Covid 19 - LOI Ramifications

[D24Saint]

With talk of the Ireland v Italy match & the paddy’s day parade getting postponed the LOI should prepare. If the virus lands on this shores I’d say that games will be affected. The league and the clubs should get some kind of a plan in place.

[osarusan]

Limerick just being extra cautious.

[sbgawa]

They should just halt the league now and let everyone keep their current positions, you can't be too careful

[D24Saint]

I’d imagine county council property will be the first affected.

[passinginterest]

Ah it's only mass gatherings that are effected, league will be grand! ;)

[D24Saint]

Ireland v Italy eggs was cancelled.

[sbgawa]

its all that pulling and dragging that go's on in Rugby is the problem, the LOI would only need to cancel the Harps matches :)

[ForzaForth]

If a virus was seen passing from one person to another in Ferrycarrig Park, we'd try to sign it up.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I don't quite understand cancelling the Ireland/Italy game while also being happy to allow Italian citizens to enter the country. Yes a sporting event allows for a larger opportunity to spread disease through lots of people being in a relatively contained space, but so does travelling in an airplane, working your way through an airport, taking a bus/taxi from the airport, walking through Temple Bar, drinking in a pub, etc, etc. The cancellation of the game strikes me as an exercise in "Look, we're doing something". You either think an influx of Italians is a risk or not.

As for LOI, firstly do nothing until the problem stops being non-existent in Ireland. If and when it becomes existent, evaluate the extent of the problem and act accordingly, but it will just come down to postponing however many weeks of games need to be postponed and extending the season (eliminate summer week off maybe?). Or closed door matches?

[Martinho II]

The loi may have to do what they did nearly 20 years ago when Foot and Mouth was rampant in this country for those who wouldnt remember it and act when its no longer possible to ignore it. That season in 00/01 the games stopped in February and resumed in March.

[sbgawa]

I agree this is typical nanny state BS.
How many of the Italians that were coming will cancel their trips (they won't get any refunds from the airlines) maybe can cancel hotel.
I suspect the majority will come anyway.
There are probably 20 planes landing every day from Italy in Ireland, why not cancel those...

[D24Saint]

Excellent point about the flights if they are that concerned about the Italians start with them not a one off sporting event.

[Longfordian]

Are they checking anybody coming off flights from anywhere at the moment? Anybody who was in an affected area could be landing in Dublin and nobody would have a clue.

[outspoken]

Are they checking anybody coming off flights from anywhere at the moment? Anybody who was in an affected area could be landing in Dublin and nobody would have a clue.

An expert on radio today claims those temperature checks they do are a waste of time but the answer to your question is no

[nigel-harps1954]

Are they checking anybody coming off flights from anywhere at the moment? Anybody who was in an affected area could be landing in Dublin and nobody would have a clue.

Nope. Sister of mine works in a school in Belfast that had a group of kids returning from a skiing holiday in Italy. The kids were told to stay at home for two weeks, but the staff members that were out with them were made to come into work. They were screened entering Italy, but not on their return to Belfast. Go figure.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Screening is a necessary thing, but has limitations. You could be a carrier and not have detectable symptoms when you go through the airport, and then what?

Important, in Ireland, to combat a bit of the hysteria creeping into the narrative. That does not mean carry on as if nothing is happening if and when we get a case here (which is likely, I suppose?), but it means emphasising the practical steps on how to respond if you think you are or have been infected - especially if you are over the age of 60-65 - and that the vast majority of documented cases have been non-fatal.

At least extending the LOI season out a few weeks is doable. From what I've read there's a chance this Italy game will never be re-held, or could take months to play, which could have a bearing on the 6 Nations, if Ireland could somehow figure out a way to beat France.

[Nesta99]

Ugh! This is a head wrecker. I suppose it is better to be vigilant but yer bog standard flu still is a bigger concern and we dont cancel events...man flu should be a mandatory 3 week isolation...

Keep the auld paws washed lads!!

