Coronavirus

volchitsa · 22-03-2020 9:39am

Yes people should NOT be going to holiday homes, especially in remote areas which are currently less affected - some will inevitably be bringing the virus with them and others (including some of those coming to holiday) will catch it from them. And the more remotes the area, the less hospital capacity they will have.

To be blunt it's a crazy idea, and not just Donegal, it's something that UK regions like Cornwall and Wales have been worrying about too.

Please don't do it. This is a public health crisis, not an excuse for an early holiday.

malinheader · 22-03-2020 10:22am

Thought the comments on social media by Jason black were very true. Some people will just not take heed about staying at home. Some are treating this as a long holiday break. I think if the temperature and weather was to improve it would only make people travelling to holiday homes worse.

Technique · 22-03-2020 11:32am

This was Portstewart yesterday. With a combination of better weather, longer evenings and people off work, this will be Donegal in the coming weeks.

https://twitter.com/JayneBYoung/status/1241348028847607809?s=20

malinheader · 22-03-2020 11:51am

Technique wrote: »

This was Portstewart yesterday. With a combination of better weather, longer evenings and people off work, this will be Donegal in the coming weeks.

https://twitter.com/JayneBYoung/status/1241348028847607809?s=20

Maybe some think it's too harsh but I think a lockdown for a couple of weeks now until we get all medical equipment and staff in place would be the right call. Might Also make the social isolating period shorter. Taking Italy as an example I would be all for a couple of weeks of lockdown to try and protect the elderly and vulnerable.

sea swimmer · 22-03-2020 2:22pm

Well, that's Portnoo sorted. The main shop has closed. Very sensible. Well done.

CastorTroy · 22-03-2020 2:37pm

I know we don't want this to be a general virus thread, but just to show ignorance, I made the mistake of reading comments on an ign article about films affected by the pandemic.
It basically told them off for using sensationalist headlines like pandemic. They're buying into government scaremongering. It's just a mild flu. I'm sure there are too many here like that as well

malinheader · 22-03-2020 6:59pm

Seeing pictures from beaches and other venues in Donegal today and clear to see the warnings from government and the disaster in Italy is not sinking home. Wonder what it's going to take.

Pique · 23-03-2020 4:31pm

Have rubbish bin collections stopped? Mine wasn't collected on Friday and it looks like the neighbours bins haven't been collected today.

StillThinking · 23-03-2020 4:37pm

Pique wrote:

Have rubbish bin collections stopped? Mine wasn't collected on Friday and it looks like the neighbours bins haven't been collected today.

Whereabouts in the county are you?

Cherry Blossom · 23-03-2020 4:56pm

Pique wrote: »

Have rubbish bin collections stopped? Mine wasn't collected on Friday and it looks like the neighbours bins haven't been collected today.

My bin was collected on Friday anyway. I'm with DM waste.

JoannieG · 23-03-2020 4:56pm

Ours were collected last Thursday by Sharkey's. We're outside Churchill. Wers collected in this area on Friday.

ednwireland · 23-03-2020 4:58pm

Pique wrote: »

Have rubbish bin collections stopped? Mine wasn't collected on Friday and it looks like the neighbours bins haven't been collected today.

wers picked mine up last friday 20th, just outside donegal town

Pique · 23-03-2020 5:02pm

StillThinking wrote: »

Whereabouts in the county are you?

Letterkenny. I'm with Donegal Waste. Neighbours are with Wers.

StillThinking · 23-03-2020 5:32pm

Pique wrote:

Letterkenny. I'm with Donegal Waste. Neighbours are with Wers.

Wers picked ours up last week, have another pick up tomorrow so fingers crossed

CastorTroy · 23-03-2020 6:24pm

DM collected mine last Wednesday.

Was thinking now would be a good time for all the Irish Water, etc roadworks. It will inconvenience a lot less people and discourage people from going anywhere unless necessary

muffler · 24-03-2020 12:15am

The reason for bins not being collected can be sorted out with a phone call to the operator so we can leave that now.

We now have 8 confirmed cases in Donegal and thats very worrying as the numbers will multiple.

Technique · 24-03-2020 12:44am

As most of the coverage was about the large number of cases in Dublin and Cork, it would have been easy to be complacent here in Donegal. These numbers show that it's amongst us, almost certainly in higher numbers than we would guess.

