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LAST UPDATE | 1 Dec 2021
THE FIRST CASE of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been detected in Ireland.
The news was confirmed by NPHET today in a technical briefing. Whole genome sequencing was carried out on eight samples, and one was identified as Omicron.
The case relates to recent travel to one of the seven designated southern African nations, with NPHET saying there is currently no evidence of community transmission in Ireland
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially designated the latest strain of Covid-19 as a variant of concern.
The first known confirmed Omicron infection was from a specimen collected on 9 November. In recent weeks, infections in South Africa have increased steeply, coinciding with the detection.
Speaking this afternoon, Dr Cillian De Gascun of the National Virus Reference Laboratory said teams had been looking at samples in the lab which contained an s-gene failure, or ‘dropout’.
These s-gene dropouts can be indicative of Omicron and fourteen samples were identified, with eight successfully sequenced.
In those eight cases, Omicron was detected in one case, something De Gascun said was “positive in some respects” because the had believed there may be more.
De Gascun added that there was “an element of blind luck” in the case being sequenced because it was part of the 10% of samples that are sent to the lab in Backweston on a weekly basis.
De Gascun added that, to protect the identity of the individual, NPHET didn’t want to provide additional details about the case but that there are “no additional cases” associated with the person at this point.
My understanding is that the individual would have returned before the guidance changed in relation to the testing of incoming travellers. In fact, they may have other returned before the announcement about Omicron, so it was detected in the context of my understanding of a symptomatic presentation and enhanced surveillance is ongoing and I’m not aware of any additional cases associated with that individual at this point.
Asked the likelihood about Omicron becoming the dominant variant in Ireland, De Gascun said that it would require “a genuine transmission advantage” and socialisation among society for this to happen.
“I suppose what we’ve seen with with previous variants, Alpha and Delta is that if they have a variant has a genuine transmission advantage, then over a period of time it will ultimately become dominant in many respects, that’s probably an inevitability.
I suppose the thing I would highlight is that what the virus needs is obviously it’s a combination of a transmission advantage and enhanced socialisation to actually transmit from person to person. If we look at Omicron at the moment, we still don’t really have definitive evidence of its transmission advantage, but the data from South Africa is certainly suggestive.
Dr De Gascun stressed however that the variant must first be spreading in the community and that there is no evidence of this as yet:
“At the moment te don’t see any level of evidence at least of community transmission of this variant in Ireland and I think that’s a key measure or the importance of travel measures.”
Omicron
This Omicron variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning, according to the WHO.
The health body said that evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other variants of concern.
But it added that said it could take several weeks to complete studies of Omicron to see if there are any changes in transmissibility, severity or implications for Covid vaccines, tests and treatments.
The WHO also said: “Countries should continue to implement the effective public health measures to reduce COVID-19 circulation overall, using a risk analysis and science-based approach. They should increase some public health and medical capacities to manage an increase in cases.”
People travelling to Ireland from seven southern African nations now have to get a pre-flight PCR test to fly into Ireland, and take part in 10-day mandatory quarantine ‘at home’, which will end if they receive two negative PCR tests.
These rules apply regardless of vaccination status.
Yesterday, 5,471 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed in Ireland.
- Additional reporting Rónán Duffy and Aoife Barry
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We’re vaccinated what more can we do. We’re all going to get some form of covid at some stage. We need to just live with it now and get on with our lives. It’s here to stay like influenza. Keep vaccinated and move on we can’t live life like this forever.
@David O Neill: Totally agree. Stop with the scaremongering & let people get on with our lives. It’s here, it’s here for the long term. Let’s just enjoy our lives again.
@David O Neill: So you want to go back to days of 8k cases a day with no breathing machine left for patients in ICU with 100 plus dying each week. Jesus people like are scare me more than this virus— you won’t be long changing your tune if you ended up in hospital.
@Daniel: stop talking muck Daniel the country is vaccinated now! Go back to your room and crawl under your cover!
@Daniel: good point Daniel let lock down altogether. And we’ll do that every time there’s a new variant. Great strategy. Sure money grows on trees.
