Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Padraig Mor · 08-01-2021 2:00pm

Away With The Fairies wrote: »

There's close contacts being told they're not close contacts when they are. They do have a right to be told when there's covid cases in their workplace and to limit interactions and not to visit their parents or grandparents who might not be so lucky if they catch this damn virus.

People not deemed close contacts by public health have no 'right' to know about a case in their workplace. Even those deemed close contacts have no right to know who the positive case in their workplace was (as that's sensitive personal data under GDPR). Not saying I agree with all of that, just giving the 'official' position as someone involved in such arrangements in a large organisation. Of course, a person who tested positive may choose to disclose this to other staff (and, generally, I think they should) but there is no onus on them to do so.

Cape Clear · 08-01-2021 2:58pm

Padraig Mor wrote: »

People not deemed close contacts by public health have no 'right' to know about a case in their workplace. Even those deemed close contacts have no right to know who the positive case in their workplace was (as that's sensitive personal data under GDPR). Not saying I agree with all of that, just giving the 'official' position as someone involved in such arrangements in a large organisation. Of course, a person who tested positive may choose to disclose this to other staff (and, generally, I think they should) but there is no onus on them to do so.

What is the definition of a close contact?

JP Liz V1 · 08-01-2021 3:27pm

leeside11 wrote: »

They sterilise the instruments for theatre.

ACitizenErased wrote: »

Wheres this?

Is that in CUH?

The whole department should have been informed imho, same with schools, classes should be informed of a positive case

ACitizenErased · 08-01-2021 3:29pm

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Is that in CUH?

The whole department should have been informed imho, same with schools, classes should be informed of a positive case

That's not how it works though, never has. If you're not a contact then you've no need to know.

timmyjimmy · 08-01-2021 3:48pm

I know of someone working in the Mercy in HR who received the vaccine, anybody know if this is the case with other staff? HR aren't exactly frontline, that's a frontline worker or someone vulnerable who they've taken the place of, not exactly the best use of the limited vaccines that we currently have.

The longer the vulnerable don't get the vaccination, the longer we're in this crap.

Widdensushi · 08-01-2021 3:51pm

timmyjimmy wrote: »

I know of someone working in the Mercy in HR who received the vaccine, anybody know if this is the case with other staff? HR aren't exactly frontline, that's a frontline worker or someone vulnerable who they've taken the place of, not exactly the best use of the limited vaccines that we currently have.

The longer the vulnerable don't get the vaccination, the longer we're in this crap.

If they are coming in contact with multiple vulnerable people a day it's more important that they get vaccinated than one vulnerable person as they could give covid to many vulnerable people.

ACitizenErased · 08-01-2021 3:59pm

timmyjimmy wrote: »

I know of someone working in the Mercy in HR who received the vaccine, anybody know if this is the case with other staff? HR aren't exactly frontline, that's a frontline worker or someone vulnerable who they've taken the place of, not exactly the best use of the limited vaccines that we currently have.

The longer the vulnerable don't get the vaccination, the longer we're in this crap.

All healthcare workers are being vaccinated. Whether people like it or not, even the people who clean the toilets in hospitals are healthcare workers and will be vaccinated.

timmyjimmy · 08-01-2021 4:06pm

ACitizenErased wrote: »

All healthcare workers are being vaccinated. Whether people like it or not, even the people who clean the toilets in hospitals are healthcare workers and will be vaccinated.

I don't really see why HR need to be onsite, they're certainly working from home where I work (essential services). Companies all over Ireland have adapted to the crisis by working from home. I'd imagine most people would choose to avoid a hospital where possible.

ACitizenErased · 08-01-2021 4:07pm

timmyjimmy wrote: »

I don't really see why HR need to be onsite, they're certainly working from home where I work (essential services). Companies all over Ireland have adapted to the crisis by working from home. I'd imagine most people would choose to avoid a hospital where possible.

That's a fair point but ultimately it doesn't really matter, they'll all be back in the hospital at some stage

Padraig Mor · 08-01-2021 4:07pm

Cape Clear wrote: »

What is the definition of a close contact?

