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LAST UPDATE | 12 Mar 2020
THE GOVERNMENT HAS announced that schools across the country are to close to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The decision applies to all schools and third-level institutions, and none will open tomorrow. It will also apply to other public facilities.
Furthermore, all museums, galleries and tourism sites will shut. Mass gatherings of over 100 (indoor) and 500 (outdoor) are cancelled. All these measures will take effect from 6pm today until 29 March.
The significant development comes as confirmed cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus in the Republic of Ireland now stands at 43. One person has died from the virus here so far.
The decisions were announced by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the United States this morning, who said these measures would help to mitigate the effects of the virus here.
In a follow-up press conference in Dublin, Minister for Health Simon Harris said we have moved to the “delay phase” of the Covid-19 outbreak in Ireland while Tánaiste Simon Coveney admitted it’s an “awful lot to take in” and the “days and weeks ahead will be difficult”.
“Never before has such drastic action been taken in the face of a public health threat,” Coveney said.
Varadkar’s speech
Varadkar said earlier: “The following measures are being put in place, and they will stay in place until the 29 of March. Schools, colleges, and childcare facilities will close from tomorrow.
Where possible teaching will be done online or remotely and cultural institutions will close as well.
Varadkar said there will be more cases and more people will get sick and “unfortunately we must face the tragic reality that some people will die”.
He said we have “not witnessed a pandemic of this nature in living history and we are in uncharted territory”, and said “several important and unprecedented measures to protect public health” had also been taken.
We have to work now to have the greatest impact on the spread, he said.
The Taoiseach also said people can continue to go to work but where possible work from home.
Break times and working times should be staggered and meetings done remotely or on the phone, if possible.
Shops will remain open and there is a plan in place to ensure the supply chain will not be interrupted. Public transport will also continue to operate.
He said they government needs the public and businesses to take a “sensible, level-headed approach”.
Restaurants and cafes and other businesses can stay open but they should look at ways to implement advice on social distancing and people should reduce their social interactions as much as possible, according to the Taoiseach.
“Our health care workers have been at the forefront of this crisis since it started, and they will be at the frontline of the crisis in the time ahead,” he said.
We must do all we can to help them, so they can help those who need the help the most. I know that some of this is coming as a real shock. And it’s going to involve big changes in the way we live our lives. And I know that I’m asking people to make enormous sacrifices. But we’re doing it for each other.
“Together we can slow the virus in its tracks and push it back together as one nation we can save many lives. Our economy will suffer. But we can bounce back.
We are a great nation and we have overcome many trials in the past with our determination, and we will prevail again.
‘Never before’
At a press conference in Government Buildings following Varadkar’s announcement, Tánaiste Simon Coveney said that “never before has such drastic action” been taken in the face of a public health threat.
“What we have outlined has not been decided upon lightly,” he said. “The irony in order to pull together we’re asking people to stay apart.
It’s an awful lot to take in. I’m a husband, a father and a son too. I understand the concerns many households will have across the country. We do need to respond with calm, unity, discipline and resolve, collectively together.
Minister for Health Simon Harris said: “We’ve made it clear we will always take the right measures at the right time for the right length of time. This morning is that time. We’ve moved to the delay phase of Covid-19.
We do not take such measures lightly. Public health must always and will come first.
Chief medical officer Tony Holohan said he believes the application of today’s measures will give us the “greatest chance” of responding to new cases of Covid-19.
Acknowledging that the public will have many questions about the new measures, Coveney said a special Cabinet meeting will take place this afternoon with each minister tasked with handling matters relating to their brief.
Coveney said that throughout the day, the government will be updating travel advice.
“We don’t have any plans to close airports or shutdown ferries but we will be looking at how we can communicate more directly and effectively as people use those services,” he says.
Ministers were also stressing that there is no need to panic buy given the current crisis, and that buying stuff you don’t actually need could actually be a detriment to supply.
Minister for Business Heather Humphreys said: “I can be sure of that, because I met with the retailers, I met with the distributors, and they have assured me that there is sufficient [stock] in the supply chain. If people go out and buy products that they don’t need to stockpile them they’re going to cause a problem.”
School closures
In a statement this afternoon, the Department of Education provided further detail on school closures.
It confirmed schools will remain closed until 29 March.
The department said: “All pupils and students, from pre-school to third level are urged to practice social distancing, and to minimise physical contact with each other, to help avoid the spread of Covid-19.
“This should include minimising social contact, avoiding meeting up and keeping physical space between them. Parents and guardians are urged to support their children to maintain this approach.”
Schools are being asked to, where possible, provide online resources for students or online lessons where schools are equipped to do so.
Schools have also been asked to prioritise supporting exam classes to continue to prepare for State examinations.
Minister for Education Joe McHugh said: “At this point in time the closure is planned for two weeks, from tomorrow until 29 March. The government, in conjunction with the public health authorities, will keep the situation under ongoing review. Any change to that date will be communicated widely.
Pupils should take their books and learning materials home with them this evening.
Clusters and Defence Forces action
Explaining the decision for making this call now, Holohan said:
Yesterday evening we came into possession, after that press conference yesterday evening, of new information in terms of cases from the National Virus Reference Laboratory, we considered that last night and in the light of that information, we provided this guidance.
Holohan wouldn’t clarify what these figures were, but said that it would be announced at this evening’s Department of Health briefing on new cases in Ireland.