@Daniel: Oba-Di Oba-Da OMicron – La La La La Life goes on
@David O Neill: Are we though? Quite a few in ICU at the moment. If the number started to climb and reached a near capacity point – then that’s a problem. The fact you couldn’t care less about such a problem doesn’t make it any less of a problem.
@Giovanni cans: So what would your solution be were ICU to reach capacity? Ah sure screw those that can’t even secure beds, money more important? Then the question becomes, what is the price you place on a human life and how many deaths per day would you personally think is acceptable before we should look at measures such as providing relief to the health system such as lockdowns?
@Ríain HenC: Not for the dead it doesn’t.
@Gavin Conran: use private hospitals to expand capacity if we need to. Lockdowns dont work as a long term strategy that’s been proven time and time again. We simply cant afford to. Every wage subsidy and business support has to be paid back. I hate to bring you the bad news but there’s gonna be dozens of variants before this things done. We cant have a knee jerk reaction every time…
@David O Neill: Well said David. But the scaremongerers won’t be happy to hear that – fear is their business and business is booming.
@Gavin Conran: I do care very much!
@Daniel: you don’t seem to trust the vaccines anymore, Daniel, if you think the ventilators are in our future. The point is, and I’m going to get a booster when I can, is that the present multiple boosters per year isn’t going to work. Every 3 months?
We’ve got no freedom from vaccines. The solution is either better vaccines, living with it, or anti viral drugs. The latter may be the best option.
@Gavin Conran: the question, Gavin, is when do the lockdowns end? This virus mutates dangerously twice a year. There’s never going to be an end. Vaccines haven’t stopped transmission and are out of date after a few months with every variant. Can the world economy handle lockdowns every year forever? No. I’d support a full world lockdown if that meant that the virus died out during that time (theoretically possible but practically impossible).
@Gavin Conran: Used the private hospitals the ones they have already given millions to. Money is important to most people. A lot actually use it to pay their mortgage, put food on the table pay for extortionate fuel and heating bills. Maybe selfish people like you don’t need to worry on how to pay your bills or keep your business going. But many do and it’s not the fault of the people if the health service is not fit for purpose. Aim your anger at those who are.
@Daniel: why do you pretend to ignore the fact that hospitalisations are nowhere near the ”days of 8K cases as day”
I wish that rather than berating people who want to live a normal life you would use the energy to demand responsibility and action from society and the government for the pathetic health system in place
@Daniel: That is it in a nutshell, the “we want freedom and to get on with our lives” lot evidently not affected by the virus, loved ones being very ill, family dying or have close people to them working in the madness of ICUs.. Awful smell of selfishness, you’d think people would know better 20 months on.
@Daniel: Why don’t you crawl back under your rock.
@john smith iv: who said we’re going to need multiple boosters every year? There is no indication that we will. Stop making things up to try to win an argument.
@David O Neill : “The country is vaccinated” No it’s not. Around 8% of eligible people are refusing the vaccine. These 8% are responsible for roughly 60% of Covid cases in ICU. Tired of this falsehood of ‘country is vaccinated’ being used to absolve anti-science, anti-vaxxers of responsibility for cluttering up the healthcare system. Sure, there are vaccinated people in ICU. But this was to be expected when vaccines are 90%-95% effective at preventing severe illness/death. At least they chose to act in a socially responsible manner and get vaccinated to begin with.
@Giovanni cans: again where did Daniel say we should lockdown again? Taking sensible precautions and having common sense restrictions isn’t locking down. He was responding to the comment that said we should be able to just “live our lives and live with covid”. The funny thing is no one ever says what they mean when they say “live with covid”. We can’t just go back to before. It’s a global pandemic that isn’t over. We need sensible precautions until it is. Pretending there is no virus might suit you but it’s a daft notion.
@David O Neill: Just because you were first to comment, with something many people like want to hear, doesn’t mean you have the slightest notion what you’re talking about. Ya sound like you’re the main authority in the land giving your decree. How long have you been studying virology?
@Tommy Roche: Well said
@Daniel: obviously your not financially impacted by lockdown’s
@David O Neill: exactly plus the only anecdotal evidence available so far has shown the majority of cases of it to bring about asymptomatic or mild symptoms.. So no need for anyone to be scaremongering
@Daniel: wise up dude
@Tommy Roche: agree Tommy but we can’t force them. They are causing problems in hospitals but what can we do?