[D24Saint]

Some youngfella in Westmeath has been found with the virus he is only back from Italy , watch this space

[El-Pietro]

Hes been tested for it, they don't know if he has it yet. He has some but not all of the symptoms. Seems likely that he has it but not confirmed yet.

[Scrufil]

Sure we have a natural quarantine in Ireland, its called Leitrim.

[D24Saint]

Sure we have a natural quarantine in Ireland, its called Leitrim.

Roscommon has more claim to that title.

[Scrufil]

At least they have (stolen) sheep in Roscommon.

What's the difference between Leitrim and Tír na n-Óg?




Tír na n-Óg is a real place.

[patrickccfc]

So a person from the North has it. Travelled from Italy via Dublin. Surely passed on somewhere along the line.

[Scrufil]

On a more series note, I spoke to my doctor about the new virus and he told me that currently in Ireland about 100 people die a year from the common flu, so this was to be expected. I thought only those with underlying health problems and older folk died from it, but no, he said there are a number of young people with no previous health problems who succumb to it.

The best advice ever is good hygiene, clean hands and clean any handles and knobs, shared keyboards etc.
What surprises me is the lack of money cleaning facilities available here. Who cleans the credit card machine before and after you or the ATM machine?

[Real ale Madrid]

I think i could have contracted this virus.

I sleep all day and drink all night.

[Nesta99]

On a more series note, I spoke to my doctor about the new virus and he told me that currently in Ireland about 100 people die a year from the common flu, so this was to be expected. I thought only those with underlying health problems and older folk died from it, but no, he said there are a number of young people with no previous health problems who succumb to it.

The best advice ever is good hygiene, clean hands and clean any handles and knobs, shared keyboards etc.
What surprises me is the lack of money cleaning facilities available here. Who cleans the credit card machine before and after you or the ATM machine?

I'm going to have a rant here as infection control is a key part of the day job....

Seasonal flu is risky for people with respiratory issues like asthma, the elderly, paediatrics, bariatrics and pregnant women (or any immuno comprimised). The uptake of the flu jab is very poor in Ireland and yet seasonal flu has a far higher mortality rate than this Covid-19. 650K people its estimated that die worldwise from 'common' flu and not a peep, in comparison to 80k cases for this with 2% case fatality rate (though the figures will be revised daily). It's all very useful in testing containment contingency plans but the level of panic is ott with shops in Italy being cleared out as people stockpile.

The integrity of disposable type masks last 3-5 minutes, they are worn in Operating Theatres, for example, to protect the healthcare workers from splashes or skites of body fluids during procedures, not to protect the patient. Many surgical staff choose not to bother with masks. The only ones that are any use for protecting against micro-organisms are bespoke fitted respirator kinds and are north of €100.The entire frontline staff of the NHS were fitted up during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic where up to 20% of the world population were infected. Respirators are not being issued this time round which is an indication in real terms of how worried health officials are relative to the doomsday headlines of the gutter press today.

Infection control on this needs to focus on handwashing and people avoiding touching nose/mouth or not eating and drinking before washing hands. How many of us would wash hands every time we buy a pint before drinking it yet not knowing where the barstaff have been or washed hands after being on the bog? Who takes shoes off before walking in to their home after being in pub/public toilets or walking the streets picking up microscopic human, avian and animal fecal matter - and then the kids are rolling around the same floor.

Governments need to be seen as doing something and if they say 'just wash yer hands' joe public thinks that that is a cheapskate cop out and are covering up a lack of preparedness. Spanish flu killed millions at a time when there was little mass migration, if a similar strain were to happen today then yes close borders, limit aviation, declare marshal law. This is a sniffle in comparison. No need to cancel LoI games but if people want to be extra careful then avoid shaking hands and have alcohol gel with them and have some manners and cover nose and mouths when coughing or sneezing.

To hear of abuses given to members of the Chinese community is disgusting or even that sales have dropped off for Chinese food outlets is a mass hysteria - driven mostly by tabloid media scaremongering for a dramatic story!!