Stay at home folks.

malinheader · 24-03-2020 2:07pm

Just heard tighter restrictions are coming, restaurants, cafes and hairdressers to name a few, I thought the biggest majority of these had already closed. Hopefully it will be everyone with no exception unless necessary.

ednwireland · 24-03-2020 3:41pm

malinheader wrote: »

Just heard tighter restrictions are coming, restaurants, cafes and hairdressers to name a few, I thought the biggest majority of these had already closed. Hopefully it will be everyone with no exception unless necessary.

certainly in donegal town i dont think anythings open excetp food stores. dont know about takeways as rarely use them.

got my haircut the thursday before starting working from home so thats a result.

dont know how much more strict we could be donegal hardware for wood pellets for the stove in my office and some hand wipes. 1 trip to supervalu for food . need to do another one this evening.

lulu1 · 24-03-2020 9:07pm

I see all the caravan parks are closed down dose this include people from the north that have holiday homes here as well

icom · 24-03-2020 9:22pm

lulu1 wrote: »

I see all the caravan parks are closed down dose this include people from the north that have holiday homes here as well

The advice is to stay at home, not at a holiday home.
So it should be included and I hope it is.

muffler · 25-03-2020 1:42pm

Yesterday evenings announcement from the HSE was that we now have 11 confirmed cases in the county. But its fairly widely known that people are having to wait a week and longer for a test so that figure of 11 is based on test results that are a week old and isnt a true representation of today's or yesterdays numbers.

NIMAN · 25-03-2020 3:48pm

icom wrote: »

The advice is to stay at home, not at a holiday home.
So it should be included and I hope it is.

It's easy to close a caravan park, they usually have an entrance.

But how are you going to stop someone coming to a standalone holiday home?

You just have to appeal to their better judgement and hope they listen.

Technique · 25-03-2020 9:17pm

Donegal County Council are starting to close down places that are gathering crowds. Sliabh Liag and Lisfannon beach so far, I'm sure there will be others.

malinheader · 25-03-2020 9:38pm

Technique wrote: »

Donegal County Council are starting to close down places that are gathering crowds. Sliabh Liag and Lisfannon beach so far, I'm sure there will be others.

I would think there will be alot of places following suit, especially when the weather gets better.
How will this be enforced. Probably not enough gardai and a waste of their resources so I wonder will the council be given power or independent security firms.

md23040 · 26-03-2020 11:42pm

When I went out to the garden earlier today for a few minutes I could hear and see load of kids (of the same age) playing in the back garden of one of the houses in the estate nearby to me and was thinking how stupid must some people be. This was prolong the lock down and the risk of spreading.

I imagine the parents that allowed this must think "its only for 30 minutes and sure for years they've played together and are now all cooped up inside and going stir crazy" kind of crazy warped logic. Dread when the weather starts improving.

lulu1 · 27-03-2020 1:29am

md23040 wrote: »

When I went out to the garden earlier today for a few minutes I could hear and see load of kids (of the same age) playing in the back garden of one of the houses in the estate nearby to me and was thinking how stupid must some people be. This was prolong the lock down and the risk of spreading.

I imagine the parents that allowed this must think "its only for 30 minutes and sure for years they've played together and are now all cooped up inside and going stir crazy" kind of crazy warped logic. Dread when the weather starts improving.

I guarentee there will be alot more than the children out when the good weather comes.
I'm going to pray for rain like I never prayed before
Today in our area there were 7 grown men running together a member of the club they were in reported them but dosent expect much will be done

Technique · 27-03-2020 4:44pm

All Donegal beaches closed from this afternoon.

IrishZeus · 27-03-2020 5:52pm

Any idea until when they’re closed? For the duration of all this situation or just for the weekend?

muffler · 27-03-2020 7:02pm

IrishZeus wrote: »

Any idea until when they’re closed? For the duration of all this situation or just for the weekend?

Much longer than this weekend. Basically until we see the end of this pandemic Id think.

Technique · 27-03-2020 7:03pm

There's no end date mentioned, I presume that they won't be opening for a while.

muffler · 27-03-2020 9:35pm

Special News programme on now so expect more closures and tighter restrictions

DrPhilG · 27-03-2020 10:26pm

Tight restrictions alright. Full on lockdown.

I wonder if the guards will be patrolling. I'll be crossing the border twice daily!

malinheader · 28-03-2020 12:20am

DrPhilG wrote: »

Tight restrictions alright. Full on lockdown.

I wonder if the guards will be patrolling. I'll be crossing the border twice daily!

Hopefully they won't need to.
Hopefully people kop themselves on and take it seriously.
Two weeks is nothing to ask if we protect our sick and older generation and our health care heroes.

CastorTroy · 28-03-2020 12:43am

I doubt the ones who were ignoring the restrictions before will suddenly start listening to them now.
I'm sure most here could guess who they will see out and about as normal over the next couple of weeks.

lulu1 · 28-03-2020 1:11am

I have already 2 weeks done through choice no symptoms or anything like that just an underlying illness so taking no chances.

Another 2 weeks will be a breeze

DrPhilG · 28-03-2020 1:14am

malinheader wrote: »

Hopefully they won't need to.
Hopefully people kop themselves on and take it seriously.

I have my doubts. Where there's a way to be a thicko, people will do it.

We can but hope.

Firblog · 28-03-2020 9:58am

Where did the info about the closure of all beaches come from?

Thomas Pringle posted this on his fb page 15hr ago

I received this update from the council in relation to beaches etc....