He said that a number of clusters had been identified, pointing to community transmission, which is when cases appear without an obvious link to travel to an affected area, or a confirmed case in Ireland.
He clarified that when the virus spreads outside contact with confirmed cases, or not associated with travel, its “a strong signal that social distancing measures should be considered”.
Also, in an update this afternoon, the Defence Forces said that it has notified personnel “of the impending change to our force posture and all non-essential activities have been suspended”.
“Our focus now is to maximise our preparedness to respond to requests for assistance from the Civil Authorities. Protecting our personnel is our priority and is key to maintaining our capability to provide support to communities and civil authorities, when requested,” the statement says.
“For operational security reasons, we will not comment on specific dispositions of troops or on internal unit procedures at this time.”
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Great decision. Now everyone stay safe
@Mark Murphy: shit just hit the fan…
@Arya: guaranteed that the kids won’t be kept at home
@Mark Murphy: Cork city is so quiet. Very few people in town. I think it’s sinking in..
@Arya: quick clean the fan, use sanitizer!!!
@Dave O’Keeffe: yeah, but at least they’ll only be mixing with their friends and not hundreds of kids in class, schoolyard, public transport etc.
@David Jordan: Children get the coronavirus they carry it, but their bodies are young so it does not affect them as bad… the receptors innthe lungs are not fully developed until a person is 12 years old…… its when the receptors in an older person have this virus they cannot breath… but do not be fooled that children cannot get the virus.
They get it and pass it on…
@Dave O’Keeffe: that’s up to the parents.
@David Jordan: this is incorrect. Children may not be as badly affected by the symptoms but they most certainly can get and can spread it to other people. Closing schools and other institutions is the correct thing to do to help try slow down the spread. And everybody should maintain social distancing, it doesn’t matter what age category you fall into.
@David Jordan: I think your statement is wrong probably a typo as it disagrees with the rest of the comment you posted? “COVID-19 very rarely affects children and they rarely if ever spread the disease.” Anyone can spread the disease only mortality rates are lower in children so far!
@David Jordan: Good Man there, You seem to be A Real Authority on Public Health , you’re a mine of information there . Hope the Population just LISTEN to the Experts here and stat safe, look in on older neighbours, get a bit of shopping for them, that is if there will be any left in shops because so many just think of themselves in situations like this.
@David Jordan: While it is true that children don’t seem to be as badly affected and there has been no mortalities under 9, this is so new we don’t really know what the long term affects of kids catching it might be. Best to reduce the chances of everyone catching it
@Mark Murphy: Great, so all nurses, doctors and healthcare workers have to take time off work to look after their kids….
@David Jordan: Please link the studies that support your theory on this. If you can’t, then you definitely should not be commenting with such assumed authority.
@David Jordan: Very valid points. Most here will probably get this virus. It’s up to us to keep our parents, grandparents and those of us with underlying health conditions (especially respiratory ones) safe. Whilst there was a lot of jesting re how older people should be done away with here over the last few weeks, they are our unpaid childminders, tutors, volunteers at charities, teachers, professors, owners of businesses, etc. We ALL have a place in this society and we all have a responsibility to act accordingly. If you don’t know how you can keep your part in spreading this virus to a minimum, now is the time to find out and start doing those things.
@Mark Murphy: Leo, Simon and Pascal have shown real leadership
@Dave O’Keeffe: it’s the parent’s job to keep their kids safe. So if it means to force them to stay home then they’ll have to do just that. I’m sure most kids wouldn’t mind playing games on their PlayStation during the day now that schools are closed sure. It’s up to the parents to decide how to divide the time really.
@David Jordan: Source for “they rarely if ever spread the disease”?! Cos, like, that’s the first time I’ve seen *that* claimed!
@Kevin de Groot: leave will be cancelled for medical nursing staff if required also we will be redeployed to areas where service need is required
@Mark Murphy: why are u out of the country Leo
@Dave O’Keeffe: I agree with you I’ve just driven home & kids outside playing which is great to see. Can you just see the teenagers staying inside for the next 2 weeks. They will do as they always do when there is no school.
@saoirse janneau: cork is tiny, its always dead
@damien ryan: finally
@Paul O’Sullivan: Here’s the UK’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty saying that school closures are not necessary, children are only mildly affected and school closures would have little impact on the epidemic.
https://youtu.be/yEM7IZQEg4A?t=1676
And I’m not the only one who is concerned:
“Coronavirus in Lincolnshire – expert warns closing schools could increase risk to grandparents and cut number of NHS workers able to combat virus”
https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/coronavirus-school-closures-more-risk-3943973
@Mark Murphy: what is Leo’s plan to deal with the 30k race goers returning home from Cheltenham over the next few days??……..All theses measures are too little too late. Token gestures. Waste of time with 30k entering the country from Cheltenham without checks or quanetine.
A sensible decision. Now let’s go to the Winchester, have a nice cold pint, and wait for this all to blow over.
@Jukebox Jim: I’ll do it on the night
@Jukebox Jim: cornetto
Well done Leo. Big call but the right one.
@Greg Cavey: I agree good call. Hopefully it won’t be too too bad. And hopefully folks don’t go too mad over the next few days
@Greg Cavey: what’s this well done leo about…should of been done days/weeks ago.
@Craig Clancy: weeks ago we wouldn’t even of had a case of the virus. You wanted to close all schools when there was no virus? Some people honestly just want a pop at the government for absolutely anything. Stop stressing about what government do and just get on with it.
