · 31-05-2021 11:03am

beardybrewer wrote: »

I'm at risk and still waiting to be vaccinated. There are loads of people still waiting. There are also loads of people in at-risk cohorts who still haven't had their second jabs yet. So we're still a ways away from saying those who want protection have it by now.

Then there's the argument that nobody lives in a bubble. So while young people parting may not be concerned about themselves or their friends you have to remember when they go to a shop or go home they may be passing it to someone who may have a bad outcome.

Last, the new Indian variant is 3x more transmissible than the UK variant which was already bad news. Given the crowds and the still, sunny days there is no guarantee being outdoors won't result in a superspreader event. Fingers crossed our luck holds but there's a certain amount of tempting fate going on we could do without.

Sorry to hear you haven't gotten the first dose of anything - are you Galway based? Have you done anything to try push along the vaccine for yourself?

biko · 02-06-2021 6:28pm

Posts about other countries, other cities and posts not related to covid in Galway removed,
Read the title before posting.
Stay covid, stay local.

_Whimsical_ · 02-06-2021 7:05pm

biko wrote: »

Posts about other countries, other cities and posts not related to covid in Galway removed,
Read the title before posting.
Stay covid, stay local.

But latest information on the subject of Covid informs people to alter behaviour as newer information comes to light. Sometimes the general is the particular and this is one of those situations, it avoids problems before they arrive at our door. Keeps all of us safer locally, keeps our shops open, our social lives viable?

My post was a Guardian article about hospitalisations in part of the UK affected by the Indian variant where 50% of those needing care are now vaccinated. That info is just as relevant in Galway as anywhere else in the world relying on vaccination program. A little extra care with that info in mind, particularly in high risk groups, saves local suffering.

saabsaab · 02-06-2021 10:41pm

I wonder is there anywhere you can see % vaccinated by county etc.? I guess that in theory as it is mainly by age all should be similar if all age groups are equally represented in every county?

02-06-2021 11:24pm

saabsaab wrote: »

I wonder is there anywhere you can see % vaccinated by county etc.? I guess that in theory as it is mainly by age all should be similar if all age groups are equally represented in every county?

Since the hack the numbers reporting has been totally borked

We're honestly lucky that we can get totals at the moment

John_Rambo · 02-06-2021 11:51pm

saabsaab wrote: »

I wonder is there anywhere you can see % vaccinated by county etc.? I guess that in theory as it is mainly by age all should be similar if all age groups are equally represented in every county?

You can request county by county vaccination stats on the HSE website, if enough people request it it may happen.

If you look at the various county threads on boards.ie it's fairly interesting, various experiences and how fast people are being vaccinated, how it's being carried out, what vaccines and who's doing it. It seems fairly steady and equal throughout the country with a few interesting exemptions with one small wealthy area getting amazing expedited vaccinations.

Edit

**note... Just saw Biko's post. If you get any info on other counties or countries don't post it here. Local info only allowed by the mods.. It's their baby.... All non-local posts removed.

JCX BXC · 03-06-2021 12:06am

saabsaab wrote: »

I wonder is there anywhere you can see % vaccinated by county etc.? I guess that in theory as it is mainly by age all should be similar if all age groups are equally represented in every county?

You can't even get the national vaccine numbers, nevermind any sort of breakdown.

There's something very wrong about being forced to continue under these restrictions and being refused the data relevant to lifting these.

Disgraceful they're still.not releasing figures. Even if only the vaccine center figures, they need to be released ASAP for transparency. NPHET have enough data to inform the government, why can't they share this with us? The only data the public get are the tidbids they give the media.

Gadgetman496 · 03-06-2021 5:16pm

2.9m vaccines nationwide according to the HSE today.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0603/1225826-watch-latest-hse-covid-19-briefing/

Utopia Parkway · 04-06-2021 12:19am

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?

JCX BXC · 04-06-2021 12:43am

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?

You'd be worse going on a midweek evening, give yourself at least 30 minutes to drive out.

