Coronavirus

14-09-2020 11:51pm

Heighway61 wrote: »

I'm surprised too there hasn't been more, going by what I'm seeing and reliably hearing.

The schools are a worry, moreso the school bus. No social distancing.

Agreed. Having said that, I tend to shop local since corona started, though I do refill the freezer every 3-4 weeks, which requires a trip to either Letterkenny or Dungloe.

The last time I was in Letterkenny, (a couple of weeks ago), there were a lot more people around than usual, quite a few tourists if the car regs. were any indication).

I sat in the car outside one particular shop for around 40 minutes, while my daughter shopped - and to say I was horrified would be the understatement of the year. Masks weren't obligatory at the time - though they were advised. There were very few masks in evidence, and I'd estimate that maybe half of people were sanitising their hands entering the shops, yet out of maybe 100-150 people, only 2 sanitised their hands on the way out.

Worse, several families entered the shop - only 1 family made the children sanitise their hands, despite the parents sanitising their own hands. Personally, if I take the Grandchildren anywhere, I'll make sure their hands are sanitised before my own.

While in a queue in a shop, I had someone come right up and stand at my shoulder - so I stepped forward - and she followed me again. I politely pointed out the clearly marked social distance spaces on the floor - and she seemed amazed that anyone would pay any attention.

I should say Letterkenny isn't the only place I've noticed that. I've noticed it locally as well.
I don't know whether people have just given up, whether they've decided that they'd prefer to believe the conspiracy theories that Covid-19 is no longer a threat, or whether maybe, just maybe, people are less invested in protecting communities that are not their own, though I'm not suggesting that visitors are the only ones not observing the guidelines - but they are noticeably in the majority in the smaller towns.

Whether "local" people are less careful outside their own locality where they're not well known would be interesting to find out....

ednwireland · 15-09-2020 9:16am

Deleted User wrote: »

There were very few masks in evidence, and I'd estimate that maybe half of people were sanitising their hands entering the shops, yet out of maybe 100-150 people, only 2 sanitised their hands on the way out.

many shop (aldi/ lidl) dont have sanitisers on the way out !

sometimes you have to cross the flow to use sanitisers on the way out or you have hands full of bags, i have sanitiser in the car.

although its easy to watch and criticize others !

although i actually do think since mandatory masks came in there is less social distancing, but also there are more people going onto shops as groups and doing shopping as a social thing rather than just getting what you need which is what happened in march/april.

but we do have to get back to some sense of normality (whatever form that takes !)

15-09-2020 10:07am

ednwireland wrote: »

many shop (aldi/ lidl) dont have sanitisers on the way out !

sometimes you have to cross the flow to use sanitisers on the way out or you have hands full of bags, i have sanitiser in the car.

although its easy to watch and criticize others !

although i actually do think since mandatory masks came in there is less social distancing, but also there are more people going onto shops as groups and doing shopping as a social thing rather than just getting what you need which is what happened in march/april.

but we do have to get back to some sense of normality (whatever form that takes !)

I have noticed that neither Aldi or Lidl have sanitisers on the way out anymore.
I'm pretty sure they did have at that time, though.

The particular shop I was parked outside did have easily accessible sanitiser, though.

My post was a reaction to what I saw, as opposed to a criticism.
I'll happily admit to being very anxious to avoid Covid-19, since my husband is in the vulnerable group - I carry sanitiser in my pocket, simply because I have never seen anyone sanitise the little chains for the coin slot on trolleys, except myself.

And, I'll freely admit that I didn't think to sanitise them either, in the beginning.

The point is, if people are unknowingly carrying Covid-19, then picking things up and putting them back down in shops - should we not all be sanitising our hands on the was into AND out of shops?

CastorTroy · 15-09-2020 8:32pm

I think a good way to enforce the wearing of masks is to enforce the wearing of masks.
They have someone at the door a lot of the time cleaning trollies and/or controlling the number of customers so why not stop those without masks from coming in?
Even though I see signs saying masks are mandatory, there are plenty without.

15-09-2020 8:58pm

CastorTroy wrote: »

I think a good way to enforce the wearing of masks is to enforce the wearing of masks.
They have someone at the door a lot of the time cleaning trollies and/or controlling the number of customers so why not stop those without masks from coming in?
Even though I see signs saying masks are mandatory, there are plenty without.

