Galway COVID-19, local news and discussion

buzz11

DVDM93 wrote: »

Folks, we hope this finds you all happy and well.

We have been notified that one of our staff members has been in close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19. For the safety of our staff & customers we are closing until further notice & following HSE guidelines & protocols. We will reopen when advised that it is safe to do so. We appreciate the support, patience & understanding. Dated Sunday 6th September.

Stay safe & have the craic safely. See you soon hopefully!






Hi All. Following on from our voluntary closure on Sunday 6th September 2020, we wish to make the following statement.

We have been notified by the HSE, that a group of people, that had attended Taylor's Bar & Beer Garden over the last weekend in August, had all tested positive for COVID-19 in the early part of the following week. The HSE has explained that the party, likely unknowingly, were at a highly contagious stage when on our premises. As is normal process in the circumstances, the HSE are responsible for following up on contact tracing via both the COVID TRACKER APP and from our contact tracing records that have been maintained as per the guidelines. The HSE has contacted everyone that was on the property in / around the time of the infected parties booking. Where the infected group sat and the time of their booking was not made known to us for privacy reasons, and we respect that.

As a precautionary measure & following HSE advice we have arranged testing for ALL Staff. We have also carried out a deep clean of the premises. We do this so that when we reopen, we will do so knowing that our staff are COVID free and the premises is as per guidelines. We will only reopen when safe to do so.

We would like to sincerely thank the HSE for their guidance, professionalism, efficiency & confidentiality in dealing with what the HSE have told us is a most unlikely & strange occurrence.

We would also like to thank our staff and all at Roost, obviously this has been a significantly difficult time for everyone involved.

As you will appreciate, we will not be making any further statement on the matter and will not be responding to individual queries on the matter as it is with the HSE to follow up with the relevant contacts as they see fit.

We hope to reopen within the next week, awaiting HSE confirmation.

This is now what they refer to as “living with COVID” and will undoubtedly happen again to us and others. We hope that our action of voluntary closure may have assisted in some way in preventing the spread further.

Our advice from all of this is 1) Download and use the COVID TRACKER APP and 2) obviously follow the HSE guidelines (and most especially when you are socialising)

We hope to see ye soon in what is likely to be the safest place in Galway this coming weekend to have some food & a glorious pint or a well made cocktail!

Big Love ❤️

Johnny & Philip

Taylor's Bar & Beer Garden

Big thanks for posting that - my other half was in Taylors that weekend and didn't know about it (neither of us are on social media) -- so they are now contacting their friends to find out more information.

I don't understand why Taylors don't specify what night the 'positive' group was there -- people need to know if they were there on the same night -- quoting privacy simply isn't good enough -- if they cut out the marketing crap from their message and give people information they need it would be much better and the minimum a 'responsible publican' should do. :mad:

LostDuck

buzz11 wrote: »

I don't understand why Taylors don't specify what night the 'positive' group was there -- people need to know if they were there on the same night

Did your OH leave contact details?

As the post said, they've handed contacts over and the HSE has contacted those that were there at the time.

Fitz*

buzz11 wrote: »

Big thanks for posting that - my other half was in Taylors that weekend and didn't know about it (neither of us are on social media) -- so they are now contacting their friends to find out more information.

I don't understand why Taylors don't specify what night the 'positive' group was there -- people need to know if they were there on the same night -- quoting privacy simply isn't good enough -- if they cut out the marketing crap from their message and give people information they need it would be much better and the minimum a 'responsible publican' should do. :mad:

But Taylor's answered both of your questions.

"The HSE has contacted everyone that was on the property in / around the time of the infected parties booking."

"Where the infected group sat and the time of their booking was not made known to us for privacy reasons, and we respect that."

I think Taylor's handled it very well to be honest. They were quick to act originally, transparent to the public and are undertaking extra measures to ensure the safety of future customers. And knowing Phil, he will do even more again in future. And btw, I have no connection to Taylor's. My last visit to the place was not exactly satisfactory to myself but the staff were sticking to the rules very strictly to be fair to them so I find it hard to criticise and would not knock them because of it. So i can only praise them after what has transpired since. I'll be back there again too as it's a great pub, with excellent staff.

Mrs OBumble

inisboffin wrote: »

Why would they not tell Taylors the time of booking? At very least people who were booked in earlier, or staff who worked earlier wouldn't have to be put through worry.

They may not know what time it was.

If the HSE told them the time, they could effectively be telling them which group it was (if there was only one group of at that time).

ax530

Lots places do not note the time when taking contact details presume this is reason why.
HSE will only limit to day.
However if you had the app would know by getting or not getting a notification.

buzz11

LostDuck wrote: »

Did your OH leave contact details?

As the post said, they've handed contacts over and the HSE has contacted those that were there at the time.

Yes contact details were left.

Anyway it turns out the night in question was Friday and my OH wasn't there that night.

Mrs OBumble

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

They may not know what time it was.