@Greg Cavey: he’s just one of the many lunatics we have around the place.
@Craig Clancy: nonsense.
About time. Only a week late
@thenewguy: I’d say youd find a reason to complain if they were closed last week too.
@thenewguy: If announced last week: bit soon isn’t it? Now you’re causing a panic, well done government!
@thenewguy: theyre being guided by Dept of Health actually
Closing schools, but not pubs? You can’t make this stuff up.
@Paolo Ciuchini: whoever is still out socialising Is a fool and should be treated as such.
@Paolo Ciuchini: You can’t close the whole country down. Unlike schools, nobody is forced by law to go to a pub, you can choose to stay at home.
Pubs & restaurants have been also asked to rearrange seating to allow more space.
@Paolo Ciuchini: No one is obliged to go to the pub.
@Justin Gillespie: that’s true but by all accounts this doesn’t affect children as much as adults and unlike the flu were children pass it to adults this is the adults passing it to the kids,if your closing schools then you hav to close pubs
@Warren Mcdermott: where are you getting these ‘accounts’?? Any account I’ve read state children get infected the same as adults and pass sit on the same too, they just don’t have much sickness as their lungs aren’t fully developed yet
@Justin Gillespie:
Ah the pErSoNaL rEsPoNsIbIlItY brigade are out.
It’s a PANDEMIC, personal choices aren’t the issue here, infection is. A f0ol can infect you just as much as a wise man. Responsible people will feel the consequences of the f0ols going to the pubs, going the Cheltenham, etc.
@Paolo Ciuchini: pretty sure the pubs etc. will close when they notice they are paying staff to sit on their asses.
@Philip King ⚡️: University students and older children left at home, whilst parents work will not be staying in, I can promise you that.
@Mary Morrisey: ignorance is bliss until your left standing alone in the cold.
It’s time to relax at home for the foreseeable future and let this pass.
It’s just highly irresponsible to venture out to social gatherings. A couple of weeks and we can all get back to normal with minimum pain.
@Paolo Ciuchini: are they not indoor social gatherings of 100 people?
@Paolo Ciuchini: They are closing the pubs.
@Paolo Ciuchini: just imagine the pubs full of people seating 1.5 meters apart for “safety purposes”.
Please don’t ask your parents help with childminding, children rarely catch the virus but if they do they don’t usually show any symptoms. You won’t know they are infectious. The few children that have the virus might give it to grandparents if they help with childminding.
@David Jordan: Children can catch the virus as much as anyone and spread it just the same. They just don’t typically get symptoms. Please try and be factual.
@David Jordan: I’ll be looking after my grandchildren. No option. My daughter is a public health nurse and her husband works for Irish Rail. Both of them still have to go to work
@David Jordan: would love to think people would look after their own children but will still need/choose to work and this country is being ran on the generosity of grandparents looking after kids!
@Shakka1244: Cite a peer reviewed paper supporting your claim.
Out of 44,600 cases, only two children <10 where left severely ill from this disease, both had severe pre-exiting illnesses. The vast majority of children have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic. However, they may be infectious (though no case of a child infecting an adult has been seen yet). I worries me that children might pass on the virus to their grandparents, how may help with childminding. Children can seem perfectly healthy but carry the virus.
"Most children cases had mild symptoms, similar to other seasonal viral infections. Therefore, it has not attracted parents’ enough attention. We noticed that most of the children were diagnosed during the epidemiological screening, with an exposure history to the familial clustering infection."
They are saying that the symptoms of children are usually so mild their infection goes unnoticed, they are only diagnosed if their parents are ill.
"Furthermore, the asymptomatic infection in children may become a potential source of infection, which needs to be taken seriously."
This is my worry.
Reference:
Yang, P., Liu, P., Li, D. and Zhao, D., 2020. Corona Virus Disease 2019, a growing threat to children?. Journal of Infection.
@David Jordan: then who can working parents turn to in order to mind their children? Strangers they don’t know? People who don’t know how to take care of them. I’m aware elderly people are vulnerable but don’t isolate them to that level unless you know for certain the kid has it
@David Jordan: This a chart shows that <2%-3% of cases of COVID-19 involved children and teens <19 years. They were not an important driver of the outbreak. This is very different from Flu, where children commonly catch the flu virus, are affected badly, and help spread the flu.
@David Jordan:
So what’s the solution if your telling grandparents not to take care of the grandchildren? How are people to work?
@David Jordan: will you stop with your misinformation. Read up about it before continually posting crap. Children do get it, they do pass it on, it doesn’t generally cause issues for them. Got it?
@Shakka1244: Not true, children are much less likely to catch the virus.https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/03/10/coronavirus-is-mysteriously-sparing-kids-killing-elderly-understanding-why-may-help-defeat-virus/
@David Jordan: How does that study account for the majority of children being provencial residents in China and lack of medical care/testing ability there? It’s important to understand our society is greatly different than China’s and the results of your source may reflect that. China also has a very strong need to appear to be fixing a problem with it as an origin for reasons that affect their trade/economy globally. Source: Me, a resident of China for almost 10 years with a professional medical interest there.
@David Stapleton: “Children do get it, they do pass it on, it doesn’t generally cause issues for them.”
That’s what I said, except the evidence shows that fewer children catch the disease.
https://i.imgur.com/QSdLEWs.jpg
Reference:
The Epidemiological Characteristics of an Outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Diseases (COVID-19) — China, 2020. n.d.http://weekly.chinacdc.cn/en/article/id/e53946e2-c6c4-41e9-9a9b-fea8db1a8f51.