Realistically, I can't see any shop enforcing that.
Shop staff don't have a legal right, afaik, and the Gardaí have other things to be doing.

I think a lot of people just relaxed when there were no cases in Donegal, and others are either sick of the whole thing, have genuine reasons for not wearing masks, or are buying into one of the conspiracy theories that are doing the rounds.

I actually had someone tell me 3 weeks ago that there hadn't been any cases in Letterkenny hospital - because "someone" told her so, and that was what she wanted to believe!

I'm not sure she believed me when I told her that at least 2 nurses that I know of had coronavirus - I got a very belligerent "Were they hospitalised?" as a response!
All based on the fact that someone who had been in the hospital hadn't seen anyone with coronavirus!

With responses like that, I'd be reluctant to believe that full compliance will ever be achieved! No matter what anyone says.

Heighway61 · 15-09-2020 11:18pm

Don't shops have the right to refuse admission? So, member of staff at door, no mask, no entry.

One of the Donegal clusters was as a result of staff conference (aka jolly) in the North, organised by the company. As one of the staff said to me, there was no need to make such a journey at any time, never mind now, that it could have been done by email.

In Letterkenny hospital casualty dept. they made a token effort at social distancing by putting a "do not sit" sign on every second seat. This was about 2ft of distance, not 2m. They part-partitioned the waiting area into Covid and Non-covid but when Non-covid became full people moved over to sit in the Covid area. The vending machine situated in the Covid area was used by people from both sections. (This was a couple of months ago at the height of things, but maybe it has been changed now, haven't been in that area since.)

These are the type of thing we're up against.

16-09-2020 12:45pm

Heighway61 wrote: »

Don't shops have the right to refuse admission? So, member of staff at door, no mask, no entry.

One of the Donegal clusters was as a result of staff conference (aka jolly) in the North, organised by the company. As one of the staff said to me, there was no need to make such a journey at any time, never mind now, that it could have been done by email.

In Letterkenny hospital casualty dept. they made a token effort at social distancing by putting a "do not sit" sign on every second seat. This was about 2ft of distance, not 2m. They part-partitioned the waiting area into Covid and Non-covid but when Non-covid became full people moved over to sit in the Covid area. The vending machine situated in the Covid area was used by people from both sections. (This was a couple of months ago at the height of things, but maybe it has been changed now, haven't been in that area since.)

These are the type of thing we're up against.

Aldi and lidl in dungloe used to have a staff member at the door.

I haven't seen them the last twice I was there, though admittedly, I deliberately chose a quiet time to shop. That was for crowd control, not masks, though.

I think Dunnes do it - at least, the last time I was there, there was a queue nearly down to the bottom of the car park.
I took one look at the queue, and went to the old Dunnes, instead.

Realistically, though, smaller shops aren't going to be able to afford to pay a staff member to stand at the door - and even if they do, how is the staff member supposed to know whether or not that person has a medical exemption?

The whole thing is an unholy mess, and, imo, faster testing and tracing, together with investment in more hospital beds and staff is the way to go.

No amount of handwashing and masks is going to stop the spread where it gets into enclosed spaces, whether school or workplace. It will help. It should absolutely be done.
But it's not the solution. Not without faster testing, faster results, and faster tracing.

One, without the other, can't work.

Heighway61 · 16-09-2020 1:27pm

Cluster in Dungloe up to six. Testing is ongoing.

muffler · 16-09-2020 6:40pm

Probably comes as no surprise in a way but another 20 cases announced for here today.

madalig12 · 16-09-2020 7:09pm

A class in a secondary school closed in ballybofey and a class in a national school in Castlefin the same. Aura have a swim teacher out and more isolating.

madalig12 · 16-09-2020 7:21pm

And Covidoloco of course

CastorTroy · 17-09-2020 1:06pm

madalig12 wrote: »

A class in a secondary school closed in ballybofey and a class in a national school in Castlefin the same. Aura have a swim teacher out and more isolating.

Where'd you see that? Asking because both could affect my parents?

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 17-09-2020 2:57pm

CastorTroy wrote: »

Where'd you see that? Asking because both could affect my parents?