[Nesta99]

On a more series note, I spoke to my doctor about the new virus and he told me that currently in Ireland about 100 people die a year from the common flu, so this was to be expected. I thought only those with underlying health problems and older folk died from it, but no, he said there are a number of young people with no previous health problems who succumb to it.

The best advice ever is good hygiene, clean hands and clean any handles and knobs, shared keyboards etc.
What surprises me is the lack of money cleaning facilities available here. Who cleans the credit card machine before and after you or the ATM machine?

No shortage of money laundries in the South Armagh area!!!

[D24Saint]

o hear of abuses given to members of the Chinese community is disgusting or even that sales have dropped off for Chinese food outlets is a mass hysteria - driven mostly by tabloid media scaremongering for a dramatic story!!

I never trust the media with things like this , they relish in creating mass hysteria. All I know is the first chance the authority’s get they will call off games. I’d say a huge indication of how the government will respond is how they handle the Paddy’s day parade. It’s a huge call financially to cancel it.

[sbgawa]

I blame sky news and the 24 hour rolling news cycle....on the hour updates as humanity faces extinction.

[pineapple stu]

In fairness, pandering to human panic goes back a lot further than Sky News.

Daniel Defoe wrote "A Journal of the Plague Year" in 1722, 57 years after the last plague outbreak in Europe. The general feeling was that plague was overdue, so Defoe wanted to cash in as most people alive in 1722 had no experience of the plague. Once he'd panicked enough people with his account of the plague, his plan was a sequel on how to survive it.

[Scrufil]

No shortage of money laundries in the South Armagh area!!!

Sure even them boyos don't touch the ATM keys, they use a fork to lift money, machine and the lot out of the wall.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I work in an admin capacity in a inner-city educational business, and had an unpleasant interaction with one of our lecturers who kept asking what we were planning to "do" with our Chinese and Italian students (all of whom haven't been home in months, or years). Like they could spontaneously develop coronavirus at any moment. Mgt settled for a response of "Thank you for your message, we are following HSE guidelines", which was a lot more measured than what I wanted to reply with!

They should have let that Italy match go ahead. Ever since that became a story - where, again, an influx of Italians was treated as a serious risk to public health, yet not enough of a risk to actually bar them entering the country - there's been a measured increase in scaremongering.

[Nesta99]

There must be a few incidents like this as similarly an Italian co-worker of a pal was sent home and she hasnt been in Italy for months and not even from Northern Italy. There is a significant Italian population, among other nationalities in Dundalk between Ebay and National Pen and common sense seems to have prevailed. At least I havent heard of staff being told to stay at home. DkIT has quite a number of Chinese students also and simply sent out an email on recognising symptoms. A reasonable response! I hope that anyone who is asked to stay home is getting a nice unexpected break and paid for it.

I know it slightly contradicts what Ive said above in terms of 'quarantine' but during the foot and mouth outbreak in North Louth years ago the resources deployed to protect livestock was nuts. Kinda funny story, Dundalk were playing Monaghan United at the time and fans were stopped from entering the ground for the game - so us Dundalk fans just congregated in the field overlooking Gortakeegan and watched the game with probably the best view possible, with a herd of cows curiously looking on and didnt cost a cent!

[Ezeikial]

Recently departed Harry Martin used the same vantage point to view a subsequent match for much the same reason. A minutes applause is planned for the 56th minute tonight in Tallaght to mark his passing

[Nesta99]

Possibly foot in mouth reasons rather than foot and mouth...

[NeverFeltBetter]

First case confirmed in the Republic proper. I assume Paddy's Day events will be kaput. It would make zero sense to continue with them after setting the precedent of calling for the rugby game to be postponed.

[John83]

First case confirmed in the Republic proper. I assume Paddy's Day events will be kaput. It would make zero sense to continue with them after setting the precedent of calling for the rugby game to be postponed.
There'll be rather fewer Italians at the parades! I think that's an over-reaction to what may be an isolated case, but they'll need to make those kinds of decisions fairly soon.

