Galway COVID-19, local news and discussion

Storm 10

saabsaab wrote: »

No further explanation is needed for surge.

And the Government are blaming us for going for a meal and a beer you just could not make this up

_Whimsical_

Symptoms of the newer variant of Covid seem to have changed. Interesting article in the Irish Times today that has quotes from several GPs who are assessing Covid patients.

A reoccurring theme throughout the article is that the illness has changed, severity of illness and who it's affecting severely but more interestingly symptoms. People are refusing testing on the basis that they believe that have sinus, not covid.

So if you meet someone who says "oh it's just a cold,its just my usual sinus thing" be careful. If you feel you just have a cold avoid family, get tested.

The person I know currently in ICU had no cough or chest complaint during the illness and then developed shortness of breath day 9, and was in ICU by day 10 so tallies with this outline of illness.

These are quotes from 3 different Drs.

Fifty per cent of positive cases at Dr Ilona Duffy’s Monaghan practice over two days recently presented with nasal congestion. “We are calling it the Covid voice – not just a little sniffle, but that sinusitis, blocked nasal sound. Symptoms are beginning earlier, maybe three days after exposure.”
....
We’ve two in ICU. It’s worse than the very beginning, because these are people who are younger.”

The people most at risk are the ones who seem to get better at around five to six days, and then experience a sudden deterioration, she says.

The typical symptoms of cough and loss of taste are still being reported by patients, but “most cases of Covid will not present in the archetypal fashion”.

Among 20- to 40-year-olds, he is seeing a wider range of symptoms, including “head colds, aches and pains, skin sensitivity and upper respiratory symptoms. Fever hasn’t been a huge factor among our patients.”

Last Monday, we had 60 referrals. People don’t have to have a cough or shortness of breath. It’s really varied now. It might be fatigue, a little sore throat, sinus symptoms. Some people have diarrhoea.

You have to keep your antennae attuned. Even when you’re having a conversation with somebody over the phone, they might just have a little dry cough” – he makes a sound like clearing his throat – “mid-sentence, and that might be enough to refer them. And they are shocked when they come back positive.”

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/irish-gps-fighting-third-wave-covid-on-the-front-line-of-the-world-s-worst-outbreak-1.4458430

saabsaab

New variant?

Andrea B.

I noticed 2 driving lessons in instructors cars going on in Westside other day.
Of course, they may have been their own bubble, but they were masked up.

You can continue with a driving test booking during Level 5 if you are an "essential worker involved in the provision of essential services". And you can do driving lessons if you've a test booked.

shenanagans

2121 today. 84 in Galway.

shenanagans

Today's breakdown

ceatharloch

saabsaab wrote: »

No further explanation is needed for surge.

So - in the article, 51% "confirmed their place of residence". And, does anyone think they were all telling the truth? There's no check on this right? So a (large?) proportion of those 51% may also not be where-they-were-supposed-to-be!

Mrs OBumble

ceatharloch wrote: »

So - in the article, 51% "confirmed their place of residence". And, does anyone think they were all telling the truth? There's no check on this right? So a (large?) proportion of those 51% may also not be where-they-were-supposed-to-be!

It's a bit more complicated than that. Some will have been travelling for work. What does "place of residence" mean for someone who has just finished a six-month live-in contract and so doesn't even have accommodation there any more. Or for young adult from Ireland who's studying in the UK and living in student accommodation there, which perhaps closed down over the break.

Now I totally agree there will have been a lot of totally unnecessary journeys, made by people without the backbone to get through the Christmas without Mammy.

But "stop all flights" just opens up so many other cans of worms that it's not particularly realistic.

saabsaab

ceatharloch wrote: »

So - in the article, 51% "confirmed their place of residence". And, does anyone think they were all telling the truth? There's no check on this right? So a (large?) proportion of those 51% may also not be where-they-were-supposed-to-be!