Don't know about the specific schools but there are several confirmed cases around Castlefin. A few of them are secondary school aged. The GAA club shut down last week too.

muffler · 17-09-2020 3:34pm

CastorTroy wrote: »

Where'd you see that? Asking because both could affect my parents?

You wont really see details published in any of the reputable local media. A lot of these stories stem from local knowledge.

I have heard myself about a positive case in a locsl secondry school in Stranorlar. I've also heard of a small cluster in Castlefinn but it was a family name mentioned so I wont repeat that here.

There are also known cases in Lifford involving the Courthouse, the local GAA club and a taxi driver who tested positive and his wife took to Facebook it seems to advise any of his fares in the days before to get tested.

muffler · 17-09-2020 3:39pm

I know of a small group of people who went out for a meal at the weekend in a well known establishment in the twin towns area. They decided to sit in the lounge after the meal (around 9'ish) and were served drink with last orders called at 1:30AM :eek:

People themselves and moreso the business owners who disregard the advise and regulations is getting us to exactly where we are today with loads of cases.

malinheader · 17-09-2020 6:23pm

Letterkenny and Donegal in general making the six one news tonight.
Must be bad when we're getting a mention on the six one.

muffler · 17-09-2020 6:31pm

malinheader wrote: »

Must be bad when we're getting a mention on the six one.

16 more cases bad

IrishZeus · 17-09-2020 6:40pm

Only Dublin being considered for Level 3 tomorrow though, which is good news. If cases here continue at this level though, it’s only a matter of time....

17-09-2020 6:44pm

muffler wrote: »

I know of a small group of people who went out for a meal at the weekend in a well known establishment in the twin towns area. They decided to sit in the lounge after the meal (around 9'ish) and were served drink with last orders called at 1:30AM :eek:

People themselves and moreso the business owners who disregard the advise and regulations is getting us to exactly where we are today with loads of cases.

Agreed. People seem to have the attitude that they did the whole social distancing thing, while people could come from anywhere in the world and pretty much do what the liked - and that's where the race was lost for those looking for an excuse to justify breaking the rules.

To a certain extent, I can't see what the difference is in being a close contact for 90min vs. 180min. You could argue that those who are determined to do a nights drinking will just move from pub to pub, thus adding to the number of social contacts. You could equally argue that if every person spends 90 minutes in the pub, then they have less contacts - provided all of them enter and leave the pub at the same time...

I don't know what the answer is - but again and again, I've heard or read people wondering why they can't socialise with someone they work with all day, or whose kids are in the same classroom all day - and I can't think of a logical answer...

Whether pubs are open or closed doesn't affect me, because I don't frequent them anyway. I do have sympathy for the owners and staff, but not to the extent that I believe some should flout the rules, while others see their livelihoods going down the drain.

I obey the restrictions, but I can't see the logic behind a lot of them, and I don't believe a certain percentage of people will observe restrictions that don't make sense to them - and that's before you take account of the people who wouldn't have observed the restrictions anyway!

I've been out for 1 meal since the restrictions started. I don't socialise with friends anymore, just immediate family. To be perfectly honest - I'm sick of it - and if I'm sick of it with a vulnerable person to think of, then those without those worries are likely to ignore the restrictions, which will certainly lead to even more cases.

In all honesty, I think we're in for a nasty couple of months, and I don't think the advice from NPHET is going to stop it.

Maybe if NPHET started explaining the reasoning behind their recommendations, it would help.
But, realistically, it's a hell of a lot easier to keep a horse in the stable with the door closed, than it is to open the door, let half the horses out, and then expect the others to stay put...

babybuilder · 17-09-2020 7:32pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Agreed. People seem to have the attitude that they did the whole social distancing thing, while people could come from anywhere in the world and pretty much do what the liked - and that's where the race was lost for those looking for an excuse to justify breaking the rules.

To a certain extent, I can't see what the difference is in being a close contact for 90min vs. 180min. You could argue that those who are determined to do a nights drinking will just move from pub to pub, thus adding to the number of social contacts. You could equally argue that if every person spends 90 minutes in the pub, then they have less contacts - provided all of them enter and leave the pub at the same time...