@Gavin Conran: as has been highlighted by many experts and commentators..you have highlighted it (probably inadvertently) yourself… The issue here then is the lack of ICU resources in our ever failing health system.
Plus, unless you’ve lived under a rock for the past 15 winters, you will note the uproar over the elderly and sick lying on trolleys in corridors of our hospitals every winter, due to shortage of all kinds of car beds
@Franny Ando: there is a shortage of trained ICU staff, who can’t be magicked up quickly. More private beds doesn’t solve that.
@Pablo Rojas Coppari: Jayzus, 8k hospitalisations a day?!?!? He said 8k daily positive cases, which we’re not far from. With winter, schools, christmas, everything open and a new variant we could easily surpass that. Higher cases translate to higher hospitalisations and deaths. This isnt normal times so why do you expect to live a normal life? We all want it back to normal but until the world gets a grip on the virus we probably wont. HSE is far from perfect but its not set up to deal with a pandemic, not many countries health systems are.
@Alpha Centauri: Leading economist Paul Somerville noted yesterday that Moderna share value was up a whopping $50 Billion since the first announcement about Omicron variant!!!
Nice bit of branding/sales going on
@Nigel o’Neill: That anecdotal evidence is indeed promising. That doesn’t mean we take it as gospel and throw caution to the wind. All the top scientists in the world are talking about the data to come over the next few weeks but of course these lads above know better.
@JusticeForJoe: I was far from first! Climb back under your rock Worzel.
@Brendan Greene: The problems with our health service have been ongoing for years. Every winter there are problems. Stop using the old chestnut of trained ICU staff it doesn’t cut it anymore.
@Franny Ando: it may be an old story. The problem is that it is true. If you have not hot the staff there are immediate consequences for all who may need hospitalisation for any reason.
@Paul Hedderman: HSE was never even been set up to deal flu season! “Far from perfect” is simplifying the fact it is not fit for purpose and for too long people have been ignoring it. In last 4 weeks alone HSE has settled several negligence cases. 2019 700000+ on waiting lists hoe many have died because they never even got to see a specialist. I am sick sore and tired listening to people make excuses for the pi-ss poor management of those at the top. Maybe spend a bit of time speaking to a health care worker and NOT about covid. About the pressure they were under long before covid reared it’s ugly head maybe then you wi understand.
@Tommy Roche: and the clown of the day award goes to……….
@David O Neill: that is insulting to anyone who is at serious risk from the virus. Only by taking measures can we keep some older and more vulnerable alive and have a relatively normal life. Masks, social distancing and isolating if one has symptoms, and banning the unvaccinated (yes you are incorrect – the whole county is not vaccinated) from optional activities – it is a matter of everyone being informed and careful that allows everyone have as normal a life as possible
@Franny Ando: would
@David O Neill: At least be honest when telling your grandkids how you behaved during the pandemic. “I encouraged people to go against all the experts’ advice because a website allowed me to. Aren’t ya proud of me?”
@john smith iv: I trust the vaccine but not the people who refuse to take them and the knock impact this is having take up critical ICU spaces . I’m not saying lock down the country but this get used it and get on with life would be great but it’s just not feasible when people have shown they cannot be trusted to take precautions or remotely take onboard medical advise.
In fact saying just get on with it staggeringly selfish and ignorant to anyone whose sick with this illness or one thousands impacted by the death of loved ones to covid.
@David O Neill: I do add that we do need to return to as normal a living as possible and we must learn to distinguish between measures to prevent virus spread and restrictions. Throughout history humans have developed habits that have become the norm to prevent the spread of disease, injury and illness and having so adjusted we have got on with normal living. I am thinking of flushing toilets, hand washing, food preparation and a host of other things we do to prevent infection and illness and injury such as the smoking bans and seat belts in cars, the list goes on, so let us use what measures we can to keep covid deaths down as this must be the ultimate aim
@Brendan Greene: The problem has been ongoing for decades. Do you not think that was long enough to train a few more staff.