If the HSE told them the time, they could effectively be telling them which group it was (if there was only one group of at that time).

They should be telling them which group it was.

This hiding facts is a load of sh*t. Patient confidentiality my hole, it’s needless and preventing people from understanding if they are at risk it not.

Full details on confirmed cases should be available as needed.

LostDuck

ax530 wrote: »

Lots places do not note the time when taking contact details presume this is reason why.
HSE will only limit to day.
However if you had the app would know by getting or not getting a notification.

I think they're meant to note arrival times? Both to aid in contact tracing and presumably for inspections to ensure groups haven't been in all day.

LostDuck

Fernando Muscular Sibilant wrote: »

This hiding facts is a load of sh*t. Patient confidentiality my hole, it’s needless and preventing people from understanding if they are at risk it not.

How?

If HSE can contact everyone affected based on the contact details left then why does the pub need to know who the group was?

Think of the damage that could cause when the HSE email gets shared across social media that "Jenny Blogs, Joe Public and Galway Ger" are positive for Covid 19.

biko

If it's ok with everyone I'm considering merging the Covid News and Chat threads as they have become quite indistinguishable from each other.


Update - done 15 Sept

LostDuck

LostDuck wrote: »

How?

If HSE can contact everyone affected based on the contact details left then why does the pub need to know who the group was?

Think of the damage that could cause when the HSE email gets shared across social media that "Jenny Blogs, Joe Public and Galway Ger" are positive for Covid 19.

I’m not seeing the issue with knowing who has covid, it will make it very easy to ensure those who are positive are avoided etc.

The fact is that it is known anyway. There have been very few covid cases in my area and everyone knows by name who they are as it spreads around the WhatsApp groups and word is passed on among neighbours, friends etc.

Fitz*

Ryann Gentle Newscaster wrote: »

They should be telling them which group it was.

This hiding facts is a load of sh*t. Patient confidentiality my hole, it’s needless and preventing people from understanding if they are at risk it not.

Full details on confirmed cases should be available as needed.

And how would you feel if the whole City was told publicly that you have COVID, you spread it around your friend group and the bar, which resulted in the closure of the bar and put the city at risk for further spread. Would people avoid you for weeks and months after it? It is simply not fair.

As was said, the people unknowingly had the virus and did not intentionally spread it. Hopefully they can make a full recovery and not suffer public shame and vilification like you want to placed on their (young) shoulders. Any potential people at risk were already contacted, privately. There is no need for a public release of this information also. The people that need to know, already do.

Fitz*

Fitz* wrote: »

And how would you feel if the whole City was told publicly that you have COVID, you spread it around your friend group and the bar, which resulted in the closure of the bar and put the city at risk for further spread. Would people avoid you for weeks and months after it? It is simply not fair.

As was said, the people unknowingly had the virus and did not intentionally spread it. Hopefully they can make a full recovery and not suffer public shame and vilification like you want to placed on their (young) shoulders. Any potential people at risk were already contacted, privately. There is no need for a public release of this information also. The people that need to know, already do.

Since I haven’t eaten in a restaurant nor drank in a pub since March I would have nothing to worry about. You are taking a big risk going to places like pubs and restaurants and if you catch it or spread it maybe you deserve to be named.

Might make people think twice about taking the unnecessary risks of eating out etc.

As I said in my other post, word gets around anyway in local areas and look at how public figures have it announced if they have it. There is no need to hide who has it.

xckjoo

Fernando Muscular Sibilant wrote: »

I’m not seeing the issue with knowing who has covid, it will make it very easy to ensure those who are positive are avoided etc.

The fact is that it is known anyway. There have been very few covid cases in my area and everyone knows by name who they are as it spreads around the WhatsApp groups and word is passed on among neighbours, friends etc.

You don't want a precedent of medical information being publicly available. Dangerous road to go down. I personally wouldn't mind if people knew I had COVID but once that door is opened, it'll be opened again for other "special circumstances".

xckjoo

Fernando Muscular Sibilant wrote: »

Since I haven’t eaten in a restaurant nor drank in a pub since March I would have nothing to worry about. You are taking a big risk going to places like pubs and restaurants and if you catch it or spread it maybe you deserve to be named.

Might make people think twice about taking the unnecessary risks of eating out etc.

As I said in my other post, word gets around anyway in local areas and look at how public figures have it announced if they have it. There is no need to hide who has it.

There's a difference between local gossip and public policy to publish peoples medical info. Nor do we want a system that uses medical info to punish/persuade people to behave in a certain way.

LostDuck

Nox if people were named and shamed like that... how do you think that'd affect people with symptoms getting checked and showing up for tests?

Space Dog

Fernando Muscular Sibilant wrote: »

They should be telling them which group it was.

This hiding facts is a load of sh*t. Patient confidentiality my hole, it’s needless and preventing people from understanding if they are at risk it not.

Full details on confirmed cases should be available as needed.

