Coronavirus

muffler · 15-04-2020 8:15pm

Looking at the latest figures showing confirmed cases in the county up to Monday night last I see we are sitting in 6th position overall (nationally) with more cases than the likes of Limerick and Galway.

Here's the top 10.......

Dublin 5850
Cork 829
Kildare 509
Meath 369
Wicklow 342
Donegal 296
Limerick 285
Westmeath 258
Cavan 254
Galway 237

retalivity · 16-04-2020 8:34am

Is it the border effect? Cavan would be higher there too in proportion to its population

md23040 · 16-04-2020 12:48pm

muffler wrote: »

Looking at the latest figures showing confirmed cases in the county up to Monday night last I see we are sitting in 6th position overall (nationally) with more cases than the likes of Limerick and Galway.

Here's the top 10.......

Dublin 5850
Cork 829
Kildare 509
Meath 369
Wicklow 342
Donegal 296
Limerick 285
Westmeath 258
Cavan 254
Galway 237

Worrying stat considering Galway has 258,000 people and Limerick 195,000 compared to 159,000 in Donegal. To get into context Donegal has over twice the spread of the virus per 1000 compared to Galway. Cavan is off the chart and 363% greater.

The number of confirmed cases is totally under reported and know of someone that's a key worker that tested positive whilst the rest of the family of 5 were not tested but everyone got the infection. I'm sure everyone is aware of such cases at this stage.

IrishZeus · 16-04-2020 2:08pm

Are there many nursing/carehome clusters in Donegal? I know of one near Raphoe with confirmed infections.

I wonder do they make up a small/large percentage of the cases here?

DrPhilG · 16-04-2020 3:16pm

Chances are nursing home outbreaks won't make the numbers anyway as they won't test them.

IrishZeus · 16-04-2020 4:47pm

DrPhilG wrote: »

Chances are nursing home outbreaks won't make the numbers anyway as they won't test them.

Ah I’d say they will definitely - a cluster is defined as minimum 3 people and average 4-5. Theres 200+ clusters identified in homes, so just wondering how many of these would be in Donegal.

DrPhilG · 16-04-2020 9:08pm

IrishZeus wrote: »

Ah I’d say they will definitely - a cluster is defined as minimum 3 people and average 4-5. Theres 200+ clusters identified in homes, so just wondering how many of these would be in Donegal.

Yes but if its the same as in Derry, they aren't testing these people, even if they're obviously Covid patients.

echo beach · 16-04-2020 11:58pm

DrPhilG wrote: »

Yes but if its the same as in Derry, they aren't testing these people, even if they're obviously Covid patients.

It isn't the same as Derry. The testing criteria in Donegal are much broader which is why there are more tests and, as a result, more confirmed cases. The more you test the more cases you find.

The UK is doing far less testing than other counties. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104645/covid19-testing-rate-select-countries-worldwide/

Ralphyroo · 17-04-2020 9:48am

Numbers in letterkenny hospital down from 37 to 34 and only 2 in ICU with 7 vacant beds. Hopefully a sign that things are starting to improve

malinheader · 17-04-2020 8:32pm

Ralphyroo wrote: »

Numbers in letterkenny hospital down from 37 to 34 and only 2 in ICU with 7 vacant beds. Hopefully a sign that things are starting to improve

Great news and hopefully continues.
Most important thing now is that we keep the restrictions and distancing and don't get complacent and hopefully will be able to get a small bit of normality back in May.

Technique · 17-04-2020 8:40pm

Ralphyroo wrote: »

Numbers in letterkenny hospital down from 37 to 34 and only 2 in ICU with 7 vacant beds. Hopefully a sign that things are starting to improve

Where did you get those numbers?

Not disputing, just curious.

Ralphyroo · 18-04-2020 12:08am

Technique wrote: »

Where did you get those numbers?

Not disputing, just curious.

