@Alan Martin: The problem is personal behaviour. That doesn’t require further closing up and damage to the economy. Is required a strong willed government who is prepared to enforce its rules.

@cork rebel: ya never know. It could be out for sales

@Alan Martin: not if Tony has his way, amazing how numbers rise everytime government don’t do what he says

@Alan Martin: always something, today retail, tomorrow pubs then schools, then it’s cafe’s then it’s non essential then another thing, it’s just words coming out. We just need to learn how to live with it for now. All the BS people just post have split the population into a few groups there keep attacking each other on media like this.

@LangerDan: personal responsibility. That’s it in two words. Unfortunately some people are incapable of that.

@cork rebel: or to school apparently

@Pat Mc Cormack: there are not the same deaths from suicide. The Samaritans confirmed the death rate from suicide is the same as other years

@Pat Mc Cormack: 421 people died by suicide in 2019, or average of 1.15 per day, not 2,200 so far this year from Covid. Stop making figures up, it diminishes the import of these deaths, both suicide and covid

@LangerDan: we need to consider that we are ordered to stay at home. Adopt same rules as Spain and Italy; only leave home to do shopping

@John Peeters: it’s poor leadership constantly allowing people to go to large crowded places..all not essential retail should be closed. And schools should closed now till at least February

@Pat Mc Cormack: the purpose is to stop our poorly run ICUs from filling up. If they fill up you will hear stories of people dying at home.

@cork rebel: nor is Covid-19 educated

@cork rebel: Doesnt go to Schools either apparently!

@LangerDan: 100%. Enforcement. Unfortunately this isn’t something we excel at in Ireland, to put it very mildly.

@Pat Mc Cormack: that’s a lie and you know it.

@Kipper O Keeffe: How he can’t get in.

@Kipper O Keeffe: How like us it can’t get in:)

@Mac Shéamais: I’m wondering how they can make a statement as that as it takes the state years to release accurate suicide data. Well, whatever suits the narrative

@tirnanog1979: are you looking for house arrest? Heaven forbid that people may be able to make these decisions themselves.

@Celtic Spirit: including some of those inside the counter

@Celtic Spirit: I would say social responsibility even more so

@Celtic Spirit: the problem in the “personal” bit. I know lads that refuse to wear a mask because it does not protect them. It is social responsability that is the issue. Taking care of those around you.

@LangerDan: some don’t like to think they just jump in

@nelliekel: is that the same tony holohan THAT was in charge wen all the crap with the cervical checks scandal happen and look what happened people dying he should have stayed away wen he had he time off dr death

@Alan Martin: yes Alan sure id say shut Tescos, Dunnes, Adli etc…and while you are at it the pharmacy. What a comment!

@Fergal Doyle: You know he meant non essential retail, right?

@nelliekel: So he’s making up the numbers ? Just wondering, do you mention this tripe in front of family or friends ? Kinda curious how they react.

@nelliekel: Hans Christian Andersen busy working on tomorrow’s figures.

@Alan Martin: Easy, go to work, open shutters, unlock doors, serve happy festive customers.

@Fergal Doyle: you know I ment non essential retail

@Ray Mulligan: I do Ray and given since March the infection rate in all retail incl non essential before even masks became mandatory was and is to this day is less than 1%.

@Fergal Doyle: It just wasn’t obvious from your response

@nelliekel: it’s almost as if the epidemiologists, virologists and public health officials know what they’re taking about

@nelliekel: Ask yourself, What if he’s right?

@Alan Martin: 2 for the price of 1

@Tony Gordon: personal responsibility comes before social responsibility. Good personal responsibility builds a solid foundation for social responsibility.

@EillieEs: you keep telling yourself that dear.

@nelliekel: nothing amazing about it really. The man obviously getting it right , that’s his job, he’s a professional.

@Alan Martin: Our local bookies was packed today it’s some joke

@John O Brien: What has that got to do with the current situation that he has been tirelessly and consistently correct about? At least he can string a coherent sentence together.

@Niallman: suhp up konp

@Tommy Roche: Are you denying he was responsible for the cervical cancer debacle. There’s ample amount of corroborating evidence to prove otherwise. Not to mention the families who yesterday celebrated Christmas without a mother/wife.

