Coronavirus

irish1967 · 17-03-2020 3:28pm

Well hello Donegal Forum .. Hi Muffler .. very long time no see. Nearly 8 years since my last post here. Hi new people:D

Well Donegal Town is shut, simple. All hotels & Bars are closed though I do note the absence of comment from Solis Lough Eske on their social media (you'd think there's nothing happening by their Facebook Page.) Every shop I can think of is closed, I'd imagine Timoney's (post office) will remain open in some form and the chemists. Aldi and Lidl are open but they really will need to do something about crowd control etc.

With all hotels & bars closed this basically means the town is deserted.

We'll see ye all in June or maybe July at the earliest. Stay Safe.

CastorTroy · 17-03-2020 4:25pm

Think the only one I haven't seen a facebook post about around Letterkenny is Voodoo. Are they closed?
Nearly tempted to have a wee drive down town to see if there are many about. But won't bother.
Looking out the window I see how quiet it is around here.

muffler · 17-03-2020 5:46pm

irish1967 wrote: »

Well hello Donegal Forum .. Hi Muffler .. very long time no see. Nearly 8 years since my last post here. Hi new people:D

Well howdy stranger

Good to have you back posting here again

HeidiHeidi · 17-03-2020 8:48pm

McClafferty's in Gortahork was well set up today. - loads of hand sanitizer, wipes, hot water and soap at the entrance - and best of all, big stickers all over the floor of the whole shop at 2m intervals - really concentrated the mind!

And fully stocked with everything, no sign of panic at all.

I'm dreading going back to Dublin tomorrow

malinheader · 17-03-2020 9:36pm

5 new cases in the Nw today. Leo addressing the nation at 9.

lulu1 · 17-03-2020 10:15pm

malinheader wrote: »

5 new cases in the Nw today. Leo addressing the nation at 9.

Just watched Leo
So hard to believe
But this is real

lulu1 · 17-03-2020 10:19pm

Does anyone think we should be told what area the confirmed cases are in. I know it would make no difference

A lady posted about this on facebook last night and got terrible abuse

malinheader · 17-03-2020 10:19pm

Calm before the storm before the surge.
Really scary talk. Hopefully everyone takes heed now.

L1011 · 17-03-2020 10:23pm

lulu1 wrote: »

Does anyone think we should be told what area the confirmed cases are in. I know it would make no difference

A lady posted about this on facebook last night and got terrible abuse

There are only negative outcomes from doing that (panic).

lulu1 · 17-03-2020 10:41pm

L1011 wrote: »

There are only negative outcomes from doing that (panic).

Yeah you're probably right

malinheader · 17-03-2020 11:00pm

Unless northern Ireland starts to take it as serious as us I don't think this isolating and shut down will succeed where I am from. To many travelling to holiday homes for the weekends.

Maldesu · 17-03-2020 11:24pm

lulu1 wrote: »

Does anyone think we should be told what area the confirmed cases are in. I know it would make no difference

A lady posted about this on facebook last night and got terrible abuse

The state is bound by confidentiality/GDPR regs and they are necessary. The majority of people are rational, but it only takes one to stir the pot. If a general location is known you can have a name slandered, persons abused, ostracised or worse.

Assume the name is correct, and you see that person or their family walking about town, you may feel it is correct to censure them and make demands they return home. Some may go further out of fear and do things like follow them and abuse them, push them or spray them with disinfectant. People can go too far. And sometimes, that info is wrong and you harass some poor individual just looking to get a carton of milk.

I'm in Dublin, but today I was told the name of a person apparently infected with COVID-19 in Donegal. They don't have any association with that person, live near them or are likely to interact with them or their immediate family. If the name is correct, that is someones private medical info that has gotten out.

echo beach · 18-03-2020 12:58am

Far more people have the virus than will ever be tested. Those with no symptoms or very mild symptoms are the most likely to pass it on. Stop worrying or gossiping about who is or isn’t positive or where they are. Infected people are all around you. Wash your hands and keep your distance.

ednwireland · 18-03-2020 10:52am

irish1967 wrote: »

Well hello Donegal Forum .. Hi Muffler .. very long time no see. Nearly 8 years since my last post here. Hi new people:D

Well Donegal Town is shut, simple. All hotels & Bars are closed though I do note the absence of comment from Solis Lough Eske on their social media (you'd think there's nothing happening by their Facebook Page.) Every shop I can think of is closed, I'd imagine Timoney's (post office) will remain open in some form and the chemists. Aldi and Lidl are open but they really will need to do something about crowd control etc.

With all hotels & bars closed this basically means the town is deserted.