How many of these just circulated with their friends as well as their families without isolating for 10 days? I think we know the answer now. All non essential flights should be stopped.

saabsaab

saabsaab wrote: »

How many of these just circulated with their friends as well as their families without isolating for 10 days? I think we know the answer now. All non essential flights should be stopped.

You seem to be struggling with the fact that the vast majority of transmissions are from everyone visiting over the Christmas. While there are a few related to air/sea travel, they pale in comparison to the regular joe soap going to visit relatives "because its christmas, what harm can it do".



The raw data is available for you to review yourself here

saabsaab

Deleted User wrote: »

You seem to be struggling with the fact that the vast majority of transmissions are from everyone visiting over the Christmas. While there are a few related to air/sea travel, they pale in comparison to the regular joe soap going to visit relatives "because its christmas, what harm can it do".



The raw data is available for you to review yourself here

How many cases are the new UK variant? Must be over 60% now. These had to be travel and subsequent mixing.

Sconsey

Balls anyway...

https://twitter.com/EavanMurray/status/1351585829039316992

Storm 10

Sconsey wrote: »

Balls anyway...

https://twitter.com/EavanMurray/status/1351585829039316992

Currently dropping

saabsaab

saabsaab wrote: »

How many cases are the new UK variant? Must be over 60% now. These had to be travel and subsequent mixing.

Probably came from a travel related case, so what, we were never going to keep it out, the same we were never going to keep covid out.

But lets say we go with your demand and stop all flights immediately. Would you mind taking a look at these questions

• Are logistics/cargo flights still allowed?
• If no, what about the mail and packages, what do you intend to do to ensure they keep moving?
• What about the cargo that otherwise would have been on the passenger flights that are no longer allowed? Given there is a finite amount of air cargo space what do you propose for this cargo?
• Can boats still land?
• If yes, does that include ferries? If no, how does Ireland, as a country that is not self-sufficient, manage for materials & supplies?
• Can truckers still bring things in and out of Ireland?
• If yes, whats the point of closing the airports if they can travel anywhere they want? If no, how do you propose to keep the shelves stocked given there isnt enough Irish truck drivers to keep things moving?
• What about the border to the North, is that left open or closed? The land border is 310 miles long with over 200 formal crossing points and probably the same number again of informal crossing points.
• If you are closing it do you man all crossing points or only the ones on the roads as the informal ones are mostly on private lands? If manning the ones on private lands do we need CPO's to set up the infrastructure required for a border crossing?
• If you are closing it, is that with the agreement of the Northern Assembly, British and American Govts and the EU (yes you would need all to sign up to it) or are you just doing this off the bat?
• If its closed who is going to man it, Garda, PSNI or Armies and do you think the Provos will be ok with it and if not how do you plan to address their, often violent, concerns?
• If a farmer owns lands that straddle the border does he have to take a test everytime he wants to bring in the cattle for milking?
• Have you given any thought as to how to stop people walking across the fields at the border?
• If you are not closing the border then we are you banning flights?

Now that you have closed the borders and addressed everything that comes with taking that action you have addressed 1% of cases, congratulations.

Now, what are your plans for the other 99% of cases which are transmitted through the community and close contacts?

zell12

73 cases in Galway
https://twitter.com/gavreilly/status/1351589186336415747?s=20

saabsaab

Deleted User wrote: »

Probably came from a travel related case, so what, we were never going to keep it out, the same we were never going to keep covid out.