@Rebekah Corbett: If u log into bbc news great for update on the virus but this is about govt response.
All med advise agreed that control of virus require
1 Limit import from abroad.
Govt doing nothing on this.
and
2 limit transmission within a country. what is govt doing and investing in keep public areas virus free when schools re open ?
And what about ports airports and people coming into the country with infection. Will there be quarantine facilities set up? What state funding to COMPLIMENT this containment within a cit own home and state funding to subsidize lost income ? .
Perhaps answer is in attached EU Commission post program surveillance report on Ireland’s financial and fiscal ability to repay loan to Ireland under B Lenihans loan agreement for Oct 2019 which refers to commission concern over the financial sustainability of the health service and last minute budget overruns in breach of fiscal rules. See part three policies. P 18.
The EU Commission acquired hold a hand on public purse cos of B Lenihan Deal with EU /IMF until 75 per cent of loan paid back.
They are enforcing loan thru the taoiseach office cos taoiseach decided that B Lenihan had power to bind the nation without need for Dail Approval and a min made the deal.
AND
TD decided that the administration of the public fund is for the Taoiseach who is bowing to EU who are clearly not happy with govt spending ? Otherwise TD would have been in high court years ago challenging his authority to treat the deal as binding without PRIOR Approval of dail and legislation charging fund for that object.
The govt is borrowing to pay the C Bank under the p note under benevolent eye of ALL TDS but does not have money to supply bleach and water to clean schools. What will happen when schools re open?
Perhaps time for voter to get on to own TD, whose vote needed to elect taoiseach ( it is Merrion Street and Brussels that these decisions being made. Not Dail. Cos of TD decisions.) AND express dissatisfaction with govt response to this virus and that Dail was mandated to send the deal back. They did not . The govt is accountable to dail.
.
This surveillance report of the EU Commission never brought to the attn Leo Varadker M Martin or M L McDonald when they were on RTE selling promise as part of a govt when they were seeking election to dail Eireann to whom govt is accountable? How can voter make informed decision on who to vote without role of EU in this loan not discussed and what dail TD doing about it.
https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/economy-finance/ip122_en.pdf
@Shakka1244: “Grandparents often step in for the regular holidays – 60% look after their grandchildren after school or outside term time – but to close a school to contain a virus, then send the children to be looked after by the group it most affects, would feel wrong even for the most desperate parent.”
But many children that are infected by this virus remain asymptomatic, parents won’t realise their child might be infectious. It’s important, if possible, that grandparents do not help with childminding.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/10/school-closures-coronavirus-care
I knew I should have been a teacher
@FrontSeatDriver: and we all knew you shouldn’t ;-)
What about the Thousands coming back from Cheltenham They are a bigger risk of spreading it country wide Leo place is at home not with Trump
@pat seery: It’s the modern world. He can actually multi-task and your hero will be home soon pet. Just relax.
@pat seery: totally agree. Farcical to say the least. It will cost us in the end.
@pat seery: Let block all the Irish people from coming home.
@pat seery: what’s your suggestion about Cheltenham? Let’s just ban Irish mothers and fathers from returning home is it?
With 60 odd cases Ireland is ahead of the rest of the world.. Only thing is the north needs to do the same for it to work.
@Dónal MacAonghusa: the Italians/Uk have more. Also think Iran has more
@Patrick O Connell: per capita he means
@thenewguy: we are at 8 cases per 1 million people. Italy is at over 500 per million people.
@Peter Cavey: think he means ahead of the game in our action
@Dónal MacAonghusa: As always/ Cancelled rugby immediately, Uk followed a week later, issued advise about washing hands live on Late Late Show weeks before other countries copied, making their citizens aware of how the virus spreads..
We are 2 weeks behind Italy in terms of infection rates, but 2 weeks ahead of them in preparation and prevention..
@Dónal MacAonghusa: Imagine suggesting checks at the border now.
Sense prevails.
Time to look after each other and be respectful to others.
Be safe and those that come in contact I wish them a speedy recovery.
Brace,Brace,Brace.
Now, what about stopping the passengers disembarking from the 2 liners due in Cobh at the weekend.
It was totally unnecessary for the acting Taoiseach to deliver his ‘address to the nation’ from Washington. The acting Táiniste could have done it I Dublin. Ego on steroids!
@Marg FitzGerald: and what are the acting opposition doing???
@Marg FitzGerald: He’s the acting Taoiseach. Of course it was appropriate for him to do so. The acting Tánaiste and others will now get on with the job while the Taoiseach is away. Get a life. It’s little you have to complain about if you think that the Taoiseach shouldn’t have made one of the most important announcements in decades just because he was in Washington.
@Marg FitzGerald: yeah yeah but admit it, then you’d be moaning that the Taoiseach should have done it…
@Marg FitzGerald: who cares where he is.
@Marg FitzGerald: more nonsense.
@Marg FitzGerald:
This is L-EGO the unelected one REMEMBER… never elected as Taoisigh
By the Irish citizens…. never will be either…
Currently in college should I leave?
@Eoghan Dowling: do what you think is the right thing to do.
@Eoghan Dowling: yep
@Eoghan Dowling: stay until 5:59pm
@Eoghan Dowling: Well if the course isnt working out for you. Yes.
@Eoghan Dowling: wait till 6pm.