@Daniel. Maybe try reading the articles before spouting the hyperbole nonsense : there is no evidence this particular variant is any more lethal -or will be any more damaging to our health services or will mean hospitals will be over whelmed whatsoever – none – there isn’t a single country in the world where this is causing icu capacity problems at all – so calm the jets with the scaremongering nonsense
@Franny Ando: If our health system is not fit for purpose, surely that’s reason in itself to be more cautious? Seems like you’re rationale is contradictory.
@Franny Ando: “Do you not think that was long enough to train a few more staff” – Nice one, Franny. “Time’s up, HSE… you’ve had long enough. Now we’re going to flood the hospitals to punish you for failing us”
@Dave Hammond: What a load of nonsense. There are plenty of articles and more pertinently, academic literature, that supports being cautious of new variants – particularly the likelihood that this variant may evade the current vaccine due to the number of mutations. Having no evidence of danger is not the same as there not being danger. Caution should not be thrown to the wind. To give you an analogy: when you drive a car towards an unknown bend, do you slow down? Of course you do. Without knowing what is around the corner, you need to account for all eventualities. The same goes for this variant and is evidenced by the sheer volume of countries actively restricting travel to stem its spread.
@Franny Ando: it takes more than 2 years to train am ICU nurse, pandemic only started 20 months ago here
@JusticeForJoe: Grow up.
@Kevin Thompson: But the problem with staff and bed shortages in hospitals has been ongoing for many years. Long long before covid it’s this apathy that’s part of the problem.
@Daniel: where we not sold the vaccines on the promise that people wouldn’t get sick and end up in ICU, going by the numbers that doesn’t seem to be the case. We have been lied to and will remain to be lied to. The problem now is that the vaccinated are spreading the virus not the unvaccinated
@David O Neill: Ur such a smart fella U know more than the people dealing with this, WOW!!
@Franny Ando: New ID pic Franny. Are you hiding from someone?
@Franny Ando: Says yer man who came in calling people selfish and saying the HSE has had long enough to get its act together. Slow clap for you, Fran.
@john smith iv: there is actually a new variant every week however they are not considered to be of concern.
@JusticeForJoe: They did. the HSE is in disarray for 20 plus years and people who didn’t murmur a word about it before are loosing their shit about it now because covid is here when problems to tackle the situation should of occurred years ago. I’ll make it simple. Most as far as I can see wear masks in shops, public transport etc but don’t kid yourself, most people now don’t go out with covid on the brain in everything they do. people go to Restaurants/pubs to enjoy themselves, partake in social outlets like golf, soccer ,rugby, gaa etc to enjoy themselves, go to matches to enjoy themselves. what’s the key theme? many outlets of enjoyment in life involve socialising because as humans its what we do naturally and makes us happy.
@Macca1986: You’ve made it simple alright. I appreciate the warning not to kid myself as you’ve spoken on behalf of “most” people and what they’re thinking about. Any chance you might share your survey data?
@JusticeForJoe: no need for data. most are vaccinated and back living fully the one life they get 2 live. Good on them.
@Macca1986: To use the word “most”, you need data.
@lelookcoco: rather ironic don’t you think!!!
@JusticeForJoe: I don’t know what man you are talking about. What I said about HSE is 100 % correct.
@Franny Ando: Your reading comprehension is terrible
@JusticeForJoe: most are vaxed 94%. most are back living normal life with the economy open. do u think cases would be in the thousands if people weren’t living normal life?
@JusticeForJoe: Comprehension!! Who is this “man” you speak off.
If I was a betting man I’d say it’s been here for quiet a while already as well as the rest of Europe.
Would explain the massive rise in cases recently in these countries , where most people are vaxed.
@Sean Brannigan: spot on. That’s why the vaccine is not working against it.
@John brett: When you say the vaccine is not working against it… how do you mean?
@Sean Brannigan: I would keep your money in your pocket and suggest a bit of research before placing any bets.
Many PCR tests confirm a case as not being Omicron (if all 3 proteins are identified). So we know that there is only a very small proportion of Omicron in Ireland, at the moment.
European countries also have a reasonable amount of surveillance of variants, and this had not shown up prior to last week
The current wave in Europe is primarily Delta.
@Gavin Conran: it’s mean it’s not working 90% vaccinated and the place is riddled. Has to be this new variant.
@John brett: The vaccine doesn’t prevent you from catching covid you know. It helps ensure ensure symptoms are milder and keep you out of hosiptal.