I don't know what the answer is - but again and again, I've heard or read people wondering why they can't socialise with someone they work with all day, or whose kids are in the same classroom all day - and I can't think of a logical answer...

Whether pubs are open or closed doesn't affect me, because I don't frequent them anyway. I do have sympathy for the owners and staff, but not to the extent that I believe some should flout the rules, while others see their livelihoods going down the drain.

I obey the restrictions, but I can't see the logic behind a lot of them, and I don't believe a certain percentage of people will observe restrictions that don't make sense to them - and that's before you take account of the people who wouldn't have observed the restrictions anyway!

I've been out for 1 meal since the restrictions started. I don't socialise with friends anymore, just immediate family. To be perfectly honest - I'm sick of it - and if I'm sick of it with a vulnerable person to think of, then those without those worries are likely to ignore the restrictions, which will certainly lead to even more cases.

In all honesty, I think we're in for a nasty couple of months, and I don't think the advice from NPHET is going to stop it.

Maybe if NPHET started explaining the reasoning behind their recommendations, it would help.
But, realistically, it's a hell of a lot easier to keep a horse in the stable with the door closed, than it is to open the door, let half the horses out, and then expect the others to stay put...

Great post. I think a lot of people feel this way. It is well known how this virus spreads and yet a sizeable minority of people ignore this advice or have a certain entitlement or, lets say, hubris - I'm not going to get ill or die or along this lines. I see it at my workplace. The people who follow the regulations are the people who want to do this, no enforcement. And the statement from NPHET that the opening of schools has no effect on household or community transmission beggars belief.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 17-09-2020 7:46pm

babybuilder wrote: »

And the statement from NPHET that the opening of schools has no effect on household or community transmission beggars belief.

I don't know that it does. If it was spreading through the schools then we'd be hearing of entire schools shutting down. As it is there's only been cases of a child having it and their class being tested as a precaution. From the data being released it seems like the majority of kids getting it are picking it up somewhere else. The vast majority of clusters around the country have been non school workplace related. Anyone I've heard of getting it in this second wave has got it through socialising or work.

17-09-2020 8:33pm

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

I don't know that it does. If it was spreading through the schools then we'd be hearing of entire schools shutting down. As it is there's only been cases of a child having it and their class being tested as a precaution. From the data being released it seems like the majority of kids getting it are picking it up somewhere else. The vast majority of clusters around the country have been non school workplace related. Anyone I've heard of getting it in this second wave has got it through socialising or work.

In fairness, the schools haven't been open long enough for any level of evidence to have been collected.

Having said that, schools have long been recognised as petri dishes for seasonal flu and other airborne illnesses, as well as gastroenteritis and all the contact illnesses.

So, it's a bit disingenuous for any public body to suggest that there's "no evidence" when the dogs in the street know that Covid-19 can spread through droplets in the air, and surface contact, both - irrespective of where the 1st case in a school may have originated.

babybuilder · 17-09-2020 8:45pm

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

I don't know that it does. If it was spreading through the schools then we'd be hearing of entire schools shutting down. As it is there's only been cases of a child having it and their class being tested as a precaution. From the data being released it seems like the majority of kids getting it are picking it up somewhere else. The vast majority of clusters around the country have been non school workplace related. Anyone I've heard of getting it in this second wave has got it through socialising or work.

The post primary school communities are sizeable including teachers, SNAs, other ancillary staff, students aged 12-18 yrs of age.
International evidence would support that once it is in the community it will be in schools. Therefore it will increase the spread of the virus especially in older ages in post-primary schools.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/covid-19-may-spread-more-easily-in-schools-than-thought-us-report-warns-1.4323634
The US
https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/08/418301/stop-covid-19-spread-schools-start-local-data-and-do-math
The JAMA report issued in the US showed that while large % of children are asymptomatic they shed viruses as much as adults.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/08/11/children-schools-coronavirus-leana-wen/
Furthermore, there have been occurrances in a large number of schools in Ireland, north and south already. The lack of clarity and openness on these outbreaks is worrying. I'm all for schools opening but the infrastructure in many schools is poor with little space for recreation or canteen facilities, narrow corridors. Also there has been no preparation for hybrid learning
I see third level institutions in Dublin have been asked to do online lessons only. Many students in second level are of the same age.
Just give it time. I hope I'm wrong.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 17-09-2020 8:47pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

In fairness, the schools haven't been open long enough for any level of evidence to have been collected.