@Eoghan Dowling: head on home now if you can before the rush starts.
@Eoghan Dowling: well yeah – if all you are doing there is being on the journal and faffing on social media then by all means ya should defo just f*** off home and do that from there instead – don’t worry about the college stuff anyways the only qualifications for jobs for the next few years in ireland are can you deliver pizzas on a bike with a mask on so you should be grand.
@Eoghan Dowling: Look at your college website as they may suggest leaving earlier than 6pm.
@Dave Hammond: prat
@Eoghan Dowling: Don’t forget to steal a load of toilet roll on your way out.
@James Neill: by all means feel free to offer up your own nuggets of wisdom during these trying times – if all ya can manage are flinging personal insults – id give the social media a rest for a while – its not good for ya
@Dave Hammond: maybe he posted that while he was on a break? You really don’t need to be an a-hole about it.
@Dalya Al-Tulaihi: he’s a student – we both know he didn’t wait til breaktime – chillax ;-)
Employers are going to have to play a very open minded role in all of this. Im a paramedic and my wife a nurse, sending the kids to a grandparent can’t happen. The options for us are very scarce. Lots of questions arise. Do you still pay the childcare facility? If so paying a home minder is financially not an option. Real outside the box thinking is required now by government.
@Alan Walsh: I’m guessing the childcare facility will close as of 6 o’clock this evening?
Not a fan of the man however he spoke very well about the challenges we face and what we can do as a society to help each other. i still believe we can do more but hopefully we can all pull through this. Stay safe all.
Says the lad who flew out to America
@Dublin Devanney: sure he has his private jet to get home on.
@Dublin Devanney: dope
My forecast is for a baby boom and divorce boom if we go into lockdown.
supermarket carnage tonight. get your bread and milk.
Now watch, the pubs will be rammed.
@PeterC: no more than 100 in an indoor area in pubs and restaurants ,cafes ,
@Paul O’Sullivan: Yeah, Paddy is great at abiding by the rules, especially if there’s a few €€€ to be made.
@PeterC: I will watch. From a distance.
Old paddy down the boozer knows best anyway.
@PeterC: carnage already started, local Tesco like a Christmas Eve on steroids.
@Shakka1244: yeah same with Italy, could job it turned out so well for them, no wait….
@Paul O’Sullivan: Queues for blocks.
Here we go!
Is he going to order his banking buddies to hold off on morgage repayments etc for all the people who will not get paid.
Well done Leo. Hard call but the right call. By Sunday pubs and restaurants will be closed too.
I’ve asked this question on multiple platforms before. If people are still being told to work, what is the advice for using public transport. You know, the mode of transport where people are standing and breathing on each other on warm buses, trains and trams. There has no been no mention of this anywhere.
@Philip: unions have called this out today. Plans seemingly being drawn up to minimise distances. Scratching my head on how that one is implemented – Skips stops, half fill carriages, stop queuing, etc.? Will need more not less services to spread loads or a massive buy-in in from employers to support remote working.
I just came here for the pro-SF, anti-FG rhetoric.
Very unpleasantly surprised.
I hope I’m wrong but 2 weeks closures will be the very minimum needed, 2 months could be more realistic.
Taoiseach was right to take these actions & the press conference on now with Simon Coveney,Simon Harris,CMO,Minister for Education,Minister for Business,etc is very informative,welcome and reassuring.
Glad too for the past while that all the party leaders have had regular meetings over Convid19….it’s only right,it’s not the time for political rivalry!
TRAVEL BAN! FOR JAYSUS SAKE!
Pity no travel bans
@munsterman1: understatement of the year. This will do virtually nothing in reality..they are calling it “unprecedented” yet they exact same during a bit of snow or wind
@munsterman1: shh you can’t talk sense around here.
Closing schools, colleges etc. and banning gatherings to max 100 is the absolute minimum we should be doing.
We will be like Italy very soon – learn from them before it’s too late.
Short term pain = long term gain
Well done Ireland. 2120 cases here in Germany and no blanket closures of schools etc yet. Lots of criticism on the Journal usually but this is a proactive, forward thinking decision. Germany could learn and react more.
Is that preschool as well?
@The number 78: all childcare facilities
@The number 78: says all childcare facilities so I suppose so
@The number 78: there is no school
@David Jordan: Everything you posted above is completely incorrect.
@Journal, please delete this comment as it’s dangerous misinformation.
Kids catch and spread the virus the same as everyone else. They just don’t get affected normally.
@Shakka1244: I second that motion
@David Jordan: pure dung you’ve just typed!
Children catch the virus just like anyone else, they just don’t suffer or develop other illnesses
Lockdown sesh!
About God damn time. It would have been about God damn time a week ago.
@The Risen: give it a rest.
@The Risen: Take a day off
@The Risen: Get a job.
@The Risen: have the shinners closed the schools up North???
@The Risen: give it a rest. Depressing looking at your constant negativity
@The Risen: Mary Lou said to follow the advice of the Chief Medical Officer, which is exactly what is happening. Good enough for you?
@The Risen: I haven’t heard a word from SF on this, they are delighted the have no tough decisions to make. When it’s all over they’ll crawl out asserting blame. They don’t even want to go into an emergency all party government, I actually think that was a brave call by the Greens and all parties should discuss it until this pandemic is over. Then we can have another election.
@The Risen: i’d say what would be really helpful to the national cause would be if idiots stopped commenting online with an hourly moanfest and went off to do something constructive with their time – not looking at anyone in particular mind you..