@Gavin Conran: it’s amazing we have to explain the basics to people like John….every day.
It’s not sinking in!
@John brett: nonsense, a lot of cases now are children, children have not been vaccinated
@Fozz: actually the vaccines did slow transmission for alpha for a while. Which was in fact reported by the pharmacy companies themselves – the AstraZeneca vaccine was reported as causing a 49% decline in transmission. Unfortunately that didn’t last.
@john smith iv: CDC in the US are still saying vaccines are reducing transmission by roughly 50%, even for Delta.
@Sean Brannigan: on prime time last night they said this variant could have been here since October!!makes sense
@James: out of 8 samples, only one turned out to be omicron. This proves its very likely that it is only just arrived here and not common yet.
@Tommy Roche: To me, the concerning part is how only 43% of the world has been able to get vaccines, so there’s that. Plenty of people at risk still.
From what I’ve read, this variant, while far more virulent and transmissible, is much milder in effect and could outstrip the delta in number of infections.
This would result in a higher number of people with natural antibodies which would result in it almost killing itself off.
Really hope that’s the case.
@Sequoia: fingers crossed! Too early to tell yet but this would be ideal
@Sequoia: I wish I had your confidence. But the WHO have designated it a Variant of concern for a reason. The article above clearly states:
“The health body said that evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other variants of concern.”
In other words, the evidence suggests that it is able to evade (either totally or partially) the immune system.
@Sequoia: I don’t think you mean virulent.
@Sequoia: and until we know for sure, it is prudent to be cautious
@Sequoia: no offence but I’d prefer to listen to the experts who say it’s too early to know enough about this new variant and further studies are being carried out
@Sequoia: read exactly the same.. But that won’t stop the fear mongering and a lot of people buying it (but not buying the Moderna and Pfizer shares that have skyrocketed in price and value since the first ‘branding’ of this variant
@Sequoia: it was detected in Nigeria weeks ago ,,,
The next 14 minutes are critical
@James Lough: and unelected Ursula von der Leyen as EU head has called for discussion on mandatory vaccination, all per script. I wonder do people really believe this is just all ad hoc communication from EU etc? Lets call conspiracy theorists visionaries from now on….
@Raymond Scott: have you seen this so called script? Forword me a copy might make for intresting reading or then again it might just be made up to fool tye simpletons.
@Dennis Farrelly: you must never have worked in big organizations. Am I right?
@Dennis Farrelly: You’ll find it here about 6 articles down. But then again maybe “simpletons” need to look harder!
LOWER THE DOME
@Sam Murray: and we might just get the 2024 Euros
Omicron and Delta, brought to you by Covid 19, proudly sponsored by Metaverse, bringing you disinformation, over reaction and unqualified online experts since 2006.
What more can we do boys and girls? I’m a double vaxed, flu jabbed, mask wearing, hand sanitising, anti social, elbow bumping barrel of misdirected confusion at this stage. The only certainties I know anymore are home, work and Jameson.
This changes nothing… If the gov skapegoat this variant to go back on Lockdown it is because they are spineless….if we buckle now it will continue with the next variant and the one after that…. Enough
@Baronvoncass: they’re clearly trying to do things to avoid a lockdown though.
@Baronvoncass: have you stopped to think that maybe they do have some ICU beds available however there are so many HSE staff out that they are under pressure…..I wouldn’t consider it spinless to try to slow down transmission rates…..people are to blame not the government
Government – get the vaccine , it’ll protect you
Public – no bother
Government- right so you can still get the virus even if your vaccinated, so we’ll need you to go ahead and get antigen test before you travel back into country
Public – are they the antigen test that it took yee A year to endorse ?
Government – Aammm …………yep !
@conex: Sheet show
@conex: NPHET sugtested only PCR tests for entry into country and Govt overrode that and added (professionally administered) Antigen tests.
There’s been very little endorsement of Antigen tests – again, the Govt try do what will be popular, not what is right or factual.
Hence the changes in attitudes and don’t forget, we have people in Leinster House who think ‘god, and god alone, controls the climate’ so this is what we are dealing with, and those who vote for them.