Having said that, schools have long been recognised as petri dishes for seasonal flu and other airborne illnesses, as well as gastroenteritis and all the contact illnesses.

So, it's a bit disingenuous for any public body to suggest that there's "no evidence" when the dogs in the street know that Covid-19 can spread through droplets in the air, and surface contact, both - irrespective of where the 1st case in a school may have originated.

But if it's not spreading in the schools, which so far it isn't in any major way, the schools aren't a problem. It was always stated that children returning to school would result in more cases, but that could be offset by adults limiting their unnecessary contacts and following all the regulations we've been following since March. Schools have been open again for 3-4 weeks now. Everything with this virus seems to be on a 2 week delay, so we would be seeing clusters in schools by now if it was happening. (Obviously that's not to say it won't happen in the future, but as of now it doesn't appear to be)

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 17-09-2020 8:51pm

babybuilder wrote: »

International evidence would support that once it is in the community it will be in schools. Therefore it will increase the spread of the virus especially in older ages in post-primary schools.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/covid-19-may-spread-more-easily-in-schools-than-thought-us-report-warns-1.4323634
The US
https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/08/418301/stop-covid-19-spread-schools-start-local-data-and-do-math
The JAMA report issued in the US showed that while large % of children are asymptomatic they shed viruses as much as adults.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/08/11/children-schools-coronavirus-leana-wen/

I'm not dismissing any of this but the US have never even come close to getting this under control. Their studies and numbers can't really be applied here when we had it down to very small numbers of new cases when reopening schools.

17-09-2020 8:57pm

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

But if it's not spreading in the schools, which so far it isn't in any major way, the schools aren't a problem. It was always stated that children returning to school would result in more cases, but that could be offset by adults limiting their unnecessary contacts and following all the regulations we've been following since March. Schools have been open again for 3-4 weeks now. Everything with this virus seems to be on a 2 week delay, so we would be seeing clusters in schools by now if it was happening. (Obviously that's not to say it won't happen in the future, but as of now it doesn't appear to be)

But we are beginning to see cases in schools now. Therefore, give it another 2-3 weeks before we can reasonably expect to see clusters. In addition, if children show fewer symptoms, or are asymptomatic - then the likelihood is that they won't be tested - but can still
spread the virus, and, in the absence of any confirmed close contact, cases in adults will be classed as community transmission.

Evidence based science is unquestionably what we should be basing our response on - but where there cannot be current evidence, as with Covid-19, then it doesn't seem remotely logical to dismiss prior scientific evidence re: schools, when the method of transmission is already known...

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 17-09-2020 9:04pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

But we are beginning to see cases in schools now. Therefore, give it another 2-3 weeks before we can reasonably expect to see clusters. In addition, if children show fewer symptoms, or are asymptomatic - then the likelihood is that they won't be tested - but can still
spread the virus, and, in the absence of any confirmed close contact, cases in adults will be classed as community transmission.

Evidence based science is unquestionably what we should be basing our response on - but where there cannot be current evidence, as with Covid-19, then it doesn't seem remotely logical to dismiss prior scientific evidence re: schools, when the method of transmission is already known...

Yes, and in 2 - 3 weeks time, if schools are having to shut down because half the students have Covid, then we can question what should be done about schools. My point is that at the moment, schools reopening are not responsible for the increase in cases we're seeing, so focusing on them when there are other areas that need to be addressed, and a lot of them are very easily fixed if people would take responsibility for their own actions, is pointless.

To be honest I'm sick of people complaining about schools when we're still planning on reopening pubs next week and the only issue most seem to have with that is the term "wet pub".

17-09-2020 10:10pm

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Yes, and in 2 - 3 weeks time, if schools are having to shut down because half the students have Covid, then we can question what should be done about schools. My point is that at the moment, schools reopening are not responsible for the increase in cases we're seeing, so focusing on them when there are other areas that need to be addressed, and a lot of them are very easily fixed if people would take responsibility for their own actions, is pointless.