@The Risen: Stick to the Shinners should be in Government bull. You are good at that. Sideswiping at FG about medical expert led decisions is beneath contempt. You know nothing you dumb…
@Patrick O Connell: And they could if they wanted to. But who would mind the kids while their electorate are in Wetherspoons.
@The Risen: I don’t think you really understand the repercussions of this decision. The lefty everything for everyone for free brigade will still have something to moan about. This was the correct decision at the correct time. It will put thousands of people out of work for it’s duration, at least, some businesses probably won’t survive it and it will put our balance sheet into a deficit, the hardest decision any leader has had to make in this era, but it was the correct one, and I’m no fan of Leo. While the govt and it’s agencies are doing what they can we have 20,000 clowns at a horse race, getting hammered and bringing back God knows what with them. That’s the real crime here. Quarantine the lot of them.
@DK: This is what you get with Shinners. Incompetence, double talk and inconsistency.
@DK: All the leaders of political parties, including SF,FG&FF, in the Dail have had regular meetings over Convid19 so political rivalry not an issue over this very worrying threat to Ireland.
@The Risen: Counted 430 likes AND RISING of people who think you are a twerp. The Army Council will not be best pleased. You will probably be getting the bullet… Metaphorically speaking.
@Nuala Mc Namara: Lovely stuff. They are having a chin wag
Explain why your darling Mary Lou will not join a unity government. And why are the schools open up north.
Plus never answered how you can break the 800 word limit with your rambling dissertations
Three questions.
@Chin Feeyin: The Army Council overrides the CMO advice.
@David Glynn: Calm down soldier.
@David Glynn: Look,he’s just worried like we all are and in fact several experts on various TV programs eg Clare Byrne Live,Prime Time,Tonight show & on news did think precautions should be ramped up.Experts agree on majority of issues re Convid19 but have different opinions on when to ramp up precautions.
I understand that last night Government & Public Health Emergency Group got new information/guidance last night from European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and quite rightly Government acting on that immediately which is most welcome and reassuring.Simon Coveney was impressive and sincere in his speech.
It’s not the time for political rivalry and you do know don’t you that all the political party leaders have regular meetings with Government and experts discussing Convid19 & consequences,etc.
@David Glynn: Are you seriously STILL trying to keep on with your hate speech re SF and attacking ordinary voters who they voted for them because they GENUINELY concerned for those affected by health, homelessness and housing emergencies here….you go far beyond normal healthy debate!I
I don’t mind anyone votng for FG ,that’s their choice and in fact I like many politicans in all parties including Simon Coveney,Helen Mc Entee,etc but I have different opinions on policies,we all have.
All the political party leaders are taking the threat to Ireland of Convid19 very seriously,and those cross party leaders meetings with Government and experts show how seriously they take this National Emergency,how dare you call it a “chin wag”!It’s reassuring for the public to see this.
So I’m not interested in your question time,I’m not interested in your constant overboard hate speech re SF &their voters…..i’m ONLY interested in the well-being of my family and ALL other people’s families especially our most vulnerable loved ones during this time of National Emergency!
@The Risen: he should not have left Ireland during a crisis.
Why is public transport not shut down? The buses, trains and trams are rammed at peak times and are surely a great way to spread this virus.
@Cien Allura: Public transport isn’t shut down because people still need it to get to work including those people working in essential services and providing food supplies etc. The public transport load will be radically reduced by these measures and people working from home. We still need the lights to come on and we still need food and medical services to get working.
@John R: Ah yes, the famed Luas/Dublin Bus/Irish Rail food supply delivery runs. smh
Any measures to help the homeless. Self isolate Leo? He’d probably bulldozer them into the sea if he could get away with it.
@Diogenes: loving the name!..
Very good decision, it’s a relief to hear.
I hope this includes pubs as next week when there’s no parades where will everyone end up
The Green Party are calling for a pub curfew HAHAHAHA are they just completely and utterly detached from Irish society or what?!
Really not looking forward to the luas when I’m back in work Monday. Jammed to the window at the best of times
@ChrisC: With schools shut and people working from home the luas will be half empty soon.
@John R: that’s grand ,only half the chance of getting it now I suppose
What about creches?
@teddyzigzagbigbag: …… and childcare facilities
@Grumpyoldtroll: thanks!
Finally
Right decision but I find it comical that he made the announcement from America where he went to celebrate our National day eventhough he called off the celebrations here. Now how Irish is that, you couldn’t make it up.
Welcome to the future Leo. Wish you could’ve joined us 2 weeks ago. Lockdown expected in two weeks when it’s fkin everywhere.
So all the lads get to stay at home while the working class will get to keep working and keep the economy going for them so they can come back when the virus is gone and we can all lose our jobs for thanks in the recession that is to follow.
No gatherings of over 100 people yet that doesn’t apply to the workplace. Retail etc. If it really is so dangerous the working class are turning into cannon fodder.
Are all flights into the country going to be postponed cancelled for 2 weeks or indefinite depending on other countries containment measures??. People do realise it only takes 1 undetected case to transmit. Sheltering might slow it down but it’s not a long term solution.
Does it apply to pubs which must be one of the high-risk areas, lots of people in close proximity? Do they have to limit the number who enter to 99?
@Fon_Ellard: common Sense is all that’s needed . Whether it’s 1 or 100 there is always the possibility of been infected. It’s up to each person to decide what risks they want to take.