If you want to lesson your chances of catching Omicron, open the window….. and then throw the fecking TV through it!
Here we go
Quick close the pubs..
@Scott Mcgarry: anything BUT close the airports to passenger travel.
@LaoisWeather: Restricting travel from certain countries does nothing – it’s a populist move made by Govt to try prove to the eejits that they have some answer to the issue at hand.
People who know no better assume stopping travellers from a place that first IDs the variant will stop it, but it has never and will never work, unless we stop ALL travel from everywhere and essentially every country closes it’s borders, which seems a major step and most unlikely.
@Fozz: @Fozz: Agreed, & even so it’s going to spread regardless of international human travel.
Rodents, flies, migrating birds, wind currents… of course it’s going to spread again. Quarantines will only give countries a bit of time to prepare, but the reality is that only 43% of the world was able to get vaccinated against it. I’d say what will end this is when we have 99% effective vaccines that are longer-lasting – for years instead of months, and more comfortable to take. Meanwhile, at least we’re helping COVAX to keep ahead of it.
Yup….viruses tend to spread
Just in time for Christmas.
@Ruairi Colton: Christmas? That explains it. I was wondering why I couldn’t find any Easter eggs on display in Tesco…
Yes I am on holidays in Spain and only went because I’ve had the two vaccines plus the booster jab. I’ve had the flu jab and the pneumonia jab. Now they tell me I have to have an antigen test, at least, before I go back to Ireland. So how much am I protected and yet they are telling me they do t trust me even when covid is more widespread in Ireland than it is in Spain. I can understand to some degree that they are worried, but worrying is a wasted emotion. If having all these jabs means nothing I can understand. However, I’m supposed to have the highest protection and still I am being punished. What a joke.
@Paddy Downey: it’s not about being “punished”. They are being ultra cautious as this new variant has impacted the spike protein that the vaccine uses, so there is the potential that it may be more resistant. Until they know, it’s better to be cautious. It’s just unfortunate timing for you, but these are the risk we take travelling during a pandemic
@Paddy Downey: Where is the punishment? There are people literally dying waiting for a first vaccine all over the world. You are on holidays with 3 covid vaccines and have to take an antigen test (15 minute inconvenience) on your return. I think in general we all need to put things in context.
@Paddy Downey: they took 61 peple off a plain in Amsterdam other day, all double vax, vax passports, all positive..
@Paddy Downey: When is the penny going to drop for you Paddy?
@Elaine Phelan: Leave Paddy alone Elaine, he is one or two vaccines away from figuring out it has all been a big scam..
@Michael Holland: considering you think covid is “a flu” I think we can safely say you are not qualified to give an opinion to anyone
@Michael Holland: who organised this scam? The Chinese government? How did they fake the scenes from northern Italy. Or the documentaries from hospitals last summer?
@Richard Williamson: I don’t deny there is a virus (flu) going around. It was however, made in a lab (and released) with the help of gain of function, where do you think the spike came from? These things don’t develop in nature. It’s a scam, we were all conned.
@Elaine Phelan: I’m intitled to speak, like you are. You won’t silence me.
@Paddy Downey:
A minor inconvenience to your holiday. A first world 21st century problem if ever there was one. Enjoy the break, get the test and thank the almighty you were born in the 20th Century where science & engineering have made our lives simply poptastic… :-)
@Michael Holland: you do know that the flu is one particular virus, but there are lots of viruses, and covid is not the flu?
@Michael Holland: it must be more dangerous than the flu then, otherwise why release a modified virus?(gain of function means a worse virus)
Just in time for tomorrow’s meeting.
Recent travel? some more specifics on that would be informative.
@Supes Kz: Specifics on the new children hospital, the mica scandal will also be great…
@Stephen Murphy: no specifics needed. They have a bottomless pit of taxpayers money that they intend to waste among their friends
Only a matter of time
Now queue the avalanche of articles from the Journal about the exact sane thing….& yes I know I don’t have to read them! But they’re staring you in the bloody face the second you open the journal app regardless of reading then or not!
@Hear me now: But the advice still stands….seriously… dont read them. You read it and count as a view, the more views on a topic, the more likely there will be another story on the same topic as its generating more views. You become the problem by reading them. Then checking back on the comments section to reply to someone is a other view everytime. I opened the app and skipped the first 2 stories this morning as I had no interest. Its quite simple.