It was on the website that can't be named, so I know it should probably be taken with a heap of salt! But they had the right information when there was 37 in hospital, that was reflected in the hse statement the same day so I've no reason to disbelieve it

mutley18 · 18-04-2020 6:06pm

Group of 6 young lads all around 10 years old loitering outside my house on their bikes and shouting abuse at other kids who are in their back garden, where the fook are the parents?! Would you report it or would it be wasting Gardaí time...

muffler · 18-04-2020 6:08pm

Report it to the gardai

CastorTroy · 18-04-2020 7:08pm

I find it funny seeing Muttley replying to Mutley.

But yeah, report it. Whether they get there before the kids leave is another thing. And since they have their bikes, they can't take off across fields or anything when they see the gardaí coming.

muffler · 18-04-2020 8:09pm

CastorTroy wrote: »

I find it funny seeing Muttley replying to Mutley.

Cherry Blossom · 19-04-2020 12:10am

I went out to the shop today. On the way back just before my house I met a group of about 20. 2 or 3 kids on bikes but the rest were adults, two pushing prams. I don't know who they were. This is the second time people have travelled to our back roads to go for a walk. The other time was a local landowner with his wife and granddaughter. They live two villages away and told me they couldn't walk at there own place as they are supposed to be cocooning and not supposed to be out at all.

What is wrong with people? A local woman died from the virus last week. Have they no gumption at all.

lulu1 · 19-04-2020 12:46am

Cherry Blossom wrote: »

I went out to the shop today. On the way back just before my house I met a group of about 20. 2 or 3 kids on bikes but the rest were adults, two pushing prams. I don't know who they were. This is the second time people have travelled to our back roads to go for a walk. The other time was a local landowner with his wife and granddaughter. They live two villages away and told me they couldn't walk at there own place as they are supposed to be cocooning and not supposed to be out at all.

What is wrong with people? A local woman died from the virus last week. Have they no gumption at all.

They seem to think that by going somewhere out of their own place that they will be immune to the virus, and of coarse hopefully no one will see them
Sometimes I think older folk have less sense than teenagers
I have a teenager in the house and fair play to her and her 5 close friends they are doing so well. It will be 5 weeks tomorrow since they last met up although the do chat on facetime

StillThinking · 19-04-2020 9:03am

Anybody else here about there being a pub open in Moville? I'm hearing this 3rd or 4th hand so don't even know if it's true or the name of the establishment

muffler · 19-04-2020 10:40am

StillThinking wrote: »

Anybody else here about there being a pub open in Moville? I'm hearing this 3rd or 4th hand so don't even know if it's true or the name of the establishment

It wouldn't surprise me and if anyone has knowledge of this they should notify the gardai.

Just to add that we can't allow the naming of an individual or an establishment

CastorTroy · 19-04-2020 11:46am

I did hear that hairdressers were supposedly told they can reopen from next week or soon. Not sure what else could be reopening.

I was thinking when people are told they can go back to work, they'll probably wait another week until they can get to a hairdresser, otherwise everyone will know they're naturally brunette/grey

Cherry Blossom · 19-04-2020 10:13pm

Please let it be true that the hairdressers are reopening, I'm in desperate need.:pac:

addaword · 19-04-2020 11:43pm

CastorTroy wrote: »

I did hear that hairdressers were supposedly told they can reopen from next week or soon. Not sure what else could be reopening.

I was thinking when people are told they can go back to work, they'll probably wait another week until they can get to a hairdresser, otherwise everyone will know they're naturally brunette/grey

I wonder will hairdressers wear full PPE gear, at least for the first while? I'd say it will be at least a few weeks until they re-open.

lulu1 · 20-04-2020 9:42pm

Cherry Blossom wrote: »

Please let it be true that the hairdressers are reopening, I'm in desperate need.:pac:[

By the time they are open it will be hedge clippers we will need :)

echo beach · 21-04-2020 10:35am

Cherry Blossom wrote: »

Please let it be true that the hairdressers are reopening, I'm in desperate need.:pac:

Any reopening of business will be on the basis of social distancing. There is no way of washing someone’s hair from 2m so hairdressers are likely to be among the last to open.