Hate the taught of teachers off again wit pay
@Chris: it always comes down to that… Seriously…
@Chris: it looks like you didn’t listen to them enough when you were in school. Thought is the word you’re looking for here.
@Chris: You’d prefer for them to continue working in institutions where the virus can be so easily spread?
@Chris: They teachers you had were way overpaid if your spelling is anything to go by.
@Chris: Yours obviously got money for nothing so why should it bother you now?
@Chris: Well if you paid attention to them at school you might be able to spell.
@Chris: We’re in the middle of a public health crisis and your first reaction is begrudgery-take a bow!
Quite a lot of nurses in the country are foreign workers, raising children largely by themselves.
Good move. Australia needs to act but they are waiting for it to be too late. The F1 Grand Prix is ruling the politicians. Do you want to be Italy or Taiwan?
So all the lads get to stay at home while the working class will get to keep working and keep the economy going for them so they can come back when the virus is gone and we can all lose our jobs for thanks in the recession that is to follow.
No gatherings of over 100 people yet that doesn’t apply to the workplace, retail etc. If it really is so dangerous the working class are turning into cannon fodder.
Absolutely disgraceful that Leo is in the US during this. He should be at home here!!!
A week too late
Ah this is is worrying.
I’m not sure closing schools for two weeks will help;
• Corona virus will still be here after 2 weeks
• Who looks after children of nurses, doctors, pharmacists, utility providers, food producers, shopkeepers?
.
Also, only 3% of cases are in people under 20.
.
I would do below though;
– Close schools in areas is community transmission. Obviously need to be told this first.
– Travel bans for countries with > 200 cases and isolate returning Irish residents.
@Eoin McLove: in fairness they just announced that more data on cases came to light last night, so national closures may make more sense.
Biggest joke of all is 60,000 crammed every day into Cheltenham like sardines in a tin and half them coming back here at the weekend
Pathetic half arsed measure that will do very little in reality
And everyone heads straight to cramped pubs to talk about it. Making it all worse.
Great decision, now for F sake can people stay calm.
Coming to you live from WASHINGTON, come home leo you mad pric* and mind yourself
Doesnt go far enough. A heavy handed complete lockdown for two weeks would give us the best chance
WE NEED A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT FORM LEO NOW!! I’m hearing loads of parents sayin “my kids aren’t gonna be stuck inside for months” that’s how Italy got it bad, when they closed Lombardi region all the genius parents there took their families away for holidays around the country and spread it everywhere!!!! Italian health minister has said this, we need this announcement now because the thickos will here too!!!!
Does anyone think this will also apply to regular companies and businesses as well?
@Ryanon: it’s up to each individual company to decide
@Ryanon: heard Michael McGrath ón radio there and they will be making recommendations to private companies to work from home if possible
@FrontSeatDriver: okay thanks. I’m thinking that his comments might actually be more of an instruction to companies, rather than an option to consider? I’m suspecting it’s a blanket ban but without necessarily stating it so
@teddyzigzagbigbag: thank you for replying. That’s really helpful and I appreciate it :)
@Ryanon: unless they impose martial law, which I am not sure they can do under the Irish constitution, they cannot force private companies to close. They can strongly suggest it though.
What the feck is he doing over there in the first place? Couldn’t miss his trip to show how cool he is. Has to be the centre of attention. Forever looking for the photo op. His nickname should be Beaker. Me me me me me me me me……
The ‘Tracing’ depart of the HSE will soon be overwhelmed as the numbers of diagnosed Covid-19 cases increased exponentially.
I think the HSE should set up an online data base identifying diagnosed Covid-19 cases. The database should show the name, address and a photo of the effected person.
I think this is only common sense and allows the public to better monitor things. I for one would gladly agree the having my name, address and photo on such a data base as I feel it would offer a chance to strangers that may have crossed by path to take precautions.
Don’t forget to stock up on contraceptives or there’ll be a boom of corona babies in 9 months time, naturally leading to comments from expectant fathers during birth such as; “can I get that with a slice of lime?”
Should still be teaching leaving certs
@Conor Beirne: Well, where I work we have 120 6th years, who congregate three times a day in their designated area in school, so that’s going against direction. Most subject courses are almost finished and classes are usually revising from March. Leaving Certs will make much better use of this time to study what they feel they need to.
@Conor Beirne: the leaving cert is so insignificant in the face of a world health crisis.
@Conor Beirne: Group Skype an option.At moment schools,creches,&
universities closed until 29th March.
Trump’s coronavirus address: Ignorance, xenophobia and helplessness
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/03/12/pers-m12.html
The old, the sick are a cost.
The logic of …..?
Ask yourself.
And yea whille ive fucbed off to the usa stay safe lads see ya when i get back your leader leo abandoned like a sinking ship
@Giles Wolohan: Oh for goodness sake. Stop the melodrama. And stop politicising the response to the crisis. It’s a small world. It’s easy to say in touch and take decisions while overseas. He’s actually meeting Pres Trump and key leaders which is important for Ireland and our US relationship. Meanwhile the team at home are all hard at work and the Taoiseach has announced a pivotal decision while overseas. Isn’t technology amazing?
Wow he’s so decisive….
@Diogenes: What a great leader. One of the best ever in the whole world ever.
