Galway COVID-19, local news and discussion

JoeA3

Fernando Muscular Sibilant wrote: »

Listening to Keith finnegan this morning.

Shocking.

Smegging hell

WallyGUFC wrote: »

What are the army going to do? When the Gardaí don't even have the powers to enforce anything beyond pouring out people's drink, what do you expect the army to do?

You'd think that would be obvious to anyone thinking about it for more that a second, but it hasn't stopped Ollie Crowe from attention-seeking in the national media.https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40056614.html?fbclid=IwAR0r3Ohh-qlilsC4Wk9IwVU1vLjbvYXuw5fX2JIfwHd7r4XRNP2W7x0cxZE#.X3MJCz9jcrZ.twitter

Storm 10

Fernando Muscular Sibilant wrote: »

Listening to Keith finnegan this morning it is clear to see how outraged people are he commented that he has never seen a reaction like it and I don’t blame anyone. It’s is absolutely idiotic behaviour by absolute selfish idiots, they haven’t a brain cell to rub together between the lot of them.

Massive calls for the army to get out on the streets too from people and I have to say I would be 100% behind it.

I would love to see a link for the massive calls.


Army can only be deployed as an aid to the civil power when law and order breaks down and there is violence on the streets, so it is never going to happen

GerardKeating

GerardKeating wrote: »

Unless we declare Martial Law, not sure if the Army can do anything really, and what would you have the army do, shoot people not wearing masks ?

They can help the guards in keeping crowds from forming at the very least. Garda numbers are thin on the ground but the army could get large numbers around the city quite easily.

There were a few texters suggesting water cannons, but sure I was told I was the only "lunatic" in the world to suggested that before - even Keith didn't dismiss that rather took the p*ss out of how students would be complaining about getting wet.

This is serious, much more serious than some realise we need to tackle it hard and fast. Pussy footing around coming up with excuses for why we can't act like many posters are is it going to stop the spread of the virus. People aren't heeding restrictions so they have to be forced be that financially or with physical barriers.

testtech05

Might be an idea for a few calls for the gardai to actually enforce some of the rules that are already in place around drinking in a public place etc as a first step rather than asking for the army to get involved (whatever they could actually do)

owlbethere

Outside would be safer in relation to the virus spread. The problem is for a lot of these students, their night out won't stop there and many would be going back to house gatherings where theres potential for virus spread. Galway probably won't be isolated in these gatherings then a problem will emerge where many of these students will go home at weekends.

Irelands covid case numbers have been see-sawing up and down over the past few weeks. Lately it could be anything from 200 to 400 cases a day. It's some jump in case numbers. Within the next few more weeks we'll be seeing 100s more a day and I wouldn't be surprised if we will be tipping towards a 1000 cases a day for South and North within the next 2 or 3 weeks. When covid increases more in the population, its going to sink down deeper within the population. There's going to be a big problem come Christmas time. We will be in the heart of winter and if covid starts hitting into an older demographic, say 50s and 60s, theres potential for the hospitals to get too full, too quickly and too fast and that's going to be a problem.

Gadgetman496

WallyGUFC wrote: »

What are the army going to do?

Spray them with indelible dye so they can be identified and dealt with even after they disperse. Let them explain to their Ma's when she is washing their clothes, the little angels.

Mrs OBumble

cocoman wrote: »

After last night we'll probably be in Level 3 by the weekend. Can't see practical classes in the colleges going ahead for a while

Doesn't quite follow

Even if the kids who were out last night get sick, they won't show up as test results until next week.

Its the ones who were at house parties last week who may cause lockdown this week.

It’s not like shop st or quay st can’t be controlled to access- it can- we’re going to need a lot more imagination and anticipation of these predictable things happening and put more emphasis on crowd control measures

jammiedodgers

Closing Spanish Arch/Shop Street etc is only going to drive people to house parties.
The real issue is people are not following the basic advice - reduce your contacts as much as you can.
Professor Nolan said in one of the press conferences last week if everyone reduced thier social contacts by 50% the R number would drop below 1 very quickly. But people aren't doing this so we implement further restrictions that nobody will follow once again until we're forced to go back into a lockdown.

cocoman

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Doesn't quite follow

Even if the kids who were out last night get sick, they won't show up as test results until next week.

Its the ones who were at house parties last week who may cause lockdown this week.

I think that some of the younger people that get symptoms will not even bother going for a test if that not seriously unwell. The fact that they may not drive and have to get a taxi or lift to the airport for a test doesn't help either.

I don't know if NPHET's advice is based purely on numbers or would thay take lastnight's scenes in town into account in their recommendations?

_Whimsical_

What a disgraceful night. Someone from the area told me that they had people urinating in their garden and worse last night for hours. They called the guards but it continued after. Really wonder if these people deserve an education at all.

Yesterday on Drivetime radio show on RTE1 they spoke to students, the vice president of NUIG and the college GP.
The GP said they are now very busy with students presenting with Covid symptoms and testing positive. He's finding they're getting it from parties but now also in the community, he said he had patients who have possibly got it in a shop for example. I can't imagine what it will be like after last night. So many of them are young enough to be asymptomatic too and will continue being out and mixing. We will all have to take much much more care out and about now.

I feel like the only answer now is to come down like a ton of bricks and make an example of people. If guards are called to a house they should report names of people living there to the college and those students should be expelled as per the promises NUIG made re breaks of code of conduct. A few weeks of that and the message would permeate. It's crazy our jobs and economy, some of our lives, could be lost over fun nights and parties for some.

saabsaab

Fernando Muscular Sibilant wrote: »

They can help the guards in keeping crowds from forming at the very least. Garda numbers are thin on the ground but the army could get large numbers around the city quite easily.