@Gavin Conran: but you have to look at the comments before the journal delete the juicy ones they don’t like
I wonder will this varient push out the Delta varient ?
@Colm Molloy: Indications to date are that it will.
@Colm Molloy: maybe, maybe not. Too early to tell
Don’t panic, Mr Mannering.
@Anne Busher Collins: Mainwaring even.
Release the Kraken!!
@paul christopher cox: Welease woger!
@paul christopher cox: release the Karen’s!
@Steve Chalk:
@Steve Chalk: Is getting worse…
Quick! Lockdown
Quick, get more pints in.
Is there anything to be said for another Mass…..?
Thank God
And so it begins.
End is nigh
Is anything being done to increase ICU capacity in the country. Surely that should be more important than some of the things money is being squandered on these days.
@Frank McGlynn: qualified ICU nurses are difficult to find. No point increasing ICU capacity when there are no nurses to look after the patients.
@Sam Harms: Train them and pay them properly.
I knew we should have closed the pubs at half 11
Don’t worry! They’re bringing in airport measures to prevent it in two days time…. Oh wait no!
I thought the PCR test was required for anyone travelling to Ireland from any country
@Maria Cennerazzo: from midnight on Friday
@Elaine Phelan: Thats incorrect according to gov.ie its 00.01am Friday 3rd Dec.
@Franny Ando: either way it hasn’t come into effect yet, so what’s your point?
@Elaine Phelan: If people took your point as truth they would be under the impression they could travel Friday up to midnight witout an antigen test. That’s the point.
Oh well. This will make things a bit more challenging.
Cancer is the national crisis, not covid. But they still carry on as if covid was the only disease you can die of. Theres no vaccine for cancer
It’s understood to be related to recent travel
Of course it is. If it wasn’t it’d be a variant that emerged here. The world would probably call it the porter variant.
ridiculous
@Trevor Hili: what is?
@Gavin Conran: his comment?
@Marc Quinn: Dr Campbell, a much-needed calm voice..
@Martina McDonagh: he’s a breath of fresh air Martina… More folk should tune into him rather the MSM
350 350 350 I want more of the 350
Will someone please think of the children..(he said sarcastically)
Probably got the ferry over.
Expect many more with our useless border controls. An antigen test 48 hours before flying…
@Munster1: taking full advantage of that myself! In Manchester as of this afternoon, heading to the game tomorrow night in OT v Arsenal, flying home Friday, antigen test booked for tomorrow morning to fly home. No complaints. Living life as it used to be. You will hate this. Tough!
Happy Christmas
Bags of toilet roll there if anyone is looking.
Its coming from south Africa today and it isn’t duty free.
Zzzzzzzzzz
Cancel christmas quick !
So who is the individual who tested positive with Omicron and where are they now? Have they left the country? Are they still here spreading it? Every other country that has confirmed cases of Omicron have those individuals in quarantine. We are a joke and a laughing stock. Not good enough.
@Terry Fagan VO: Specimen is from the 9th of Nov. They’re probably recovered and going about their life as normal.
There realy is only one line of defence. Closing the borders does not work unless you permanently keep it closed . Vacination is not working the hospitals are still full and people are still dying.even if you have a vaccin you are allways to late because off the long incubation time off the virus 7 to 10 days before you even notice it by that time it’s allready spread Worldwide and that will give the virus time to mutate . THERE IS ONLY ONE THING THAT WORKS WEAR MASKS IN PUBLIC , KEEP DISTANCE ESPECIALLY WITH TRAVELLERS AND WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER SHOPPING . YOUR CAR IS A SAVE TRANSPORT .
@Hans Stofberg: oh shut up
In other news, water is wet :yawn:
In other news, water is wet
Should have closed the borders alertklaxon, New Zealand haven’t got omicron yet alertklaxon.
In other news, water is wet
Any news from MeHole. His gone very quiet
Oh now the flu is covid . Every year the flu comes out and it’s always a different strain . Now there’s no flu just covid .
Well that’s tonight’s Prime Time sorted? Is this something you would have expected to hear Minister how are we all going to react to this?
have your say