Mrs OBumble · 04-06-2021 1:02am

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?

Entrance is from the Parkmore Road. Well signposted. Use BnaD, 30 mins should get fine unless you get stuck leaving the city centre. Maybe allow 45 if you think there's a chance of that.

zell12 · 04-06-2021 1:28am

Bus to centre suggests 21min bus & 15min walk

Bike to centre is 21min

klr87 · 04-06-2021 12:44pm

I will defer to people who have more experience with the traffic, but I imagine much will depend on the time of day (how busy might Briarhill get with Saturday afternoon shopping?), and maybe even what the weather is like.

Being a non-driver: I decided to walk to and from the vaccination centre, and cut out all the uncertainty involved with taking the bus. This is even with the 401 stopping very close by my home both out and back. 'Twas a tidy step from Grattan, but nothing I couldn't manage*.

*circa 70 minutes/9100 steps each way, in case you're wondering

beardybrewer · 04-06-2021 3:53pm

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.

what_traffic · 04-06-2021 5:56pm

From maps zell12 posted - is the N6 entrance/exit open during specific time periods?

ratracer · 06-06-2021 10:14pm

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 · 06-06-2021 10:20pm

ratracer wrote: »

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!

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.

ben.schlomo · 06-06-2021 10:53pm

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.

klr87 · 07-06-2021 6:19am

ratracer wrote: »

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!

I walked by all the crowds fro the Claddagh to Eyre Square early on Saturday evening, and it was getting quite busy even then. In the minds of many people, it seems there is nothing to worry about. Or maybe they just don't care.

It's still got some way to go to match a summer's evening in "normal" times, when High Street can be impassable. As I like to say, you'd need a pitchfork in one hand and a cattle prod in the other to get through.

zell12 · 07-06-2021 1:12pm

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

Mrs OBumble · 07-06-2021 1:35pm

ratracer wrote: »

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!

It was a lot better yesterday than it was last weekend.

It's going to be interesting to watch the transition from stand around street drinking to seated "dining" today.

puddles59 · 12-06-2021 3:55pm

Hi,
I have an appointment in the racecourse for my vaccine on Wednesday at 11..just wondering if anyone knows could I arrive at a different time or does it have to be at that specific time.
TIA.

ratracer · 12-06-2021 4:17pm

puddles59 wrote: »

Hi,
I have an appointment in the racecourse for my vaccine on Wednesday at 11..just wondering if anyone knows could I arrive at a different time or does it have to be at that specific time.
TIA.

On the text you received, it should have given you an option to change appointment date. If you don’t, and you rock in at a different time, you won’t be admitted.

_Whimsical_ · 14-06-2021 4:15pm

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.

Gadgetman496 · 16-06-2021 4:51pm

Galway City Council has now confirmed that outdoor dining measures will be introduced at Dominick Street Upper from this Friday.

The street will be closed to traffic every evening between 6PM and 11PM, between Dominick Street Lower and William Street West.

kippy · 16-06-2021 5:30pm

_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 · 17-06-2021 1:58pm

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.

NTC · 17-06-2021 2:46pm

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.

CruelSummer · 21-06-2021 7:56pm

https://amp.rte.ie/amp/1229376/?__twitter_impression=true

Good old Galway. Imagine being closed for nearly 18 months & then having to deal with this sh** when being told they can only trade outdoors - on top of mounting debt, struggling to hire staff, trying to maintain outdoor areas in Irish weather. Absolutely ridiculous.

21-06-2021 8:03pm

CruelSummer wrote: »

https://amp.rte.ie/amp/1229376/?__twitter_impression=true

Good old Galway. Imagine being closed for nearly 18 months & then having to deal with this sh** when being told they can only trade outdoors - on top of mounting debt, struggling to hire staff, trying to maintain outdoor areas in Irish weather. Absolutely ridiculous.

The law can be so troublesome sometimes

saabsaab · 21-06-2021 9:12pm

The increase in the Indian variant may delay indoor pub opening too.

zell12 · 21-06-2021 11:58pm

Any Galway cases of the Delta (Indian) variant?

oxygenman · 22-06-2021 8:12am

zell12 wrote: »

Any Galway cases of the Delta (Indian) variant?