@Niallman: Are you denying he is responsible for the cervical cancer debacle. There’s any amount of corroborating evidence put there to prove otherwise. There also were families who had to celebrate Christmas without a wife/mother because of his cover-up.

@Franny Ando: out

@Franny Ando: I always struggle to understand how that relates to Covid in any way. That’s most likely because it doesn’t though right.

@Kerry Mink: this shows how powerful the Unions are in the HSE.

@Fachtna Roe: if you have such little disregard and lack of faith in the political establishment I will happily read your vision for handling this complex, never before met situation along with still running a country during the next general elections. Ping me directly when you run.

@Aranthos Faroth: Seriously did you not get someone to proof read for you before you posted that obvious govt stooge comment. At least try to hide it

@Pat Mc Cormack: Ahh no Pat, we were all waiting on your gob$hite comment of open the pubs.

@Joe_X: dying with covid not from covid

@james foley: Someone who can’t be bothered to capitalise the letter of their name certainly can’t be trusted to give sound medical opinions.

@james foley: from/with…still a contributing factor.when I see lads resort to that argument, they are scraping the bottom of the barrel!

@nelliekel: and why did his kidneys fail?

@Spongetron: sure it’s all a conspiracy don’t ya know. Y respond to the trolls.

@james foley: Yes because the Covid does not add any complications what so ever ! Great input there well done.

@Pat Mc Cormack: These are not “cases”, they are positive PCR tests. In the clinical definition for all other diseases, a case also requires signs and symptoms.

@Pat Mc Cormack: oh Pat, please go back and complete your leaving cert

@Diarmuid Hehir: it’s fun, like shooting fish in a barrel

@Joe_X: You tell us Joe!!

@Robert Clifford: I can’t, I’m not a doctor. And I doubt that nellie is either. Hence the reason I will defer to the trained professionals. After all, You won’t want a medical doctor to have repaired your plane when your at 36000 feet, as much as you would not want me treating you for a medical condition.!

@Pat Mc Cormack: grow up honestly.

@Michael Philips: Unfortunately we’re way past science now. Hysteria has set in: https://cormandrostenreview.com/report/

@Spongetron: there was once a daily total of 40 deaths in April

@james foley: covid ended their life prematurely. When it happens to your family you may understand. Doubt it though

@Pat Mc Cormack: how many of the 2000 plus deaths this year were only cases?

@Joe_X: also a contributing factor is pneumonia, flu, a bad fall, a number of different ailments can contribute to death at a certain age. Yet they hide the age in the main headline, they hide the fact that they may have had a underlying condition, they hide the fact that they died with or from covid.. you ever ask the question as to why?

@Michael Philips: If I have bloods taken as part of a general check up by my GP, and it’s Identified through testing of those bloods that I have a disease or Virus which that’s not considered a case?

No need to get treatment for it I suppose either?

@james foley: everyone dies of heart failure brought on by other factors, your point is?

@Aaron O Brien: why don’t you enlighten us all? I am fairly sure that these people would be still alive if not for the CoViD-19, after all, that is the disease that the virus causes, not the virus itself. I’m sure many more people died today that had SARS-COV-2 in their system but was not a contributing factor. You see, that is what you all forget. If you die with CoViD-19 you have the disease. You can still have the virus in your system in which case you die with SARS-COV-2

@james foley: so James, if you get hit by a car and end up on the operating table and die from a heart attack.

Will your family decide that the car accident killed you or the heart attack? Any sane person would know it was the car that did the damage and contributed the most to the situation causing your death.

People are dieing that would otherwise not die due to covid, as such covid killed them.

@Joe_X: so do you think in 2 months anyone who is a case will be dead??? Every day since March there have been cases yet Leo said no extra winter deaths

@Joe_X: shure your sister’s a nurse…ask her…

@Barry Somers: same if you have heart attack and die but are asymptomatic for covid but test positive for covid..which would be the main cause..the heart attack or asymptomatic covid

@seamus toomey: some will.

@Alan Gee: why? He is the one that made the statement, now back it up!

@Joe_X: or better still, you explain his point…..after sll, you claimed to be a doctor!

@Pat Mc Cormack: if we’re were told there would only be 23 cases in ICU on 26th Dec along with 260ish in hosp 6 weeks ago, it would be classified as a roaring success. That doesn’t make headlines though.

