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Simon Harris earlier this month. PA

Coronavirus: Advice about Ireland v Italy Six Nations game and other public events to be reviewed today, says Harris

The Department of Health will review its advice in relation to mass gatherings today.

MINISTER FOR HEALTH Simon Harris has said advice relating to “mass gatherings” including the Ireland v Italy Six Nations game in less than two weeks will reviewed today due to coronavirus concerns. 

Speaking to reporters today, Harris said there is a “high likelihood” Ireland could see a confirmed case of Covid-19 in the coming days and weeks. 

The Ireland v Italy Six Nations game is due to take place on 7 March in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Five people have died so far in Italy from Covid-19 and the country has the most confirmed cases of any European country. 

Harris said there are “no plans as of now” to cancel the match or any other mass gatherings in the future, including the large St Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin city centre next month. 

“There will be some big decisions that have to be made in the coming days including mass gatherings. Most particularly, I’m thinking of the Ireland-Italy rugby game that’s due to take place in the not-too distant future,” Harris said today. 

“We’re reviewing today advice in relation to situations like mass gatherings like large matches and the National Public Health Emergency team will meet tomorrow. 

“The chances of a coronavirus case in Ireland or indeed anywhere in the European Union outside of Italy has significantly increased but it’s really important and that we act in accordance with best health advice,” he said. 

A spokesperson for the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) said the Ireland v Italy games that weekend “remain as scheduled”. 

“The IRFU will follow government advice on such fixtures,” the spokesperson said. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has advised Irish citizens to avoid travelling to areas in Italy affected by the coronavirus due to recent increases in confirmed cases. 

The National Public Health Emergency team held a special meeting last night and will meet again tomorrow, Harris said. 

“All of the advice that Ireland is taking and following, and all of the advice it will continue to take, will be in accordance with the world Health Organisation guidelines and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.”

Harris advised any members of the public who feel unwell today and who may have been in contact with anyone who has the Covid-19 virus or who has come from a region where there has been an outbreak to contact their GP by phone or contact HSE Live online or by phone. 

With reporting by Dominic McGrath.  

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57 Comments
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    Mute Craig Clancy
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:10 PM

    Everything will be fine people..we have a top man to lead us in to an epidemic..if his credentials are anything to go by we’ll be as safe as a straw house in a tornado.

    454
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    Mute smart cat
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:15 PM

    @Craig Clancy: I did not know he personally went and did all the work in the HSE. No wonder is cracking if only one man doing all

    176
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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:10 PM

    Just cancel it.

    279
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    Mute David Garland
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:33 PM

    @Brian Dunne: Why? If they’re that concerned about it just stop away fans travelling over for it. There is no talk in the UK of cancelling Football matches and they’ve 12 confirmed cases. It’s a nice deflection anyway from the disastrous election the Government had.

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    Mute Connoroconner
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:44 PM

    @David Garland: that deflection comment has to be one of the most stupid comments I’ve read ever, anywhere. Jesus wept.

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    Mute David Garland
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:48 PM

    @Connoroconner: How is it? It may be a health emergency and the public’s focus has forgotten about the election results already.. Jesus wept at your snowflake reaction

    41
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    Mute Connoroconner
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:56 PM

    @David Garland: the public has forgotten about the election!!??? I’ll say it again: Jesus wept!
    The fallout of the election got wall to wall coverage in all the papers yesterday, all the Sunday morning current affairs shows on radio and the week in politics on RTE TV. Perhaps you have a goldfish memory, but thankfully most people don’t and most people are able to process multiple news events at the same time.

    124
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    Mute smart cat
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    Feb 24th 2020, 1:13 PM

    @David Garland: God the intelligents of some people on this site. That statement takes the biscuit all right

    51
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    Mute Peter O' Dowd
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    Feb 24th 2020, 2:36 PM

    @David Garland: dope

    21
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    Mute PWD Dublin
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    Feb 24th 2020, 2:46 PM

    @David Garland: One has F A to do with the other

    20
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    Mute PWD Dublin
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    Feb 24th 2020, 2:48 PM

    @Connoroconner: Well you know taxi drivers will have their opinions…

    6
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    Mute Collie Ennis
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:20 PM

    Restrict travel from infected areas and enforce screening at all airports and ports. This should be done now before the cat is out of the bag….

    239
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    Mute Patrick Agnew
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:23 PM

    @Collie Ennis: it’s probably too late collie it could be here spreading and no ones copped it yet

    75
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    Mute Arch Angel
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    Feb 24th 2020, 1:18 PM

    @Collie Ennis: Given the numbers involved of those likely to become infected and those likely to need intensive care, ventilation etc. How can any Health Service who can’t provide for it’s existing care claim to be ready for this? Have they suddenly found a few hospitals, all kitted out with staff provided, are there 1000 extra beds somewhere? Silly claims.