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.

Storm 10 · 22-06-2021 9:57am

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.

kippy · 22-06-2021 10:06am

Storm 10 wrote: »

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.

How would it be on the news?
Does every cluster of Covid cases make the news?

These organisations are operating with strict Covid protocols using pods, limited numbers in classes, limited contact time etc
It's likely that if the story is true, public health will do a risk assessment and based on that a decision will be made on closing the pod/group and/or maybe more.
As far as I am aware the centre is closed to the public, outside of critical classes and essential staff.

There have been multiple cases in schools/colleges/pre-schools and workplaces over the past while that generally haven't resulted in a full scale closure.

xckjoo · 22-06-2021 11:35am

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

JoeA3 · 22-06-2021 12:17pm

xckjoo wrote: »

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

Seems random. My wife had an appointment within a couple of days. For me, it was nearly 2 weeks. I've heard of others getting one within hours of registering and some waiting weeks... not much pattern to it that I can see.

22-06-2021 12:31pm

JoeA3 wrote: »

Seems random. My wife had an appointment within a couple of days. For me, it was nearly 2 weeks. I've heard of others getting one within hours of registering and some waiting weeks... not much pattern to it that I can see.

I thought they were working down through oldest to youngest of those registered, not by registration order. Would that make sense in your scenario?

So a 36 year old cold register today, a 39 year old tomorrow and the 39 year old could be called a week or two earlier.

JoeA3 · 22-06-2021 1:30pm

VanWildcard wrote: »

I thought they were working down through oldest to youngest of those registered, not by registration order. Would that make sense in your scenario?

So a 36 year old cold register today, a 39 year old tomorrow and the 39 year old could be called a week or two earlier.

Nope. Seems much more random than that. There’s only a few months in age between my wife and I. I have friends a year or two younger than me who were called earlier than I was. This is the pattern I hear anecdotally from others too.

zell12 · 25-06-2021 6:37am

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

Wompa1 · 29-06-2021 11:17am

JoeA3 wrote: »

Nope. Seems much more random than that. There’s only a few months in age between my wife and I. I have friends a year or two younger than me who were called earlier than I was. This is the pattern I hear anecdotally from others too.

My twin and myself registered 1 day apart. We got the text notification within an hour of each other and we've both got an appointment on the exact same day at the exact same time.

tobdom · 29-06-2021 11:53am

Very impressive operation at the Vaccination Centre at the Racecourse. Had the 1st jab there yesterday, really well run.

29-06-2021 12:22pm

Is there any word on what will happen with vaccines in Galway around the time of the races?

GerardKeating · 29-06-2021 4:59pm

Johnny0Toole wrote: »

Is there any word on what will happen with vaccines in Galway around the time of the races?

I assume the same as with Limerick Race Course, it will stop for any race meeting.

29-06-2021 6:01pm

GerardKeating wrote: »

I assume the same as with Limerick Race Course, it will stop for any race meeting.

They only have one off meetings, a week long festival is a much bigger interruption. People getting doses now will also be due their second during race week.

I'm probably looking at it from a selfish point of view as it's around that time I think my age group will be coming up.

zell12 · 29-06-2021 7:04pm

zell12 wrote: »

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

Anyone been in? Was it quick? Spill the goss!

thesandeman · 29-06-2021 7:19pm

New vaccine centre finally opening for West Galway in Clifden.
I'm claiming the credit as I complained four times about the lack of a facility for us.

zell12 · 29-06-2021 7:25pm

Are you running for election soon?

thesandeman · 29-06-2021 8:04pm

zell12 wrote: »

Are you running for election soon?

I'd look good on the posters in fairness.

29-06-2021 8:07pm

zell12 wrote: »

Are you running for election soon?

Covid vaccines for some, miniature Galway flags for others.

Galway COVID-19, local news and discussion

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