Generally it's being within 2 metres of someone for greater than 15 minutes but public health also look at use of PPE, other control measures etc and someone that 'should' be a close contact may not necessarily be ultimately regarded as such and may be regarded as a casual contact instead. Can vary in schools etc as well. Again, not saying I agree or disagree with the way they do it, just outlining the way it works in practice. It was a major issue in my workplace - people (quite understandably IMHO) saying they should be made aware of cases (or identities of positives) in their area but it's all down to public health at the end of the day.

It's the same outside workplaces as well re identities - if you're flagged as a close contact, the contact tracers won't tell you who the positive case was.

JP Liz V1 · 08-01-2021 4:19pm

Gardaí attended an incident in Blarney last night where a large gathering in excess of 100 people took place in a shed. Gardaí intervened & stopped the event & the gathered crowd was dispersed without any public order incidents.

JP Liz V1 · 08-01-2021 4:22pm

ACitizenErased wrote: »

That's not how it works though, never has. If you're not a contact then you've no need to know.

If they work or teached in the one room of a positive case, are they not all close contacts

forgive my stupidity but what actually is classed then as "close contact"

Pen Rua · 08-01-2021 4:24pm

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

If they work or teached in the one room of a positive case, are they not all close contacts forgive my stupidity but was is actually classed then as "close contact"

Close contact can mean:
spending more than 15 minutes of face-to-face contact within 2 metres of someone who has COVID-19, indoors or outdoors

living in the same house or shared accommodation as someone who has COVID-19

sitting within 2 seats of someone who has COVID-19 on public transport or an airplane

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/close-contact-and-casual-contact.html#:~:text=Close%20contact%20can%20mean%3A,public%20transport%20or%20an%20airplane

Cape Clear · 08-01-2021 4:27pm

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Generally it's being within 2 metres of someone for greater than 15 minutes but public health also look at use of PPE, other control measures etc and someone that 'should' be a close contact may not necessarily be ultimately regarded as such and may be regarded as a casual contact instead. Can vary in schools etc as well. Again, not saying I agree or disagree with the way they do it, just outlining the way it works in practice. It was a major issue in my workplace - people (quite understandably IMHO) saying they should be made aware of cases (or identities of positives) in their area but it's all down to public health at the end of the day.

It's the same outside workplaces as well re identities - if you're flagged as a close contact, the contact tracers won't tell you who the positive case was.

Thanks Padraig. The need for confidentiality and the want for information in these cases requires a fine balance.

ACitizenErased · 08-01-2021 4:34pm

5152 positive swabs, 18.88% positivity on 27,287 swabs.
- Friday, January 8th 2021

Looks like I wasn't far off with my swab idea. 5% drop in positivity rate since yesterday.
For the first time since mid-December, the 7 day positivity rate has dropped.

JP Liz V1 · 08-01-2021 4:37pm

Hopefully a decrease is starting

Away With The Fairies · 08-01-2021 4:41pm

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Generally it's being within 2 metres of someone for greater than 15 minutes but public health also look at use of PPE, other control measures etc and someone that 'should' be a close contact may not necessarily be ultimately regarded as such and may be regarded as a casual contact instead. Can vary in schools etc as well. Again, not saying I agree or disagree with the way they do it, just outlining the way it works in practice. It was a major issue in my workplace - people (quite understandably IMHO) saying they should be made aware of cases (or identities of positives) in their area but it's all down to public health at the end of the day.

It's the same outside workplaces as well re identities - if you're flagged as a close contact, the contact tracers won't tell you who the positive case was.

Aren't you also a close contact if you spend more than 2 hours in the same room as an infected person?

ACitizenErased · 08-01-2021 4:43pm

On another note, things are not good in CUH. Really bad. It's basically everywhere. Last I heard its 120 patients.

Away With The Fairies · 08-01-2021 4:46pm

ACitizenErased wrote: »

5152 positive swabs, 18.88% positivity on 27,287 swabs.
- Friday, January 8th 2021

Looks like I wasn't far off with my swab idea. 5% drop in positivity rate since yesterday.
For the first time since mid-December, the 7 day positivity rate has dropped.