But lets say we go with your demand and stop all flights immediately. Would you mind taking a look at these questions

• Are logistics/cargo flights still allowed?
• If no, what about the mail and packages, what do you intend to do to ensure they keep moving?
• What about the cargo that otherwise would have been on the passenger flights that are no longer allowed? Given there is a finite amount of air cargo space what do you propose for this cargo?
• Can boats still land?
• If yes, does that include ferries? If no, how does Ireland, as a country that is not self-sufficient, manage for materials & supplies?
• Can truckers still bring things in and out of Ireland?
• If yes, whats the point of closing the airports if they can travel anywhere they want? If no, how do you propose to keep the shelves stocked given there isnt enough Irish truck drivers to keep things moving?
• What about the border to the North, is that left open or closed? The land border is 310 miles long with over 200 formal crossing points and probably the same number again of informal crossing points.
• If you are closing it do you man all crossing points or only the ones on the roads as the informal ones are mostly on private lands? If manning the ones on private lands do we need CPO's to set up the infrastructure required for a border crossing?
• If you are closing it, is that with the agreement of the Northern Assembly, British and American Govts and the EU (yes you would need all to sign up to it) or are you just doing this off the bat?
• If its closed who is going to man it, Garda, PSNI or Armies and do you think the Provos will be ok with it and if not how do you plan to address their, often violent, concerns?
• If a farmer owns lands that straddle the border does he have to take a test everytime he wants to bring in the cattle for milking?
• Have you given any thought as to how to stop people walking across the fields at the border?
• If you are not closing the border then we are you banning flights?

Now that you have closed the borders and addressed everything that comes with taking that action you have addressed 1% of cases, congratulations.

Now, what are your plans for the other 99% of cases which are transmitted through the community and close contacts?

The 1% figure is clearly wrong. What happened in New Zealand? Of course essential services would continue. We can't stop it coming but we can reduce the flow significantly and be in a position to isolate reduce and ultimately with the aid of vaccines stop it or stop new variants at least. What about new variants from say Canada or Turkey which could scupper any plans.

saabsaab

saabsaab wrote: »

The 1% figure is clearly wrong.

The Trump approach, the facts/data don't align to your version so they must be incorrect and you offer something else with no evidence to back it up.

These figures are based on the responses from the people behind those positive case numbers when questioned, so unless you have an alternate data source that shows other figures, these are the numbers.

saabsaab wrote: »

What happened in New Zealand? Of course essential services would continue. We can't stop it coming but we can reduce the flow significantly and be in a position to isolate reduce and ultimately with the aid of vaccines stop it or stop new variants at least. What about new variants from say Canada or Turkey which could scupper any plans.

Sorry, unless you have answers for the rest of the questions, which, while being asked humorously, are very real issues that would need to be resolved, then there's really no point.

Stating the equivalent of "cos thats the why!!" doesn't cover it. New Zealand is a fine example of how to do it, but again, unless you have answers to the questions above then its not possible to do it here.

Focusing on the 1% of cases from travel and ignoring the other 99% is one of the reasons we are in the mess we are in. It allows for shirking of personal responsibility.

There have been, what 400 fines given out in the last week alone for people who are unable to stay within 5km. 70 cars turned around and 30 fines issued to parked cars at 1 location alone.

There's anti-maskers going into hospitals protesting and coughing on others.

You have people driving 80km for burgers.

Look, I get it, there are issues with inbound travelers for sure, but trying to paint closing the border as the fix ignores the very real issues that are causing 99% of the cases.

"'Rapid increase' in Covid-19 cases in Galway area"
https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/2021/0119/1190808-galway-covid/

This seems like an unusual highlighting of Galway on the national news. Are we really much worse than other counties?

I thought we were doing middling and cases were dropping along with other counties... or are the regional hospitalisation rates worse here?

Storm 10

[Deleted User] wrote: »

"'Rapid increase' in Covid-19 cases in Galway area"
https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/2021/0119/1190808-galway-covid/

This seems like an unusual highlighting of Galway on the national news. Are we really much worse than other counties?

I thought we were doing middling and cases were dropping along with other counties... or are the regional hospitalisation rates worse here?

If you look back at the figures Limerick and Cork were way ahead of Galway we are in 9th position today not that we want to be on any table and Dublin is very high

JCX BXC

Very strange article indeed, 73 cases today, low by national standards and Galway has a lower incidence than the national rate as well as less than half that of Monaghan.

