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WITH CHRISTMAS IN just over three month’s time, questions are understandably being asked about what the Christmas season will look like with Covid-19.
TheJournal.ie last week explained what the new ‘Living with Covid-19′ plan means for family gatherings and people travelling to see loved ones.
Another question that remains to be answered is exactly what Christmas shopping in the time of social distancing and other restrictions will look like.
It is around this question that a number of false or incorrect claims have been circulating online.
One such claim relates to Smyths Toys Superstores, and says that the seller is set to ‘close from 1 October’ and move to ‘online only’ sales.
The claim has been made in multiple posts, with a number of people saying that they have been told by Smyths delivery drivers that this is the case.
Parents looking to buy toys as Christmas presents have expressed concern over the possible closure, so what is the truth?
In a statement to TheJournal.ie, Smyths has said the claim that the store is to close from next week is not true.
“These claims are false, we are not closing on October 1st,” a spokesperson said.
The spokesperson acknowledges that the Christmas shopping period is likely to be different this year and that, as a result, the toy store is placing an extra emphasis on a ‘click and collect’ services, as well as implementing other measures.
“We have seen a significant increase in online sales since March. We offer free same-day click and collect service at all of our stores. This is a safe and quick way to shop at our stores and also for our older customers who may be nervous. We luckily were able to offer this during lockdown also,” the spokesperson said.
Business group Retail Excellence has previously urged people to consider doing their Christmas shopping earlier than usual to encourage social distancing among shoppers.
Asked whether this has happened, the Smyths spokesperson says that “anecdotally from store managers” there have been more trolleys in store earlier than usual this year.
Under the government’s Living with Covid-19 roadmap, toy stores would likely be forced to close if a county was at Level 4 restrictions.
At present, Dublin is at Level 3 restrictions while the rest of the country is at Level 2.
Under Levels 2 and 3 retail stores can remain open as long as protective measures are in place. These measures include practices like the wearing of face coverings, limits on numbers in the store and the setting up of protective screens.
This would change under Level Four however, when only essential retail outlets and businesses that are primarily outdoors could remain open.
During the strict lockdown in March and April, an indicative list of “essential retail outlets” was provided by government. It included outlets such as food stores, pharmacies and electrical stores but did not include toy stores.
*******
There is a lot of false news and scaremongering being spread in Ireland at the moment about coronavirus. Here are some practical ways for you to assess whether the messages that you’re seeing – especially on WhatsApp – are true or not.
STOP, THINK AND CHECK
Look at where it’s coming from. Is it someone you know? Do they have a source for the information (e.g. the HSE website) or are they just saying that the information comes from someone they know? A lot of the false news being spread right now is from people claiming that messages from ‘a friend’ of theirs. Have a look yourself – do a quick Google search and see if the information is being reported elsewhere.
Secondly, get the whole story, not just a headline. A lot of these messages have got vague information (“all the doctors at this hospital are panicking”) and don’t mention specific details. This is often – but not always a sign – that it may not be accurate.
Finally, see how you feel after reading it. A lot of these false messages are designed to make people feel panicked. They’re deliberately manipulating your feelings to make you more likely to share it. If you feel panicked after reading something, check it out and see if it really is true.
TheJournal.ie’s FactCheck is a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network’s Code of Principles. You can read it here. For information on how FactCheck works, what the verdicts mean, and how you can take part, check out our Reader’s Guide here. You can read about the team of editors and reporters who work on the factchecks here
Have you gotten a message on WhatsApp or Facebook or Twitter about coronavirus that you’re not sure about and want us to check it out? Message or mail us and we’ll look into debunking it. WhatsApp: 085 221 4696 or Email: answers@thejournal.ie
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Great day for democracy. Deny the will of the people, face the consequences.
@Valthebear: I genuinely believed her election manifesto that had has Jo Swinson on the cover, with the caption ‘”Your next Prime Minister”.
@Valthebear: You are aware she was beaten by a SNP MP? As in hardcore remain SNP? Not a brexiteer? Scarlet for ya!
@Valthebear: and they said turkeys don’t vote for Christmas!
@Shazam37: why..?
@Writeon: no need to be scarlet for anyone other than yourself you clueless amadán. Swinson was the poster girl for Remain, the ultra remainer in Britain leading the most hard core remainer party, with huge resources thrown in behind her. Her nauseating patronising claptrap was dismissed by both remain and leave voters hence the swing to the SNP. The vote was a win for Scottish nationalism and a reaction to the upper middle class disdain for democracy that people like you are so fond of.