We'll see ye all in June or maybe July at the earliest. Stay Safe.

was in the office at 7pm last night (something wouldnt work over vpn gah !) parked right outside office in front of forget me knot now that is rare. never seen town so empty. our whole office working form home

byte · 18-03-2020 9:36pm

ednwireland wrote: »

was in the office at 7pm last night (something wouldnt work over vpn gah !) parked right outside office in front of forget me knot now that is rare. never seen town so empty. our whole office working form home

Yeah, it's quite surreal. God only knows where it'll all end up.

I see NI schools will finally close from Friday, about time.

Firblog · 18-03-2020 10:16pm

irish1967 wrote: »

Well hello Donegal Forum .. Hi Muffler .. very long time no see. Nearly 8 years since my last post here. Hi new people:D

Well Donegal Town is shut, simple. All hotels & Bars are closed though I do note the absence of comment from Solis Lough Eske on their social media (you'd think there's nothing happening by their Facebook Page.) Every shop I can think of is closed, I'd imagine Timoney's (post office) will remain open in some form and the chemists. Aldi and Lidl are open but they really will need to do something about crowd control etc.

With all hotels & bars closed this basically means the town is deserted.

We'll see ye all in June or maybe July at the earliest. Stay Safe.

Eurosaver, €2 shop , Zombie Dolls, Complete Computing, All Sports and all Butchers were open, Dunno if any place was open beside Supervalu, prob Cara Chemist open. or was anywhere open at the SuperMacs 'plaza'?

Firblog · 18-03-2020 10:58pm

malinheader wrote: »

5 new cases in the Nw today. Leo addressing the nation at 9.

5 more? Have you any link to trustworthy source for this? I'm assuming not; going by that kind of stat there must be nearly 100 cases in Donegal by now...

malinheader · 18-03-2020 11:30pm

Firblog wrote: »

5 more? Have you any link to trustworthy source for this? I'm assuming not; going by that kind of stat there must be nearly 100 cases in Donegal by now...

Wow. Hysteria or what.

muffler · 18-03-2020 11:31pm

Firblog wrote: »

5 more? Have you any link to trustworthy source for this? I'm assuming not

You assume wrong. It was reported on the RTE news so now I am your trustworthy source

muffler · 18-03-2020 11:37pm

Firblog wrote: »

going by that kind of stat there must be nearly 100 cases in Donegal by now...

The following is taken from here so when you're not prepared to keep up with the news then please desist with the wild speculation

Here is a breakdown of cases per county:

Dublin - 129 cases

Cork - 48

Limerick - 14

Galway - 12

Wicklow - 9

Westmeath - 7

Waterford - 7

Kerry - 6

All other counties - excluding the three that have no cases; Leitrim, Laois, Monaghan - have fewer than 5 cases.

Firblog · 18-03-2020 11:44pm

muffler wrote: »

You assume wrong. It was reported on the RTE news so now I am your trustworthy source

Tell me are you posting as a mod? can I argue with your post on here? Or will I bring it to pm?

muffler · 18-03-2020 11:50pm

Take it to PM please

Firblog · 19-03-2020 12:18am

On a very positive note, chefs in Donegal Town have come together to help the community here

Firblog · 19-03-2020 2:21pm

malinheader wrote: »

Wow. Hysteria or what.

Not hysteria at all, just trying to show that your number were as unbelievable as mine.

You still haven't managed to post a link to where you pulled that figure from.

While the link to info Muffler posted is definitely true and very informative, it doesn't verify your claim that there were 5 new cases in the Northwest on Paddys Day.

If I may make a suggestion, if people are posting numbers on here, it might be a good idea to post a link to the trustworthy source where you read the information.

Apologies if ppl think I'm overstepping here.

echo beach · 19-03-2020 11:36pm

When talking about numbers, remember they are the number of confirmed cases - people who have symptoms, get tested and have a positive result. There is a time lag before the numbers appear as cases.

Most people have only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, especially in the early stages, but can still pass on the virus. That is why it is so important to keep your distance. You can have it and not know.

kathleen37 · 20-03-2020 12:13am

Links are good.

https://www.gov.ie/en/news/7e0924-latest-updates-on-covid-19-coronavirus/

This looks to be updating every day or every two days.

If you click on the specific day links, that will show you cases by county. (On March 19th - click on "read more" and scroll down)

Don2012 · 20-03-2020 12:45am

kathleen37 wrote: »

Links are good.

https://www.gov.ie/en/news/7e0924-latest-updates-on-covid-19-coronavirus/

This looks to be updating every day or every two days.