To be honest I'm sick of people complaining about schools when we're still planning on reopening pubs next week and the only issue most seem to have with that is the term "wet pub".

I haven't been complaining about schools, though - I made a point that people can't see the logic behind the restrictions, using children mingling at school, or people working together all day, yet being restricted in seeing one another in the evening.

I do, however, stand by my point that I fully expect to see clusters in the schools in the coming weeks, as well as some workplaces where social distancing is difficult, if not impossible, or where air circulation is poor.

Time will tell. But generally speaking, if something walks like a duck and talks like a duck - you'd wonder why someone would flat out deny that it's a duck, until someone proves that it is

17-09-2020 10:39pm

Scoil na Mainistreach. Celbridge, Co. Kildale, ordered to close because of Covid-19 cluster

muffler · 17-09-2020 11:39pm

We're going off in a wee bit of a tangent now folks. Can we stick to the local issues please. I realise its hard to get points across but I think the thread would be best served by posting up and commenting on all things relevant to the county while the wider / general discussion points can be made in the dedicated Coronavirus thread a I linked to a few posts back.

Thanks for your cooperation

Heighway61 · 18-09-2020 7:46am

Anyone catch the RTE 6.1 news report from Letterkenny yesterday? Anything new in it?

Don't know the figures but in terms of cases per head of population would we be far off level 3?

Nollog · 18-09-2020 12:32pm

Heighway61 wrote: »

Anyone catch the RTE 6.1 news report from Letterkenny yesterday? Anything new in it?

Don't know the figures but in terms of cases per head of population would we be far off level 3?

Just about buritto loco and to watch ourselves or we'll be locked down with Dublin.

muffler · 18-09-2020 2:27pm

Heighway61 wrote: »

Anyone catch the RTE 6.1 news report from Letterkenny yesterday? Anything new in it?

A local doctor was suggesting that the increase in positive cases was stemming mostly from parties i.e. christening, retirement parties etc which makes sense.

The relevant piece can be viewed on the RTE player here - start player at around 11:45

18-09-2020 5:54pm

So, is saying the cases are random, and mainly caused by parties etc. another way of saying community transmission is well underway, or do they think they can contain it using test and trace?

Does anyone know anything more?
Donegal being singled out as a cause for concern doesn't exactly sound reassuring.

muffler · 18-09-2020 6:00pm

I dont really know anything other than whats been posted already. Getting a mention at the daily press briefing is indeed worrying.

Added to that is the fact that another 13 have been announced today.

As a little aside my wife was told by a staff member in our local medical centre today that they had been advised of a substantial outbreak in Derry.

petrolcan · 18-09-2020 6:28pm

/\/ollog wrote: »

Just about buritto loco and to watch ourselves or we'll be locked down with Dublin.

Funny enough, the BBC UK national news just now mentioned Dublin going to L3 yet showed video of Burrito Loco & Crossview House

malinheader · 18-09-2020 6:44pm

Pity it took something as horrible as covid for Donegal to get its fair share of mention on the national broadcast station.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 18-09-2020 7:28pm

My understanding of several of the cases this week is that they link back to the same party. There is a cluster among a family, but there are other cases among people who attended and then went about their business as normal, symptom free, for about a week, before being contacted to go for testing. So presumably these cases are what we're seeing this week in the numbers.

Heighway61 · 19-09-2020 12:59pm

Confirmed cases by local electoral area now available. A bit more precise than by County, I suppose. Also, five days behind so won't show the recent surge.

https://www.highlandradio.com/2020/09/19/details-of-confirmed-covid-19-cases-released-per-local-electoral-area/

https://covid19ireland-geohive.hub.arcgis.com/

muffler · 19-09-2020 4:35pm

They had been doing this by DED (District Electoral Division) but never updated it despite their website saying differently. I cant recall how many DED's cover the county but it would be in the region of 40 so would have given a more detailed "local slant" to the figures. For example the Letterkenny Rural DED had 51 confirmed cases and the DED of Fahan had 33. On the flip side the Fahan DED was the highest with 1945 when listing the cases per 100k of population. Those figures all go back to around mid - late August.

They have now replaced that map with an Electoral Area map which basically has the county divided in 3 or 4 with layers which is pretty useless to be honest.