Great idea, and how about we force people who had Covid to wear something like a yellow C on their clothes or something? So everyone knows they were "bad" when they're out and about? Like The Scarlet Letter? Might deter others! Sure, it was done in Germany in the 1940s, what could go wrong?

JoeA3

Why are ye even entertaining him? Crazy ideas, no bearing in the real world. Nothing new.

Space Dog

JoeA3 wrote: »

Why are ye even entertaining him? Crazy ideas, no bearing in the real world. Nothing new.

I think some people just need to be shown how ridiculous they are.

biko

Please drop the naming of people with covid, that won't happen.

Onwards and upwards.

DVDM93

ah so it was you biko, I knew it!

inisboffin

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

They may not know what time it was.

If the HSE told them the time, they could effectively be telling them which group it was (if there was only one group of at that time).

I see others didn't have to give a time when they were there in some places, I always have in the few places I've been in and I assume this was to narrow down the contact list for people exposed.

I didn't mean Taylors not disclosing time, I meant HSE disclosing time to Taylors. Yes you are right they might know, but so might any business that say had only one group in the day, knew all the customers etc.

With staff rotas too, I would wonder if HSE knew those? And thats what I meant about unnecessary worry too.

I was not alone in my peer group for a 4+ week for a contact tracing phone call for elderly relatives, and that has burned me a little. I accept that it may have improved but I don't accept it was an unusual occurrence to wait longer than 'advertised'.

I think Taylors did everything right, its' just odd that the extra time info wasn't supplied to them, and I think perhaps unusual that all parties tested positive. Also I suppose a group could just be two people?

LostDuck

inisboffin wrote: »

I see others didn't have to give a time when they were there in some places, I always have in the few places I've been in and I assume this was to narrow down the contact list for people exposed.

I don't understand this bit, you don't give a time - the staff are to note the arrival time next to the name and phone number for the group.

_Whimsical_

I know a party of people who went to Taylors for a small birthday celebration before it closed and all have since tested positive for Covid, thankfully all are symptom free. It was more than 2 people. Just goes to show how transmissible it is!

One told me they were aware that at least one staff member had received a positive covid test by the time the post was made by the bar about a member of staff having been a close contact of a case. Now just to stress this is by the time the post was made, they were not aware of their positive status while serving customers. If this is true I think the bar should have admitted it in their initial post so customers might have been more likely to isolate and get tested. The people I know are all symptom free but isolating anyway, however who knows how many more were affected if a staff member was unknowingly positive and those people may also be symptom free and brought it out into the community.

_Whimsical_

Yesterday the Latin Quarter facebook shared a post highlighting an article by an elderly GP claiming Covid was as inconsequential as a flu and that measures to prevent it are draconian. This article was discredited by the HSE on nearly all news broadcasts yesterday but the Latin Quarter failed to add any info stating that even though it was pointed out to them in some replies. It attracted 21 shares and over 80 likes.

I feel a little uncomfortable that people who we are entrusting with a public health and safety role do not to realise they should only be promoting virus information that is approved by HSE at the moment. Pubs and businesses are being put in a weird position of trying to balance their own needs with wider societies needs. I don't think we can trust them enough to make them guardians of our safety, we'll all have to speak up where we see breaches to keep ourselves and others safe too.

Private Joker

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

Yesterday the Latin Quarter facebook shared a post highlighting an article by an elderly GP claiming Covid was as inconsequential as a flu and that measures to prevent it are draconian. This article was discredited by the HSE on nearly all news broadcasts yesterday but the Latin Quarter failed to add any info stating that even though it was pointed out to them in some replies. It attracted 21 shares and over 80 likes.

I feel a little uncomfortable that people who we are entrusting with a public health and safety role do not to realise they should only be promoting virus information that is approved by HSE at the moment. Pubs and businesses are being put in a weird position of trying to balance their own needs with wider societies needs. I don't think we can trust them enough to make them guardians of our safety, we'll all have to speak up where we see breaches to keep ourselves and others safe too.

People will always listen to whatever source suits their agenda.

Mrs OBumble

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

I feel a little uncomfortable that people who we are entrusting with a public health and safety role do not to realise they should only be promoting virus information that is approved by HSE at the moment. .

The Latin Quarter is a marketing organisation. They are not a pub, they are not responsible for anyone's health and safety, except their own staff.

_Whimsical_

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

The Latin Quarter is a marketing organisation. They are not a pub, they are not responsible for anyone's health and safety, except their own staff.

They are marketing for pubs and restaurants mostly. They should be more mindful of the responsibilities those businesses have, and that those responsibilities outweigh the importance of their bottom line right now. We hit the skids, they close down, serves everyone for them to act responsibly and encourage others too.

LostDuck

I see Casinos are to remain closed throughout the new 6-9 month plan. How come the casinos in Salthill managed to open during the summer and continue to stay open...?

Laviski

well you could say the same for Ikea, went in there recently and easily 600-700 people inside with a further 500 queuing.
Limit indoors 50/100?????

how is that allowed?