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THE UK GOVERNMENT plans to test a new emergency alert system between 3pm and 4pm on Sunday, which could be received by some people living in or visiting border counties.
The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications has said that a small number of people may get a text and audio alert on their phone but there is no reason to be alarmed and no action is needed.
A statement from the Department read:
“Mobile phone customers on mobile phone networks based in Ireland will not receive the message. However, mobile phone customers near border areas in Ireland who roam onto a UK mobile phone network during this time will receive the alert/message.”
“Recipients will hear a loud, siren-like sound and the phone will use a distinct vibration. A message will appear on the home screen of the phone until it is acknowledged.”
On Sunday April 23rd at 3pm, the UK Government will be testing their new emergency alert system. Those living in or visiting the border counties may get a text and audio alert on their phone. There is no reason to be alarmed and no action is needed. | https://t.co/4OB2NbEo0T pic.twitter.com/54AdXlFXU7
— Dept. Environment, Climate and Communications (@Dept_ECC) April 19, 2023
The UK launched its emergency message system last month and it’s intended to be used in instances of severe flooding, fires or other extreme weather events.
Phones will make a loud siren-like sound – even if they are set on silent – vibrate, and read out the alert.
Women’s Aid UK have stated that the alert system could lead abusers to find phones that their partners have been hiding from them.
A statement from the charity read:
“We are concerned about the potential safety risks to survivors who may be keeping their phones hidden from an abuser, as the alert is a loud, siren-like sound with a screen message and vibration.”
“Survivors can opt out from receiving emergency alerts to avoid their device from being detected.”
“For many survivors, a second phone which the perpetrator does not know about is an important form of communication with friends or family – as some abusers confiscate or monitor and control their partner’s phone. It may also be their only lifeline in emergencies.”
iPhone’s and Androids allow users to opt out of alerts in their settings.
The Department of Communications has said that it plans to introduce an emergency phone alert system in Ireland by the end of next year.
The new ‘Public Warning System’ would notify phone users who may be close to a possible natural disaster or terror attack.
If the teachers who caught Covid while mingling over the holidays had no issues mixing with the public over Christmas then they should have no issues mingling with the kids when they get back to work.
@Football in the Groin: what? How many times did you get hit by that football? It seems to have somehow damaged the anti-gibberish filter in your brain.
@Football in the Groin: childish comment.
@Football in the Groin: dead right…teaches out clubbing all over hristmas on taxpayers money catching covid at our expense
@Great White Hope: That’s the shot GWH…you tell’ em!!
@Football in the Groin: How was your mingling, did you mingle at home or with others . Believe me teachers much prefer being in the classroom rather than 24 hour home schooling. So let’s hope your mingling with others haven’t effected the kids who carry the desease in a classroom of 30 , with only ventilation being opened windows. Also hope your mingling doesn’t effect the pod , which is sitting right in front of the teacher less than two meters , but FOCK the teacher isn’t considered a close contact. So mingle back under Normas dress like a good little BOT.
@Mac Muinteoir: the unknow soldier continues his trolling.
And while us in Retail just get on with it and those in Health Care are legends..
Teachers gripe about everything any chance they get and seriously take the pxss ..
Staff in the health and Retail are dropping like flies yet we don’t get a mention in the journal nor the news Headlines
@James Johnson: what’s your point? If you have issues then voice them with your employer. Are you in a freezing room with 28 kids, unmasked, no screen or barrier. Plenty of shops and restaurants have closed around me because of Covid. Now, plenty of classes will close because of Covid.
@James Johnson: it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. I can show you what it’s like if you want? OK, you say something like “Given that lack of simple and obvious mitigations in the retail setting, there’s a risk that so many staff will get covid that some stores may have to close.” Then I’ll reply with “I’m sick to the teeth of retail workers whinging and looking for special treatment. If nurses can get on with their job of licking the covid directly out of patients lungs, and we don’t hear them complaining, why can’t retail workers do the same? If they don’t want to work, put them on the PUP.” I mean, it’s not perfect, but you get the idea.
@James Johnson: join a union , get a voice. Stand up for yourself . Don’t spend your time moaning on social media
@James Johnson: if you’re happy with your conditions, good for you. Don’t slate another profession because they seek better conditions. Workers should be uniting and looking for better conditions, not going against each other, we’re all working together in this.
@2thFairy: my company have actually been amazing and paid us a 10% hor working and personally no issue. My point is the teachers are constantly moaning and always looking for something.
If they Don’t want to go to work go sick and let the children be educated ..
I’m not painting all teachers with this brush but there are a lot of moaners. What about the nurses no pay for students etc that is an issue.. we need to live with this now or just give up and stay at home..