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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Feb 24th 2020, 1:19 PM

    @Collie Ennis: The airport screenings are only useful in detecting symptomatic cases. There’s growing evidence that a small percentage of people infected do not show any symptoms but are still spreading the virus. If that’s the case, then a global pandemic is pretty much assured. Reading between the lines of statements by various governments and the World Health Organisation the current plan seems to be to try contain the virus for as long as possible to give added time for countries to get their health systems as prepared as possible. The WHO calling for richer countries to donate medical equipment, particularly ventilators, to African nations when there has only been one confirmed case on the African continent (Egypt) is a bit of a clue as to how they see this playing out.

    26
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    Mute Paraic
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    Feb 24th 2020, 5:21 PM

    @Collie Ennis: Airport screening doesn’t work. All you can do is measure temperature and that’s very unreliable. There’s more chance it will walk in via an infected person who is still going through the incubation period and far less likely that a person who is already showing symptoms is going to feel like getting onboard an airplane. I’d bet on it already being in the country. The cat was out of the bag when all those people fled Wuhan before the lockdown or returned here after the Chinese New year celebrations.

    6
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    Mute Joey Dee
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    Feb 24th 2020, 10:32 PM

    @Arch Angel: self isolation and hope you don’t die.

    2
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    Mute Patrick Agnew
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:26 PM

    There’s people coming and going from here to Italy every day. There’s up to a 14 day incubation period where the carrier may not show symptoms yet be infectious. I’d say it’s mathematically improbable that it’s not here already.

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    Mute Fergus Murphy
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:17 PM

    Now that is the face of a man who has everything under control. He’s got this!

    122
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    Mute Connoroconner
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:49 PM

    @Fergus Murphy: lucky for us he’s only a figure head at times like this, the real decisions are made by experts.

    47
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    Mute Hector Son
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    Feb 24th 2020, 1:52 PM

    @Fergus Murphy: This is not an issue for attempted political point scoring.

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    Mute Fergus Murphy
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    Feb 24th 2020, 5:57 PM

    @Connoroconner: Thanks for letting me know

    4
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    Mute Paul Jude Redmond
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:59 PM

    Simon Harris has everything under control. Hes buying a 1000 gallons of flat 7 up and lemsips from the local pound shop

    113
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    Mute smart cat
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:13 PM

    Would a couple of prayers help do u think !!!. The cat was looking at me strange this morning as if seen how much meat was in me and how long he could feast !!!!!

    51
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    Mute jamesdecay
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:42 PM

    @smart cat: not sure about prayers. Could do with a few players though…

    19
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    Mute smart cat
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    Feb 24th 2020, 1:14 PM

    @jamesdecay: true. I cried yesterday

    10
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    Mute Paul Jude Redmond
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:58 PM

    Is there anything to be said for saying another Mass?

    50
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    Mute smart cat
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    Feb 24th 2020, 1:15 PM

    @Paul Jude Redmond: I get one said today in the local church

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    Mute Morning Gus
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    Feb 24th 2020, 4:06 PM

    @Paul Jude Redmond: No mass gatherings, that’s what the minister said.

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    Mute Andrew Keane
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    Feb 24th 2020, 5:25 PM

    @smart cat: look above. You might catch a joke still flying over you.

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    Mute Lukevic101
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    Feb 24th 2020, 1:25 PM

    Sure every day on a train to work is a mass gathering.

    42
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    Mute Jo H
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    Feb 24th 2020, 2:23 PM

    Game should be postponed, surely it’s a no brainer that a mass gathering with supporters from the worst affected country in Europe is a bad idea. Better safe than sorry

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    Mute Yvonne Sheils
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    Feb 24th 2020, 1:26 PM

    Cancel it.

    37
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    Mute Maggie May
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:43 PM

    I’m actually afraid ..

    32
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    Mute Sea Graham
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    Feb 24th 2020, 1:51 PM

    But lads, it’ll be grand. Super Simon is on the case. It’ll be another achievement he can be proud if in his time as health minister

    27
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    Mute Miguel Delgado
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:20 PM

    Cancel the fecking game. The health of the entire country is more important than a game of rugger.

    167
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    Mute munsterman1
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    Feb 24th 2020, 2:16 PM

    @Miguel Delgado: play it without a crowd..

    17
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    Mute Mr Jerry Curtin (gurrier)
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:47 PM

    Mary Lou will sort it out.

    21
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    Mute Paul Jude Redmond
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    Feb 24th 2020, 1:01 PM

    Time to panic buy sliced white bread and lemsips after reading that

    19
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    Mute Tom Harpur Photography
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    Feb 24th 2020, 2:17 PM

    I read on RTÉ the shinners are looking to hold a public rally on the 7th march the same day of the Ireland v Italy match. So a perfect storm for mass spreading of the virus with the Italians over in force. SF the same party that wants to run the country not so clever if they intend going ahead with the rally. The only government they’ll run will be from inside a quarantine centre in the RDS.