I emailed them some days ago asking why they werent updating the DED interactive map and the following is the nonsensical reply I got .....

Dear Mr muffler

Thank you for your email to the Department of Health

The Covid-19 Data Hub and Dashboards available at https://covid19ireland-geohive.hub.arcgis.com/ includes datasets, charts and maps that are updated on an on-going basis and in line with newly published data. Data in relation to COVID-19 confirmed cases at electoral division level are updated on a regular basis. However, you should note that care is required to ensure patient confidentiality is preserved and that no potential identification of individual patients arises. As a result, the data relating to confirmed cases by electoral division is not updated on as frequent a basis as the other data on the Data Hub.

Kind Regards

Covid-19 Response Team

An Roinn Sláinte

Department of Health

19-09-2020 5:25pm

muffler wrote: »

They have now replaced that map with an Electoral Area map which basically has the county divided in 3 or 4 with layers which is pretty useless to be honest.

I emailed them some days ago asking why they werent updating the DED interactive map and the following is the nonsensical reply I got .....

The DED map was pathetic to begin with. The figures haven't changed in a coons age - and the new map is even worse.

I know for a fact that there are 3 new cases (maybe more) in my district electoral division.

It will be interesting to see how long it takes for this new map to be updated, to reflect the new figures.
Personally, I'm not holding my breath.
The whole "patient confidentiality" line is ludicrous, given the size of the electoral area.

Its not like we don't have local knowledge of who is affected, anyway.
But even leaving that aside altogether, there is absolutely no excuse for a five day delay in updating the map. Thats just concealing the facts, under the guise of patient confidentiality.

Or are we meant to believe that patient confidentiality is more important than the health of the rest of the population?

muffler · 19-09-2020 5:46pm

Couldnt agree more lochlach.

Populations within DED's run from hundreds to thousands of people and how the Dept of Health can conclude that "patient confidentiality" would be a factor is beyond me.

A further 19 cases confirmed today for Donegal doesnt help matters.

IrishZeus · 19-09-2020 6:46pm

muffler wrote: »

A further 19 cases confirmed today for Donegal doesnt help matters.

Multiplying by a factor of 9x to account for per capita levels vs Dublin (1.4m), that’s the equivalent of 171 cases in Donegal. If this continues, I’d say we’re on track for a potential Level 3.

madalig12 · 19-09-2020 9:18pm

Deleted User wrote: »

The figures haven't changed in a coons age

What does that mean? Never heard it before.

lulu1 · 19-09-2020 11:12pm

madalig12 wrote: »

What does that mean? Never heard it before.

Could be wrong but probably another saying for in donkeys years

malinheader · 20-09-2020 8:27am

IrishZeus wrote: »

Multiplying by a factor of 9x to account for per capita levels vs Dublin (1.4m), that’s the equivalent of 171 cases in Donegal. If this continues, I’d say we’re on track for a potential Level 3.

Hate the thought of restrictions again and was hoping we up here would fair okay again. But looking at the rise in cases in the county per capita compared with Dublin I just hope something is done quickly concerning restrictions as it's only going to get worse. I don't see any other solution.

Cabletiesfix · 20-09-2020 9:05am

Will the "wet pubs" still be allowed to open in Donegal? They could be open for a few days and then shut again if these amount of cases continues

NIMAN · 20-09-2020 9:35am

If most of the cases are in Letterkennny, does it make sense to shut down the entire county?

Why hit rural areas behaving themselves cos Letterkenny isn't?

HeidiHeidi · 20-09-2020 9:37am

NIMAN wrote: »

If most of the cases are in Letterkennny, does it make sense to shut down the entire county?

Why hit rural areas behaving themselves cos Letterkenny isn't?

Looking at that colour-coded map (which I know is about a week behind real time), most of the cases seem to be concentrated in the east of the county.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 20-09-2020 10:56am

Finn Valley area had a fair few cases this week, from Lifford right up to Ballybofey. Saw Convoy mentioned too.
The way the numbers are in Donegal at the moment it's nearly irrelevant to be looking for specifics. It's in the county and it's spreading faster than it was in the early stages, so everyone should be taking responsibility for themselves.

Coronavirus

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