Should of done it sooner. And closed the airport too. Horse bolting before the stable door is shut comes to mind. useless government
It seems like a good idea to close the schools and I think it really might help. What worries me though is the way the Taoiseach can impose such restrictions at the wave of a hand, particularly when he is a caretaker Taoiseach without a government.
I don’t know if this is helpful or appropriate but, if there are any parents worried about their exam year students, The Scotia Academy is an online grinds centre that will be organising Classes, Online Support, and one-to-one help throughout this period of uncertainty.
I was in my local paddy power earlier defo close to 100 people floating about, guaranteed there will be close to that in every bookies come gold cup time tomorrow????
Its official. Now is time to panic. shopping list:
toilet paper..
frozen food..
toilet paper..
cans of food..
vodka..
toilet paper
soap
shower gel..
toilet paper….
What does public facilities mean?
@Fionnuala Kelly: I imagine it means public offices like the government buildings, maybe council offices, motor tax offices, etc?
Ridiculous. The only age group at risk will now be looking after the kids. Meanwhile carers are visiting the ill elderly and havent been issued with disposable overalls. Arse backwards.
It’s s half measure.
When will martial law be declared across the EU?
Too little. Too late.
BuT iTS jUsT ThE fLu
Good preparation for “if” SF get near government.
Their garbage man can economics will bankrupt us, just as has happened in all countries where lefties got near the wheel.
I just checked RyanairI could fly Dub/Pisa/DublinoutFri 13/ Ret 11th Apr for € 220 OPERATED BY MALTA AIRWAYS.
who is kidding whom.?????So tell us the truth,please.
Biggest joke of all is 60,000 crammed every day into Cheltenham like sardines in a tin and half them coming back here at the weekend
I agree with the shutdown. but teachers are paid. childcare workers are to sign on jobseekers. Nothing in place to speed this process up. LEO PUTS 100s of thousands of women on the dole and parents with no childcare in place with 12 hrs notice. And bloody announces it form a podium in New York. .
No clue of how low paid workers live.
Now what about travel hubs, large parks like the Zoo and Tayto park. Museums and public attractions.
Should have been implemented two weeks ago, it’s too late for some people now who are critically ill and that poor lady who already died. Varadkar & Harris has the perfect opportunity to learn from the differing experiences in Italy (who dithered and dallied and are now paying the price) and Singapore (who aggressively shut down the country early on and have the world’s lowest covid-19 rates per capita).
They allowed THREE THOUSAND Italian rugby fans enter Ireland from a major outbreak area last weekend for Christ’s sake!
@Anyone But Cork:
OMG, aaahhhagggggg, we are doomed, we are doomed… So fffffing what. It’s no more bloody dangerous than the common flu..
@Ivan Counihan: screenshot your comment there and come back to it in a few months time and see if you’re right
@Anyone But Cork: 3,000 fans? That is unforgivable, yet very few people are pointing it out. Let’s wait and see what the picture will be like in the Dublin area in the next few weeks . It was grossly negligent to allow those flights from Italy to land here. We really had a good chance prior to that. I simply can’t understand the inaction on that. Criminal.
Taoiseach?
Taoiseach???
@Eimear O’Reilly: Yes Eimear, for the time being while we are in the midst of a national emergency. Are you seriously that stupid?
Closing schools equates to drastic action?? This is going to create havoc in the workplace with hundreds of thousands of kids let loose and in need of minding.
DeValera’s “Emergency”. Varadkar’s “Drastic Action”. What alternative planet do Taoisigh inhabit.
Ah sure! All down to the pub and twill be grand.
Now let’s all go mad shopping and really fxxk up the country for the elderly and isolated.
Biggest joke of all is 60,000 crammed every day into Cheltenham like sardines in a tin and half them coming back here at the weekend
@Gerry Fogarty: here in Cheltenham nobody gave to not go here for week no talk or panic at all here !
@Andrew O Grady: At last I know what “horse sense” means. The humans who follow the sport are idiots!
Biggest joke of all is 60,000 crammed every day into Cheltenham like sardines in a tin and half them coming back here at the weekend
@Gerry Fogarty: So bloody what. I glad the Brits are not behaving like a scared bunch of snowflakes. Seriously, what we are dealing with here is the first cousin of the common flu.
1000 people died in Ireland last year from the common flu I might add and where is the fuss about that
can i go to the gym this evening?
@MrJohne:
Yes you can
Now what about travel hubs, museums and large theme parks and zoos????
Use this time when the children are off school to limit contact with others… Limit playcentres, playgrounds, and play dates etc or else it defeats the whole purpose. For the good of all.
Leo and Coveney used Brexit for ages to try and look important. Now it’s Coronavirus…….any excuse ! Where has poor Brexit gone ?
So he left all this to announce, when he was safely in the US, what’s he going to do? stay over there?, there’s a pair of them in it, no let me add Boris as well, the three stooges, Haven’t they realised between them that they are a laughing stock of the world because of their behaviours, we the majority of the people of Ireland voted Leo out of office, and him alone, so why allow him to make decisions any more concerning the welfare of the population of this country.
What fffffing madness
Hi boys
see the first post on my twitter…
only 18+
Just wondering where the random numbers of 100 and 500 came from? Hardly scientific, seems more like finger in the air stuff…
Only problem is nurses and doctors who are needed most will be more likely to stay at home to mind the children. But still a good preventative measure.
Good preventative measure but difficult situation for the nurses and doctors who are need and who have children.
At least I can save money on car tax and NCT. Won’t be doing that.
Have enough bread !!!!
have your say