PPE is still in short supply. There is no way it could be used for hairdressers.

I hear scarfs are the now high fashion.😉

sea swimmer · 21-04-2020 10:45am

What does July and August look like in Donegal without the Irish College students? Will "visitors" be welcomed, with caution? I suppose nonbody knows. Curious to hear opinions, tho'.

muffler · 21-04-2020 12:30pm

sea swimmer wrote: »

What does July and August look like in Donegal without the Irish College students? Will "visitors" be welcomed, with caution? I suppose nonbody knows. Curious to hear opinions, tho'.

I think you answered your own question.

As to whether people will be welcomed or not I think most locals will so NO in the current climate but if by some miracle things should return to something near normality then you would be greeted with outstretched arms

CastorTroy · 21-04-2020 12:35pm

echo beach wrote: »

Any reopening of business will be on the basis of social distancing. There is no way of washing someone’s hair from 2m so hairdressers are likely to be among the last to open.

Sure just use a decent power washer. Good range so will be grand.

malinheader · 21-04-2020 6:50pm

I happened to be chatting to the owner of a hairdressers today. She couldn't see how it could work at the moment and wouldn't feel right asking her staff as she still feels we haven't seen the worst yet.

malinheader · 21-04-2020 6:56pm

sea swimmer wrote: »

What does July and August look like in Donegal without the Irish College students? Will "visitors" be welcomed, with caution? I suppose nonbody knows. Curious to hear opinions, tho'.

Where will these visitors go. Everywhere is closed. And even scenic or beauty spots are not open for locals or visitors. Never seen my grandchildren for 5 weeks and that's the only visitors I am waiting to see at the moment.

RobMc59 · 21-04-2020 7:57pm

sea swimmer wrote: »

What does July and August look like in Donegal without the Irish College students? Will "visitors" be welcomed, with caution? I suppose nonbody knows. Curious to hear opinions, tho'.

We live in England and enjoyed breaks in Letterkenny last year,a long weekend at Mcgettigans and a week in a cottage along the Ramelton Road.
Gutted we can`t return this year but hopefully next.

Cabletiesfix · 21-04-2020 11:14pm

With all the 5000+ gatherings banned until September an awful lot if festivals around the county will be cancelled.

The Clonmany festival is the only thing that keeps the town going for the rest of the year. Could be a rough time ahead for some towns

lulu1 · 22-04-2020 10:37pm

Neighbor and family members all together tonight out the back of family home including a family friend
First time I have seen them do it
people are going to get fed up and take chances I would say that's the start of it for this family.

NIMAN · 23-04-2020 5:25pm

lulu1 wrote: »

Neighbor and family members all together tonight out the back of family home including a family friend
First time I have seen them do it
people are going to get fed up and take chances I would say that's the start of it for this family.

I hear reports on the radio news too that there is a noticeable increase in cars on the roads. I have noticed it myself on the road past my house.

I do think some people have had enough at this stage, and that's why the gov simply will have to try to ease restrictions somewhat, or else many will just ignore them anyway.

As for family members getting together, perhaps that's not as hateful as it sounds. I was just saying to the OH last night, our family have been isolating and her sisters family have all been isolating too. It wouldn't be the end of the world if the kids actually met up for a chat and kept their distance, as none of them have had any symptoms for a month.

DrPhilG · 23-04-2020 6:43pm

It needs to happen, simple as that. The point of lockdown has always been to flatten the curve so that the health services aren't overwhelmed.

Well they're not. The ICUs both Derry and Letterkenny are half empty. The capacity is there to deal with a surge twice as big as the worst so far.

I'm not saying we go back to how it was. Those high risk people should remain cautious and self isolate. But life must go on.