I cannot fathom what the reasoning is.

sgthighway

Some companies did bulk private testing of employees after Christmas. People who we’re Not showing signs and symptoms could have been identified as positive?
It is mad how people will genuinely be super super careful and still get it.

Storm 10

JCX BXC wrote: »

Very strange article indeed, 73 cases today, low by national standards and Galway has a lower incidence than the national rate as well as less than half that of Monaghan.

I cannot fathom what the reasoning is.

On RTE this morning Cork has the highest hospital cases in the Country followed by Limerick Drogheda and Dublin no mention of Galway.

what_traffic

JCX BXC wrote: »

Very strange article indeed, 73 cases today, low by national standards and Galway has a lower incidence than the national rate as well as less than half that of Monaghan.

Agree Galway is doing alright when compared with other County's with similar urban/rural profile

saabsaab

Regarding the 1% see below from Tony Holohan before Christmas.


'Dr Holohan told the press briefing that international travel posed a significant risk.
"That is the experience of Europe and our near neighbours and many of the countries with whom we have a close travel relationship. That will be one of the most significant risks to us.
"One of the biggest risks will be the re-importation of the disease through international travel."
When asked if travelling on compassionate grounds, such as a grandchild visiting here from abroad, would be allowed, Dr Holohan said inbound travel from other countries was now a bigger risk because they have higher rates of infection growth than we have.'


I doubt that would have been the case if he believes the 1%. Of course restrictions should apply locally and I am not saying we should not clamp down locally! but it is like trying to empty a bath with the taps still running. Galway City of course has more travelling from outside the country than any other county per head.

Sconsey

what_traffic wrote: »

Agree Galway is doing alright when compared with other County's with similar urban/rural profile

I think the point is that while the rest of the country broadly is on a downward trend, Galway case rates are rising. Looks like yesterday was the first day in a while that our rate did not increase.

So while we were coming from a lower starting position, our case rate was one of the lowest two or three weeks ago...we have trended up while most of the other counties have trended down. Hopefully we turned that corner yesterday.

JCX BXC

Sconsey wrote: »

I think the point is that while the rest of the country broadly is on a downward trend, Galway case rates are rising. Looks like yesterday was the first day in a while that our rate did not increase.

So while we were coming from a lower starting position, our case rate was one of the lowest two or three weeks ago...we have trended up while most of the other counties have trended down. Hopefully we turned that corner yesterday.

A week ago we had pretty much the same incidence rate as now, not much has changed, cases aren't rising here.

what_traffic

Deleted User wrote: »

I thought we were doing middling and cases were dropping along with other counties... or are the regional hospitalisation rates worse here?

You are correct.
See page 13 of the 14 day epidemiology report from hpsc.ie

https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/surveillance/covid-1914-dayepidemiologyreports/COVID-19_14_day_epidemiology_WEB%20report_20210119.pdf

we are on the downward trend. Nothing special in comparison with other County's looking at these charts

Sconsey

JCX BXC wrote: »

A week ago we had pretty much the same incidence rate as now, not much has changed, cases aren't rising here.

The director of public health for the west of Ireland would disagree with your assessment, I'm inclined to think she knows more about it than you or I...
https://twitter.com/EavanMurray/status/1351585829039316992

As pointed out in my earlier post the figures for yesterday do show a small dicrease in the 14 day incdence rate, hopefully that continues.

saabsaab

saabsaab wrote: »

I doubt that would have been the case if he believes the 1%.

Ah here, so now not only are you saying the numbers are fake with nothing to back it up, you are now trying to say the CMO is in agreement with you. My don't we think a lot of ourselves.

saabsaab wrote: »

Of course restrictions should apply locally and I am not saying we should not clamp down locally! but it is like trying to empty a bath with the taps still running.

Your approach to this is more akin to having a bucket in your hand at the beach saying you filled it so now the tide will stop coming in

saabsaab wrote: »

Galway City of course has more travelling from outside the country than any other county per head.

Proof?