    19
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    Mute Maria Cennerazzo
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    Feb 24th 2020, 4:07 PM

    @Tom Harpur Photography: Italians from affected areas are not allowed to leave their villages, even if they have no symptoms. All the affected people are in a specific area of the country

    4
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    Mute Tom Harpur Photography
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    Feb 24th 2020, 4:24 PM

    @Maria Cennerazzo: but have the Italian authorities found patient zero yet no so patient zero could be asymptotic walking around oblivious not knowing he she is a carrier.

    10
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    Mute MollyMsalone
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:29 PM

    Who was he?

    14
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    Mute saoirse janneau
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    Feb 24th 2020, 2:07 PM

    He’s listening to advice from the WHO. Yikes!!. They haven’t even declared a pandemic yet. Proactive is not in their vocabulary.

    18
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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Feb 24th 2020, 2:56 PM

    @saoirse janneau: So where should be get his advice on matters of global health, if not from the organisation tasked with coordinating actions relating to global health ?

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    Mute saoirse janneau
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    Feb 24th 2020, 3:34 PM

    @Tommy Roche: it’s in 40 countries with massive epidemics in at least 3 now. Eitheopia is still flying plane loads of Chinese in based on WHO reluctance to call it what it is. Africa will be destroyed by this virus. It causes viral pneumonia which leads to hypoxia requiring ventilators. Very few health systems in Africa even have this machinery. This is gross negligence .

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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Feb 24th 2020, 4:25 PM

    @saoirse janneau: Epidemics in 3 countries is not a pandemic. I do actually get what you mean, that countries need to get prepared and the WHO needs to issue strong advice, but declaring a pandemic before there actually is one would help nobody. The WHO have already asked developed nations to help African nations by supplying ventilators, etc, which seems to suggest the WHO are expecting this to become a global pandemic. But say they declared a pandemic today. What country with any kind of sensible government would allow the export of medical equipment such as ventilators to poorer countries when they are likely to need all this equipment for their own citizens. When a global health emergency is declared, as is the case now, it’s means countries getting prepared whilst also helping poorer nations get prepared. When a global pandemic is announced, particularly when the virus is as nasty as this appears to be, then it’s going to be pretty much a case of circling the wagons and looking after your own first.

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    Mute Kem Trayle
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    Feb 24th 2020, 2:01 PM

    It’s going to spread globally and it’s going to be like the flu – many will get it every year and some of those with weak immune systems or other frailties will die. Current containment efforts will only spread out the initial peak impact on health systems which is still a good thing, especially since we have that gombeen in charge.

    It’s the ancient viruses melting out of the ice and permafrost we need to be worried about.

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    Mute Caroline Broadhurst
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    Feb 24th 2020, 2:54 PM

    At least we have a health system, my worry is if it spread to Mumbai in India, that would be horrific, no sanitation and a very poor society! Be thankful for what we have

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    Mute Connoroconner
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    Feb 24th 2020, 3:18 PM

    @Caroline Broadhurst: yes or if it gets to certain states in Africa. I hate when people say we have a third world health system. Compared to other modern states, yes it could be better, but it’s not third world. To say so is an insult to the great staff we have in our hospitals.

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    Mute Denis Doyle
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    Feb 24th 2020, 9:13 PM

    What about all the Italian students who are coming in

    5
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    Mute Aloe Vera Ann Murray
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    Feb 24th 2020, 9:40 PM

    @Denis Doyle: Cancel the match and the Sinn Fein demonstration. Our lives are more important.

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    Mute Turlough
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    Feb 25th 2020, 12:29 AM

    cancel the rugby

    4
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    Mute Aine Maire Ni Naraigh
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    Feb 24th 2020, 10:04 PM

    I think everyone will be at home sitting that match out.

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    Mute John Hanrahan
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    Feb 25th 2020, 7:54 AM

    Cancel the match. Absolutely no reason to take any risk whatsoever.

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    Mute Joey Dee
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    Feb 24th 2020, 10:49 PM

    Did our Buddy Simon mention why there’s a high likelihood we’ll have a confirmed case? Anything to do with it being around the EU summit a few days ago?
    Peter Pellegrini has been hospitalised with coronavirus, maybe as a parting gift leo brought some back for us all.

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    Mute Ann Moles
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    Feb 25th 2020, 10:57 PM

    Our medics in our hospitals do a superb job despite the overcrowding on trollies. It isn’t their fault but the fault of successive governments and health ministers. They should have fixed the problems years ago, they knew it would get worse. The HSE bosses wont be able to handle an epidemic they’re have not prepared for such an event

    1
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