NIMAN · 23-04-2020 7:06pm

DrPhilG wrote: »

It needs to happen, simple as that. The point of lockdown has always been to flatten the curve so that the health services aren't overwhelmed.

Well they're not. The ICUs both Derry and Letterkenny are half empty. The capacity is there to deal with a surge twice as big as the worst so far.

I'm not saying we go back to how it was. Those high risk people should remain cautious and self isolate. But life must go on.

And as much as people say economy doesn't matter when it comes to lives, well it does.

The grim figures we heard the other day about the economy and the massive unemployment figures etc were based on us being closed for 3 months. If this is stretched out until the end of the year, it will be catastrophic for the nation.

We simply have to get back to some sort of normality asap. We can't keep paying a large section of the population to sit at home and do nothing.

It might mean that those in danger will have to look after themselves more closely but we have to remember that the vast majority of people are healthy and will want life to go on. You can only tell them to sit in for so long. Take it too far and you will simply have people ignoring it and social unrest.

DrPhilG · 23-04-2020 7:19pm

Exactly.

Opening completely and going back to how it was is daft and will cost lives due to the virus.

Staying closed indefinitely is daft and will cost lives due to the long term effects of a recession.

There has to be balance. Yet most people I say this to wisely inform me that I must be a Donald Trump fan who values the economy over lives...

malinheader · 23-04-2020 7:33pm

Alot of us in Donegal are in rural areas. We can go for beautiful walks and are fairly well isolated from others by our location and the lockdown is getting harder every week.
Bearing this in mind I feel for anyone in a built up area probably in a small flat or apartment, surrounded by nothing but more houses and buildings. This is why I think an extension to the lockdown without any compromise will lead to big problems. France is seeing this at the moment.

IrishZeus · 23-04-2020 8:38pm

Our nearest neighbour is 2km away. It’s a blessing in disguise at the moment!

lulu1 · 23-04-2020 11:34pm

I really hope some of the restrictions are lifted after the 5th may, but i'm sure people will still be wary for a long time afterwards.

Just read a post from an inishowen girl who contracted the virus in the nursing home where she worked. She said she has friends who also tested positive and were been treated like leapars by other people. She said the ignorance was unbelieveable .Someone commented it wasn't ignorance but fear she did'nt agree

StillThinking · 24-04-2020 8:33am

lulu1 wrote:

Just read a post from an inishowen girl who contracted the virus in the nursing home where she worked. She said she has friends who also tested positive and were been treated like leapars by other people. She said the ignorance was unbelieveable .Someone commented it wasn't ignorance but fear she did'nt agree

She's far from a girl at over 60 years old but she'll be on Highland Radio this morning talking about it after 10.30

JoannieG · 24-04-2020 2:11pm

Looks like our house has moved about 15km east... Gangs of cyclists (some of whom I know and who are from Letterkenny) spinning past the house this last week. Does this mean that we'll be able to get takeaways delivered now?

:P

lulu1 · 24-04-2020 7:28pm

StillThinking wrote: »

She's far from a girl at over 60 years old but she'll be on Highland Radio this morning talking about it after 10.30

I didnt hear the interview but someone was telling me about it

She reckoned there were a few people from Letterkenny who contracted the virus and couldnt tell any one for fear they would be blamed for taking it into the housing estate

Did you see the post?

Firblog · 24-04-2020 8:07pm

DrPhilG wrote: »

Well they're not. The ICUs both Derry and Letterkenny are half empty. The capacity is there to deal with a surge twice as big as the worst so far.

Your logic here is quite wrong, you're equating the status of the ICUs now with the worst it has been, it's not. It was worse a couple of weeks ago, when there were not enough beds in the ICU (in LK) for all covid patients never mind others non covid needing that type of care; temp IC beds were being used in theatres; they were close to being at max capacity. You have a false sense of security if you think that we have twice the capacity available to meet the worst that covid has thrown at us yet.