[CorribsideSteve]

First case confirmed in the Republic proper. I assume Paddy's Day events will be kaput. It would make zero sense to continue with them after setting the precedent of calling for the rugby game to be postponed.
No harm to have one Paddy's Day without oceans of vomit and multiple arrests by both the Fashion and Real police. Seriously though, strong memories of 2001 coming back. All we had then was a spongy mat with some kind of 'disinfectant' to stamp your feet in. Are we a bit more prepared as a country for this?

[D24Saint]

https://extra.ie/2020/02/29/must-see/supermarket-shelves-bare-as-irish-shoppers-stockpile-amid-mounting-coronavirus-fears

Fake news and a indication of things to come.

[peadar1987]

No harm to have one Paddy's Day without oceans of vomit and multiple arrests by both the Fashion and Real police. Seriously though, strong memories of 2001 coming back. All we had then was a spongy mat with some kind of 'disinfectant' to stamp your feet in. Are we a bit more prepared as a country for this?

Weirdly, whatever stage of my life I was at when all that was going on, the stampy sponge thing became ingrained. 20 years on I still occasionally half expect to see a little tray of disinfectant to splash through if I go through a gate or over a stile when out for a walk.

[D24Saint]

https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0303/1119831-cabinet-meeting/

[sbgawa]

The peoples league will be fine

[joey B]

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-swiss-sport/swiss-league-put-on-hold-after-clubs-reject-closed-doors-option-idUKKBN20P2HU

Swiss League suspended until the start of April,asked to play games behind closed doors but the clubs rejected it obviously,and you'd think this could start happening elsewhere in Europe when the cases start mounting........

[Nesta99]

Weirdly, whatever stage of my life I was at when all that was going on, the stampy sponge thing became ingrained. 20 years on I still occasionally half expect to see a little tray of disinfectant to splash through if I go through a gate or over a stile when out for a walk.

That would have been for the foot and mouth crisis where infection was spread on people shoes and car wheels. This one is just about hand hygiene and manners.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Between private business closures, new cases in other parts of the country, Trinity's partial closure and James Bond, you can kind of sense it starting to snowball now. Presumably a postponement/cancellation of mass gatherings isn't far away, then schools/colleges, etc, etc.

[Nesta99]

Im sure they would insist on the closure of some city centre pubs/clubs that would have similar size gatherings as many LoI games!

[John83]

That would have been for the foot and mouth crisis where infection was spread on people shoes and car wheels. This one is just about hand hygiene and manners.
https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/business_greetings.png

[D24Saint]

Im sure they would insist on the closure of some city centre pubs/clubs that would have similar size gatherings as many LoI games!

The owner of Gogertys in temple bar already complaining about a drop in business. That’s one less Ivory back scratcher with the prices he charges.

[Nesta99]

The owner of Gogertys in temple bar already complaining about a drop in business. That’s one less Ivory back scratcher with the prices he charges.

Disposable masks probably at a higher premium than a diamond encrusted ivory back scratchers. Stopped in to a pharmacy in Newry earlier on the way home from work and they were selling masks at £5 where unit cost is usually less than £0.05p. It's a all becoming very fluid but hysteria is still driving the whole agenda. Any pharmacist should know better than to be driving ineffective preventative measures but then greed is greed and supply and demand a key part of economics. I am a bit more concerned that I was after the above rant but I'm still convinced that less scaremongering would have led to less cases and better compliance with reccomendations. EG the stocks of alcohol gel (and possibly its current cost) could have resulted in the lack of hand sanatising facilities a game sthis weekend - though it is LoI and we dont tend to generally bother with minimum norms...

[Kingswood Rover]

I would say that this weeks games will be the last for a while if they even go ahead and that is not for certain. This is a pain in the hole but it will pass if we are sensible on a personal level, on an organisational level and at a societal level. Cheltenham though massive mistake imo just too many people and too much traveling involved.