Forgive my stupidity, but how are there still 5000 positive cases happening?

I presume the large spike happened with people gathering over Christmas? But Christmas was 2 weeks ago.

ACitizenErased · 08-01-2021 4:47pm

Away With The Fairies wrote: »

Forgive my stupidity, but how are there still 5000 positive cases happening?

I presume the large spike happened with people gathering over Christmas? But Christmas was 2 weeks ago.

Well if there's 5000 cases today they'll each have 1-3 contacts which is anywhere from 5000-15000 more cases.

Pen Rua · 08-01-2021 4:48pm

The positivity rate should also be caveated by noting that close contacts are not automatically referred for a test any longer.

ACitizenErased · 08-01-2021 4:49pm

Pen Rua wrote: »

The positivity rate should also be caveated by noting that close contacts are not automatically referred for a test any longer.

If close contacts who are negative are not being tested then the positivity rate would go up, not down.

Stark · 08-01-2021 4:50pm

It's still higher than the peak in April when we were only testing people with two or more symptoms though.

Edit: posted before seeing the post about the drop in positivity rate to 19%.

Ludo · 08-01-2021 4:53pm

ACitizenErased wrote: »

On another note, things are not good in CUH. Really bad. It's basically everywhere. Last I heard its 120 patients.

Wonderful...my 86 year old mother was admitted there yesterday for non-covid reasons. Being kept in for the weekend which I was hoping would not happen.

JP Liz V1 · 08-01-2021 4:54pm

Ludo wrote: »

Wonderful...my 86 year old mother was admitted there yesterday for non-covid reasons. Being kept in for the weekend which I was hoping would not happen.

I hope she will be ok

the beer revolu · 08-01-2021 5:01pm

Ludo wrote: »

Wonderful...my 86 year old mother was admitted there yesterday for non-covid reasons. Being kept in for the weekend which I was hoping would not happen.

If it's any comfort, my 90 year old mother was in hospital, CUH, initially, then The South Infirmary for about 8 weeks, back in April/May and didn't contract anything.

JP Liz V1 · 08-01-2021 5:02pm

ACitizenErased wrote: »

On another note, things are not good in CUH. Really bad. It's basically everywhere. Last I heard its 120 patients.

H8GHOTI · 08-01-2021 5:23pm

Re Mercy vaccine

All Healthcare workers will be vaccinated of course but there is a priority list:

1. Those in care homes over 65
2. Frontline HCW
3. People over 70
4. Other HCW not in direct contact with patients
.
.
.

You couldn’t say HR are frontline.
Tbh it looks like this list went out the window on day one. They started in hospitals before care homes. Certainly a HR person in the Mercy shouldn’t be getting it before a doctor or nurse in another hospital.

But with the logistics you can see how it could happen. The Mercy would have been given a certain quantity. Presumably they did frontline first & had some left over. 6 doses per vial now instead of 5, right?

It’s got a short shelf life. Rather than drag some 70 year old in off the street or bin the excess, they vaccinated extra staff. If it was planned like this from the start, then ya it’s wrong. Sure they could also be more organised & if they had extra, they could have given it to another hospital that is waiting on it to start their own frontline staff. But logistics, paperwork, red tape.....

JP Liz V1 · 08-01-2021 6:00pm

the beer revolu wrote: »

If it's any comfort, my 90 year old mother was in hospital, CUH, initially, then The South Infirmary for about 8 weeks, back in April/May and didn't contract anything.

That's great to hear, how is she now?

SusieBlue · 08-01-2021 7:14pm

I have two relatives working in CUH, one is a Porter and the other is in a clerical position and both were vaccinated earlier this week.
The Porter is a no brainer, the clerical officer might sound unnecessary but the job cannot be done remotely because it involves handling a lot of files and charts and which come directly from the wards, moving from one part of the hospital to another, which is a risk.
I also have a friend working there as a health care assistant, not on a covid ward or anything and she has also been vaccinated.

I believe it was optional and staff were given the choice as to whether to get it or not.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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