If you click on the specific day links, that will show you cases by county. (On March 19th - click on "read more" and scroll down)

Government cannot be trusted.

malinheader · 20-03-2020 11:34am

Firblog wrote: »

Not hysteria at all, just trying to show that your number were as unbelievable as mine.

You still haven't managed to post a link to where you pulled that figure from.

While the link to info Muffler posted is definitely true and very informative, it doesn't verify your claim that there were 5 new cases in the Northwest on Paddys Day.

If I may make a suggestion, if people are posting numbers on here, it might be a good idea to post a link to the trustworthy source where you read the information. Apologies if ppl think I'm overstepping here.

I think I heard it on a news channel, can't be 100% but definitely didn't make it up to scaremonger as it seems you are suggesting. If you think my number of 5 cases is nearly as unbelievable as your stated 100 cases it just makes me think you are looking for an argument.
So let's be sensible at this time and forget about playing getting one up on another or trying to seem smarter than someone else. More serious issues facing us than bickering on a web forum.

muffler · 20-03-2020 3:18pm

Don2012 wrote: »

Government cannot be trusted.

While all posts are welcome Id like to see less of the "government bashing" type posts and more constructive / informative type posts updating us on whats happening around the county. Cheers.

feelpablo · 20-03-2020 4:41pm

just back from work in ballina, the Dunnes stores there is limiting customers to 50 in the store at anyone time.

Id imagine the dunnes in letterkenny will implement the same this weekend

muffler · 20-03-2020 4:45pm

Passing through Ballybofey yesterday I saw a lot of people queued up at the Social Welfare office. Id say there were around 25 -30 but Im not sure of the purpose as the actual dole office is located around the corner a bit. Maybe it was people signing on the first time given the sheer numbers who lost their jobs in the last week or so.

StillThinking · 20-03-2020 5:10pm

feelpablo wrote:

Id imagine the dunnes in letterkenny will implement the same this weekend

Was in there earlier, they had 100 people in the store with people on the door letting one person in for every person that went out. This was new Dunnes, not sure about the old one

Don2012 · 20-03-2020 6:08pm

Planes flying over Ireland today. What sense does it make telling us to stay at home etc while the borders are open and airports and docks are running as normal?

L1011 · 20-03-2020 6:22pm

Don2012 wrote: »

Planes flying over Ireland today. What sense does it make telling us to stay at home etc while the borders are open and airports and docks are running as normal?

Planes also carry cargo. Ireland may grow vastly more food than it eats but it doesn't grow every type; nor do we make every type of medicine, or indeed much of anything else anymore so we need cargo flights and ships to come in.

You really can't make any comparison between the need for social distancing and the absolute requirement for cargo to keep travelling.

Anyway, the number of flights globally is down over a third on this time last year and that's before the huge cuts in schedules most airlines have planned from Monday kick in.

Cherry Blossom · 20-03-2020 6:23pm

My cousin was in the states, she came back two days ago and is now self isolating for 14 days. I'm not sure if she was instructed to do this or is doing it off her own bat.

muffler · 20-03-2020 7:16pm

Don2012 wrote: »

Planes flying over Ireland today. What sense does it make telling us to stay at home etc while the borders are open and airports and docks are running as normal?

None of them over Donegal so lets stick to the local topic as advised earlier. Thanks

muffler · 20-03-2020 7:27pm

There's a little bit coming up now after the ad break in the RTE news about chefs in Donegal Town cooking for less well off in our community

L1011 · 20-03-2020 7:42pm

Great initiative, I hope people looking for freebies don't take the piss with this as there's going to be plenty where this becomes their lifeline

L1011 · 20-03-2020 8:28pm

A domestic flight to Carrickfinn.

Some people still have actually necessary journeys to make. Do you want Bus Eireann/Feda/McGinley closed down too?

The bigger aircraft going East is a cargo plane.

CastorTroy · 20-03-2020 8:48pm

StillThinking wrote: »

Was in there earlier, they had 100 people in the store with people on the door letting one person in for every person that went out. This was new Dunnes, not sure about the old one

Was in both about an hour ago. They each have a similar setup with signs for queuing and 1 door as entrance and 1 as exit.

kathleen37 · 21-03-2020 11:36am

This this is a very measured article. It also links to all the stats

https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2020/0310/1121444-10-reasons-not-to-panic-about-the-coronavirus/

sea swimmer · 21-03-2020 5:45pm

Has there been any discussion about holiday homes and caravans at Easter and beyond? Is the second home owner or holiday renter welcome? Any advice from anyone or any authority?

sea swimmer · 21-03-2020 5:46pm

I mention Cornwall and Wales as those regions are talking about it.

muffler · 21-03-2020 6:05pm

sea swimmer wrote: »

I mention Cornwall and Wales as those regions are talking about it.