DrPhilG · 24-04-2020 8:22pm

Firblog wrote: »

Your logic here is quite wrong, you're equating the status of the ICUs now with the worst it has been, it's not. It was worse a couple of weeks ago, when there were not enough beds in the ICU (in LK) for all covid patients never mind others non covid needing that type of care; temp IC beds were being used in theatres; they were close to being at max capacity. You have a false sense of security if you think that we have twice the capacity available to meet the worst that covid has thrown at us yet.

Temporary ICU beds in theatres were part of the surge planning. And the fact they came close to capacity but didn't breach capacity means that the surge planning was successful.

Also if Letterkenny overflowed, they could have transferred out to Derry which was quiet.

Plus the capacity of both ICUs now is a lot more than it was a month ago.

Curves have been flattened. Peaks have been passed. Its time to cautiously loosen the restrictions. Emphasis on cautiously.

Firblog · 24-04-2020 8:38pm

Sorry Dr can't agree with you, at the risk of raising someone's ire for bickerin', your statement that "The capacity is there to deal with a surge twice as big as the worst so far" is just plain wrong, and gives a false sense of security to those who may be thinking that breaking the lock down may not have dire future consequences,

Also AFIK LK won't send any covid patients to Derry until all other hospitals in the group have no room.

DrPhilG · 24-04-2020 9:37pm

Firblog wrote: »

Sorry Dr can't agree with you, at the risk of raising someone's ire for bickerin', your statement that "The capacity is there to deal with a surge twice as big as the worst so far" is just plain wrong, and gives a false sense of security to those who may be thinking that breaking the lock down may not have dire future consequences

Letterkenny, OK maybe not twice as big as their worst so far. But they have had a big surge and coped fine. Derry hasn't had much of a surge at all and has considerable capacity.

Do you think full scale lockdown should continue? How long for?

And if LK won't send to Derry until the group is full, well of course not. But the point is that if LK had overflowed, they would have spilled over to the rest of the group and then spilled over the border. At no point has the north west been overrun.

StillThinking · 24-04-2020 10:08pm

lulu1 wrote:

She reckoned there were a few people from Letterkenny who contracted the virus and couldnt tell any one for fear they would be blamed for taking it into the housing estate

lulu1 wrote:

Did you see the post?

I have no Facebook so didn't see it but I know the woman well. I can see her point on a lot of it and heard about a family from another town that couldn't even walk down the road because the father was in hospital with the virus. They had done their 2 weeks quarantine, got the all clear from the tests but people were still giving out to them about going for a walk

Firblog · 24-04-2020 10:09pm

This was taken from interview with chief exec of saolta group on 9th Apr here

"“Last week in Letterkenny [University Hospital] for example, its ICU reached capacity so the next person who required ICU care was transferred to Galway"

So LK couldn't manage the worst so far never mind twice as bad. I don't know how you can say it 'coped fine' when it had to send a critically ill patient to Galway.

No harm to you, I've heard others say much the same thing, the curve was flattened, there were no big problms, lets loosen the restrictions... The thing is i've not heard one person who actually works in one of the hospitals saying that, and until I do I think the present restrictions should remain in force and be enforced.

After May 5th? I don't know, depending on what the experts say i'd hope that schools will reopen in some fashion, especially national schools and leaving cert classes; shops/businesses should be allowed to reopen if they implement safe distancing rules; see how that goes for a month.

If the weather is good and ppl start flocking to beaches etc we could be in for another surge, hopefully not as heat an ultraviolet are meant to dampen its ability to spread; otherwise we could have to lockdown again in mid/late summer or do as Sweden has tried to do and hope for the best.. :eek:

DrPhilG · 24-04-2020 11:08pm

Firblog wrote: »

The thing is i've not heard one person who actually works in one of the hospitals saying that, and until I do I think the present restrictions should remain in force and be enforced.

I work in one of the hospitals.

Coronavirus

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