@Conor Flood: I did not moan my company has actually looked after us and beyond .. with a 10% increase my point is the teachers are constantly giving out re anything they can think off
@James Johnson: stop moaning wouldja?
Ridiculous that schools return fully today with the amount of people with covid. Plenty said about teachers but spare a thought for our doctors, nurses and hospital staff. They have to deal with the severe repercussions of government decision to let covid run wild.
@Mogh Roith: while I get your point, this variant isn’t causing anywhere near the admissions as previous variants. It seems that the view taken was that having kids out of school would be more damaging than higher case rates.
@Mogh Roith: not for one second do I believe that our doctors, nurses and hospital staff are very far from our thoughts.
@Colm O’ Shea: have you not seen the rate of admissions in hospitals. Coupled with the fact that they also have a high rate of staff out with Covid.
@Mogh Roith: no other sector of society is closed. Its the only one downing tools. Wanted to close early before xmas now wants to delay reopening. Will they cover the lost days into summer? Will they fcuk!
@James Gorman: You tell ‘em James!!
@James Gorman: calm down. They are people trying to stay safe and keep children and communities safe. No different to anyone else just different circumstances.
@Colm O’ Shea: however it will lead to higher admissions because more people will get Omicron over Delta.
Look enough fighting amongst ourselves, if the policy is let it rip which it obviously is, no more working from home for anyone, bring the Dáil back now, no more zoom meetings for ministers, throw the nurses, teachers, shop workers , transport people etc….under the bus, everyone should be under the same bus…..parity….then no one can fight.
@Yvonne Lavelle: fact.
We got an email at 5 o clock yesterday from my kids secondary school saying that all 1st, 2nd and TY years should remain at home and await further notice about returning.
@Stuart Lawn: What? That seems to undermine the national directive given and is unfair. Sorry to hear that.
@Seeking Truth: Sure didn’t Norma herself say that it would be the inspectorate and Department of Education themselves making decisions to shut down classes. Sorry to disappoint but you can’t blame teachers and schools for this one
@Seeking Truth: Sure didn’t Norma herself say that it would be the inspectorate and Department of Education themselves making decisions to shut down classes. Sorry to disappoint but you can’t blame teachers and schools for this one
@Seeking Truth: if there’s no staff to supervise then do you want to let the kids to sit in the class by them selves all day ? I remember the carnage in my class when the teacher would leave and go for a 5 minute smoke…(maybe it was a kells thing ) I guess we could insist on the teachers coming into school and turn them into super spreaders… then the kids would have to stay home anyway ways ….
@Seeking Truth: so what do you suggest? If there’s no teaching staff to send them in anyway..? This was the writing on the wall. Norma was told there would be high numbers of school staff out and not enough subs.
This years leading cert students have not had it easy… 5th year they missed a lot of in schooling and now this for them. Predictive grade option again?
@Austin Shields: you are 100% correct I feel so sorry for those students and last years also no social life
@James Johnson: they’ll be grand. This generation have never been so well connected. It’s far from ideal or what we want for them but in generations past young adults and children had much worse experiences to endure.
@Austin Shields: Probably going to be exam / predictive grade, like last years. I actually think it’s a decent option for the kids to decide, think you’re going to be happy with the grade you get in school from teacher? Why sit the exam when you can focus on another subject that needs attention?
Where is the handy ‘Do you think schools are safe’ Journal.ie poll to parents and teachers?
they be grand
Lovely day for open windows.
I’m a teacher and I think it’s ridiculous that we seem to get a bigger voice than every other worker in Ireland. Other sectors just get on with it. You should hear some teachers in the staff room today.
All I’ve wanted from the start of all this is that people at a levels apply a bit of cop on and common sense.
From the start the reason for all the emergency measures was to protect the Health Service.
Despite a huge increase in daily infected numbers, which by all reports are only half the actual number, the numbers in ICU have remained stable as Omicron appeares to be a much milder variant.
Given that it doesn’t seem that the HSE is going to be under anymore treat from Omicron than the flu or any other seasonal respiratory infection it would seem sensible to not apply the same rigerious measures to this wave as were applied to all the others.
I think we’ve reached a difficult point in the pandemic where individuals, institutions and governments will have to change their methods and thinking to reflect the change in the disease.
Unfortunately our government and institutions haven’t shown themselves to be very mobile or agile during the course of this pandemic.
The fact that so many are affected by this disease is directly due to the government’s complete failure to follow public health guidelines and adopt the stringent measures to protect people. This is a ‘let it rip sure we’re vaccinated’ response that ignores the pressures on public services and deaths. No guts for a lockdown .
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