“the Council’s COVID-19 Crisis Management Team met earlier today and the issue of access to Public Amenities including beaches was further discussed. There has also been an engagement with the Gardaí in connection therewith.
The position arrived at was that there would not be any further closures of Public Amenities (including beaches) other that the ones previously notified at this time. It was agreed that additional signage would be erected at all such locations reminding the Public of the Covid 19 restrictions. It was also agreed with the Gardaí that they would have a greater presence at public amenities over the weekend to enforce these requirements.
It is regrettable that some local media outlets are carrying a conflicting message at this time, but the above is the position adopted by the Council following engagement with the Gardaí”

I took a look at the Council's website an couldn't find any info about beach closures.

Technique · 28-03-2020 10:20am

If you do a Google search for 'Donegal beaches closed' there are links to the websites of various local and national newspapers carrying this story.

Firblog · 28-03-2020 5:02pm

The Times, and the paper that can't be named seem to have removed those items from their sites, the irish news still has it up.

I believe that they should be closed ok, but don't believe that the council have done it, not going by what Thomas Pringle posted anyway, and there is nothing on the council website to say that they have done that.

On a related note, I see that Matt Britton (DL Democrat paper) has posted that the locals have padlocked all gates that lead up to Sliabh Liag / bunglass.

Technique · 28-03-2020 9:07pm

Fair enough, I seen it on those websites and took it as true.

Although it's not a bad thing if there's the perception out there that everything is closed.

icom · 28-03-2020 10:29pm

malinheader wrote: »

Hopefully they won't need to.
Hopefully people kop themselves on and take it seriously.
Two weeks is nothing to ask if we protect our sick and older generation and our health care heroes.

I live in a rural area with a forest 500 metres from the house, and I walk there frequently. On a Saturday I might meet 2 or 3 people walking, but today I would say I saw at least 40 people during the day parking and walking in the forest. Takes a lockdown to get people out ! I recognised a few people from the town which is more than 5km from here. People have no kop on at all.

NIMAN · 29-03-2020 1:03am

DrPhilG wrote: »

Tight restrictions alright. Full on lockdown.

I wonder if the guards will be patrolling. I'll be crossing the border twice daily!

It's not full on lockdown though, plenty of folk still expected to work. Including council staff.

I too cross the border twice daily to work.

Restrictions in NI just announced tonight too and they are pretty tough. Focused a lot on employers trying to let staff work from home if they can.

DrPhilG · 29-03-2020 2:03am

NIMAN wrote: »

It's not full on lockdown though, plenty of folk still expected to work. Including council staff.

I too cross the border twice daily to work.

Restrictions in NI just announced tonight too and they are pretty tough. Focused a lot on employers trying to let staff work from home if they can.

What restrictions hit NI?

NHS has been encouraging as many as possible to work from home, but not that many have laptops and remote access so it's not feasible for many.

Never mind, just read them. Also 49 new cases in NI. Work might be slightly hectic on Monday.

md23040 · 29-03-2020 2:53pm

NIMAN wrote: »

It's not full on lockdown though, plenty of folk still expected to work. Including council staff.

I work in DCSDC council and only essential services are head office based. All non essential services have been sent home since Tuesday afternoon of last week and could be re-deployed. There has been a lot of shadowing of critical services over the last few weeks as demand expected to rise in certain depts. We work very closely with DCC and the regional emergency plan has been in place for 16 days already.

malinheader · 29-03-2020 5:10pm

Just a reminder to people who might be challenging people out working who they think are not essential.
In one part of the county on Saturday a report was lodged about men working on a road. The road had been resurfaced and the fire hydrants were still covered, these people were out uncovering the hydrants incase of a fire in the area. Essential work.This is only one case and In most cases Nobody wants to be out if unnecessary so let's just stop and enquire before challenging people out working for the next couple of weeks. We all have to pull together to get back to some kind of normality.

muffler · 29-03-2020 6:38pm

Watching the latest news on RTE and I see there have been 3 more deaths from covid-19 in the Northwest. Im not sure how they categorize or determine what counties or parts thereof form the "Northwest"

muffler · 29-03-2020 9:09pm

According to the official stats there are 24 confirmed cases of the virus in Donegal up to midnight on Friday last.

md23040 · 29-03-2020 9:34pm

https://siorconsulting.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ad077db10c1f421385c3fa5245ad160e

This link shows the county by county breakdown and so far Donegal with its low population density is below average for the contagion distribution. This works in landscape on phones. We have 3.3% of the population in DL but only 1% of Corona cases identified.

NIMAN · 29-03-2020 11:25pm

md23040 wrote: »

I work in DCSDC council and only essential services are head office based. All non essential services have been sent home since Tuesday afternoon of last week and could be re-deployed. There has been a lot of shadowing of critical services over the last few weeks as demand expected to rise in certain depts. We work very closely with DCC and the regional emergency plan has been in place for 16 days already.

When I said council I was chatting about Donegal CC, not Derry Strabane. Just for clarity.

Coronavirus

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