There were a few texters suggesting water cannons, but sure I was told I was the only "lunatic" in the world to suggested that before - even Keith didn't dismiss that rather took the p*ss out of how students would be complaining about getting wet.

This is serious, much more serious than some realise we need to tackle it hard and fast. Pussy footing around coming up with excuses for why we can't act like many posters are is it going to stop the spread of the virus. People aren't heeding restrictions so they have to be forced be that financially or with physical barriers.

The army can block streets with armoured cars in such areas. Anyone will have to think twice if they want to mess with them. They can aid the Gardai with boots on the ground. As this continues it will come to this sooner or later.

Pen Rua

Absolutely absurd comments suggesting that the Army should be deployed to deal with the students. Armoured cars? Water canons? Come off it.

_Whimsical_

Scary too to think those same students will be frequenting the same shops and takeaways along Newcastle Road as healthcare staff and people picking things up after hospital visits.

saabsaab

Pen Rua wrote: »

Absolutely absurd comments suggesting that the Army should be deployed to deal with the students. Armoured cars? Water canons? Come off it.

It will come to that and it's not just students.

Glenomra

Did a Galway senator seriously suggest putting the army into action against students!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as a Clare person who likes Galway City this is bizarre. Have ye lost your marbles?

Pen Rua

saabsaab wrote: »

It will come to that and it's not just students.

Ah come off. When was the last time the Army has been deployed to police the citizens of this country. Are these students/people breaking laws? Or are they breaking guidelines.

Absurd, hyperbolic suggestions here. If you hose them off the Quays they’re just going to go elsewhere. The root of the problem must be identified.

Gadgetman496

Pen Rua wrote: »

Absolutely absurd comments suggesting that the Army should be deployed to deal with the students. Armoured cars? Water canons? Come off it.

Maybe you are correct? Those measures are too lenient. The water cannons should be filled with petrol... Anyone got a light?

jammiedodgers

Glenomra wrote: »

Did a Galway senator seriously suggest putting the army into action against students!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as a Clare person who likes Galway City this is bizarre. Have ye lost your marbles?

Anyone who takes Ollie Crowe seriosuly has indeed lost their marbles.

laguacamaya

Asking 17yr old kids in skinny jeans and Donegal jerseys to act responsibly and have a sense of civic duty??...Many of whom are possibly away from home for the first time...After necking a bottle of buckfast etc. There's a Garda station 200 yards from Spanish Arch. One would think they would have been aware of the possibility of such a scenario developing..And sending two of their finest down to nip it in the bud.

Plumbthedepths

saabsaab wrote: »

It will come to that and it's not just students.

You know nothing of how the army operates. Go and get some air and stop showing yourself up.

Glenomra

jammiedodgers wrote: »

Anyone who takes Ollie Crowe seriosuly has indeed lost their marbles.

But he's a public representative for Galway.

Storm 10

saabsaab wrote: »

It will come to that and it's not just students.

Are you for real the Army cannot be deployed on the streets only happens if the Country slips into violence and the Garda cannot deal with it, we would have to have rioting all over the Country for that to happen.



Army
To defend the State against armed aggression; this being a contingency, preparations for its implementation will depend on an ongoing Government assessment of the security and defence environment.

Storm 10

Storm 10 wrote: »

Are you for real the Army cannot be deployed on the streets only happens if the Country slips into violence and the Garda cannot deal with it, we would have to have rioting all over the Country for that to happen.



Army
To defend the State against armed aggression; this being a contingency, preparations for its implementation will depend on an ongoing Government assessment of the security and defence environment.

Who will stop them being deployed if instructed to do so by the government. We are in unprecedented times and unprecedented measures are needed. There should be no issue whatsoever in deploying them to block areas of congregating, disperse crowds and help the guards to manage the situation.

People need to get away from this tippy toeing around "oh they can't do that". Nonsense.

JohnCleary

It's a scary thought to think that possibly the best way to deal with this is to close the offies. (I am NOT condoning that!!)

At least the pubs can regulate the number of patrons.


Bootleg Buckie has a ring to it.

Stewball

Glenomra wrote: »

Did a Galway senator seriously suggest putting the army into action against students!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as a Clare person who likes Galway City this is bizarre. Have ye lost your marbles?

That was Ollie Crowe. He didn't have any marbles to begin with....

Plumbthedepths

Fernando Muscular Sibilant wrote: »

Who will stop them being deployed if instructed to do so by the government. We are in unprecedented times and unprecedented measures are needed. There should be no issue whatsoever in deploying them to block areas of congregating, disperse crowds and help the guards to manage the situation.

People need to get away from this tippy toeing around "oh they can't do that". Nonsense.

The above post demonstrates complete ignorance of the role of the DF, but I'm not surprised considering who the poster is.

Stewball

Stewball wrote: »

That was Ollie Crowe. He didn't have any marbles to begin with....

There would be massive support for it, pretty much every single caller and texter on Gbay fm this morning was calling for the army to be deployed to tackle this disgraceful behaviour and disregard for the pandemic we are in the middle of.

Stewball

Fernando Muscular Sibilant wrote: »

There would be massive support for it, pretty much every single caller and texter on Gbay fm this morning was calling for the army to be deployed to tackle this disgraceful behaviour and disregard for the pandemic we are in the middle of.

And those people are clowns.