@Valthebear:
It would have still been democratic, regardless of who won.
We need to remember that the brits didn’t know if they wanted leave the eu when they voted in a hung parliament with Theresa May (indicating an indecisiveness).
Before that, the Brexit ref vote was just over 50%, which meant that just about half the country said no. But yesterday they have decided, decisively. Which is good.
I just think the brits shouldn’t have easy access to Irish passports; they made their choice.
@Dean: but Swinson was simply arguing that Brexit should be revoked, full stop. As for Brits looking for our passports, it’s nearly all remainers who have suddenly discovered a new found interest in being Irish that they had no interest in previously.
@Valthebear: great tits
It’s like waking up on Christmas morning.
Nigel Dodds gone as well. Delighted.
@milton friedman: yep, fantastic. The UK will break up and England/Wales will get a deal with the EU that’s so close to membership that Brexit will have been pointless.
@milton friedman: a dirty gotten
Good she’s a gobshyte
@Luap: & Jeremy Corbyn, & Anna Soubry, Gina Miller.
Deliver the will of the people please!
@Dom Layzell: When it Dawn’s that leaving will bring no change and it will actually cause more poverty another referendum will happen its nailed on…..
@Peter Hughes:
*dawns
*it’s
I’m glad she was given the boot. She voted for all the austerity measures she now wanted rid of. To say she is two faced is being kind.
@Ed: Absolutely right Ed, & she doesn’t understand democracy either! The people voted for Brexit and she didn’t get it! Doh!
But she was meant to be the next pm?
One good thing from the UK election. She’s only got herself to blame.
Good luck and close the door behind you.
Isn’t that sexist?
@Gisbert Bayertz: No, Gisbert, it doesn’t work that way!
@Dom Layzell: sarcasm is not your strength is it?
Bye bye shouty.
Best candidate should replace her
surely the best person for the job should replace her
How is first past the post a true democracy representative of all people?
@David Lafferty FCCA: Democracy favours the favourite? FPTP is true democracy, PR is a 1 for everyone in the audience type of democracy!
@David Lafferty FCCA: Under pr labour + lib dems are 0.2% above the Torys. if you add snp even more. Labours fault for not getting behind a pr system. this archaic undemocratic uk system only suits the Torys.
Sexist much?? Imagine Jeremy Corbyn hinting that a man should take over Labour for *any* reason.
Jo Swinson is no great friend to women who were actually born women – she is a supporter of gender self-ID and has thrown “cis” women under the bus in support of same.
@Karen Lord: yes, she couldn’t define “woman” when asked.
As a former resident of East Dumbartonshire I can’t say I’m too upset at Jo’s loss and Amy’s gain.
That area was always such a strong Lib Dem seat, so much has changed over the last few years. I don’t think I could ever have predicted the swings between the SNP and the Lib Dems over the last few years!
And by woman, she possibly means bearded person who was assigned male at birth.
Leader of the Lib Dems is only a token role anyway, so nothing your average woman shouldn’t be able to handle.
That’s great, give someone else the kiss of death after you fail dismally. How did she become a politician?
How utterly sexist.
SNP make gains, that’s bad news for Ireland. An Independent Scotland could very well send Ireland back to the 50′s economically.
@MunsterPI: can you please explain,
@Paul O’Sullivan: Scotland would go back into the EU, first. Second they will still have an open border with England & Wales. Third, they already have gas & oil, so they will be able to reduce their Corporation tax rate to a rate that could be well lower than ours, they will tempt multinationals away from us, the ones here now and the ones that are thinking of coming here, as they have better infrastructure, will be members of EU and able to trade with what’s left of the UK.
@MunsterPI: LOL. Nice crystal ball you have.
@MunsterPI: and we have a corp rate that was never higher than it is, we came for a zero percent rate. That’s far different to lowering from 20%.
I pretty much don’t agree with anything you’re saying.
@MunsterPI: they also have free third level education which also makes them an attractive location.
@MunsterPI: Scotland can’t have an open border with the UK if they were to join the EU (assuming the UK hold their present course) or else NI could now.
Look she messed up the election. Above all today is just a sad day as the Uk leaves the Eu.
Yes, any woman.
It should always be the best person for the job, bitter loser she is
No way, she found out she lost down the Sports Centre, oh that’s just fantastic!!
HAHAHA, gubbed doon the Sportsie!!
Drip
have your say