@Joe_X: ah no Joe …. you insist that Lockdown is the only show in town and anyone who submits an alternative strategy is selfish. I won’t put myself in the line of your fire.

@Alan Gee: I know what you are refering to and you either misunderstood what I said or trying to intentionly interpret it in a way that puts words in my mouth. Alan is refering to this morning’s article on the vaccine delivery.

Those that put themselves first instead of following the guidelines that are meant to protect us all protect us all are selfish. Those that believe no- one tells them what to do. Lockdowns were not the only guideline I meant, after all they are the last resort, even though you seem to have picked it up that way. What about the wearing of masks, or the max number of people allowed meet, or the €9 in a pub. There are reasons for them all, and you should be capable of understanding the why behind them if you are indeed a doctor as you claim.

@Michael Philips: That is completely wrong statement there…. we do it all the time with viruses like HIV… do you even have the ability to read?

@Spongetron: Probably due to the massive outbreak on the Beaumont and a nursing home in Dundalk. H.S.E refusing to comment tonight on nursing home even though there’s been several deaths over the last couple of weeks.

@Victor Feldman: write to your TD. They won’t know as much as the experts here though.

@Victor Feldman: it will be interesting to see how many Palistinians get the vaccine?

@Victor Feldman: your friend must either be over 60 or have a preexisting condition if he’s already received the first dose. You make it sound like anyone who wishes can be vaccinated when in fact to date Israel hasn’t received enough doses to make this possible.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-vaccine-drive-moved-up-to-next-wednesday-hmos-told/

@Winston Smith: victim blaming? That’s nice

@Winston Smith: we don’t know if we have it Winston and if we do then I don’t know is the answer to your question. My husband is a frontline worker so it could be that, or i got it doing the food shopping, or one of my children got it. Does it matter? Is it only people who have done something wrong who get sick? We both woke up with sore throats on Christmas eve. I spoke with my doctor who said it’s not a main symptom but they have seen many people start off with it. On her advice we cancelled Christmas dinner with my parents in law. Yesterday as the day went on we both deteriorated and started coughing and having flu like symptoms. So we decided we should get tested. Regardless, if we are +ve I won’t be looking for someone to blame but rather worrying about who I could have made sick!

@Winston Smith: maybe she became a close contact through work, as I did. Or on public transport. There is no sense in blaming people, as nobody sets out to get this and the vast majority have been doing their part. Best of luck Melissa.

@Melissa OHara: God speed with you and husbands recovery. Pay no attention to the trolls, sad people.

@Melissa OHara: I am a close contact of a positive case from last Tuesday and still waiting for hse call as well as others. After isolating since we arranged private tests today and will have results tomorrow. Pointless hse waiting several days to contact.

@Winston Smith: always one eejit

@Melissa OHara: why do you need to be told what to do?

Call your close contacts and tell them you are going for a test as you have symptoms. Untill you have the results they should act as if they had it and isolate, or if they can’t do so, they must extreme their precautions and follow all the already known heath advices at all time.
They might then stop visiting their elderly parents or extreme their precautions at home if they live with people at risk while they could potentially be pre/asymptomatic.

As Niall Ó Cofaigh said the hse can not do this with every person going for a test, but everyone going for a test and their contacts CAN do it themselves. And unless everyone involved can work out when contact was made in relation to incubation time, those 2 or 3 days before having your result can make a big difference in transmissions.

Wish you and your husband a speed recovery.

@Winston Smith: Troll.

@Winston Smith: don’t be so judgemental!

@Jonnie Marre: these columns are for Covid Zealots

@Jonnie Marre: you Covid zealot. Lockdowns do not work

@Jonnie Marre: no christmas 2021? Christ the likes of you are painful. Take a day off

@Jonnie Marre: In Kildare, four lockdowns later, and nothing has changed. What’s so different about a fifth lockdown that it will work this time?

@Dan: the first lockdown only worked well because of the time of year. The second lockdown didn’t do so great because we were all indoors with weaker immune systems due to lower vitamin d etc.

@Dan: No, summer did that!

@Jonnie Marre: why do you think the vaccines won’t work?

@Dan: what steps would you have had them take to keep covid out of Ireland?

@Tomo: Did each lockdown cause a reduction (or slow the increase of) cases? Did the ICUs become overwhelmed? If you only measure lockdown success by whether or not it eradicated COVID, you’re going to be disappointed. Every time.