Where's your holiday home?

There is nothing specifically laid out for holiday homes or caravans that im aware of but everyone needs to follow the advice and guidelines given by the government which is well documented all over the place. We havent seen the worse of this yet and i personally wouldnt advise anyone to go on holidays. Might end up being a long stay!

sea swimmer · 21-03-2020 6:28pm

we rent in west Donegal. I have been discussing this with my friends but, honestly, no one had considered the consequence of a large population migration from urban areas to rural locations. There was a lot of, "sure they will be glad to see us", but will they?

Also, silly as it is, loads of visitors keep listening to UK stations, not Highland or RTE, so are quite often not up to date with emergency issues.
I am just trying to start a conversation.

malinheader · 21-03-2020 6:34pm

sea swimmer wrote: »

we rent in west Donegal. I have been discussing this with my friends but, honestly, no one had considered the consequence of a large population migration from urban areas to rural locations. There was a lot of, "sure they will be glad to see us", but will they?

Also, silly as it is, loads of visitors keep listening to UK stations, not Highland or RTE, so are quite often not up to date with emergency issues.
I am just trying to start a conversation.

Where I am located in donegal I am surrounded by alot of holiday homes and mobile homes that will be starting to be used alot now in the run up to Easter.
I have no problem with people coming into the area ad long as they act responsible and keep to the guidelines the government is telling us to use.
Looking at Italy's latest death count for 24 hours, I would certainly support a lock down sooner rather than later if we keep increasing our infected count

muffler · 21-03-2020 7:32pm

sea swimmer wrote: »

we rent in west Donegal. I have been discussing this with my friends but, honestly, no one had considered the consequence of a large population migration from urban areas to rural locations. There was a lot of, "sure they will be glad to see us", but will they?

Also, silly as it is, loads of visitors keep listening to UK stations, not Highland or RTE, so are quite often not up to date with emergency issues.
I am just trying to start a conversation.

Its great to see that you are very aware of the potential problems. A large convergence of people into an area such as a holiday/caravan park isnt what most responsible people would want....I assume. Bear in mind that pubs, clubs, hotels, restaurants, play areas/parks are closed so other than just getting a break away or a walk on the beach there wont be much more to do and thats just for now. It could and possibly will get a lot worse and we need to prepare ourselves for a potential lock down the same as Italy, France, Spain etc.

Im certainly not trying to advise you one way or the other but here are the possible scenarios:

1. You come for your holiday and are in great health and you go home the same way.

2. You come carrying the virus (unknown to yourself) and you infect whoever else is staying with you and everyone you come in contact with.

3. You arrive healthy and catch the virus here, perhaps from a local or someone else who is also on holidays. You could be hospitalized for several weeks here or maybe you return home and again you arent aware at that stage you have the virus but you proceed to infect everyone you come into contact with.

Apologies for being blunt but there's a lot of people (not saying you) out there who are not doing their bit.

L1011 · 21-03-2020 8:09pm

Arranmore has specifically requested tourists and holiday home owners to stay the feck away until this is sorted.

echo beach · 21-03-2020 8:28pm

kathleen37 wrote: »

This this is a very measured article. It also links to all the stats

https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2020/0310/1121444-10-reasons-not-to-panic-about-the-coronavirus/

It is a good article but is dated March 11th, a long time ago in a fast moving story. Not a mention of Italy where there were about 200 deaths at that time. Today, only 10 days later, there are almost 5,000.

If you want stats https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries

Technique · 21-03-2020 8:55pm

sea swimmer wrote: »

we rent in west Donegal. I have been discussing this with my friends but, honestly, no one had considered the consequence of a large population migration from urban areas to rural locations. There was a lot of, "sure they will be glad to see us", but will they?

Also, silly as it is, loads of visitors keep listening to UK stations, not Highland or RTE, so are quite often not up to date with emergency issues.
I am just trying to start a conversation.

Please don't travel to your holiday home. Please encourage anyone you know to not travel to their holiday home. This pandemic has got to be nipped in the bud as soon as possible by people staying at home and not travelling outside of their locality unless absolutely necessary. Donegal does not have the healthcare capacity to deal with an influx of people who may be infected.

Don't take this personally, visitors to Donegal enrich the area during the holiday season and are an important source of revenue for many small family businesses. But let's get through this difficult time first.

Coronavirus

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