Coronavirus

Heighway61

Very disappointing today. Seems to me there isn't the same respect for the situation this time around. I remember the last lockdown when hardly a car went past my house all day, literally two or three. This time the road is as busy as a normal no-lockdown day.

I wonder is the cluster in the hospital large. One nurse from the hospital who spent the day working in Ballyraine Health Centre tested positive and the Centre is now closed. I'd say in a days work in a busy GP surgery a nurse would see quite a number of patients.

Possibly something up with testing and/or reporting with some recent wildly varying numbers.

NIMAN

It's not the same type of lockdown this time round though, and it's seen in how busy the roads are.

It's estimated 50% of the economy is still open.

1st time round it was basically food shops and chemists and that was it. This time from what I can see a lot of places are chancing their arms and there back up to tell places to close.

RobMc59

Heighway61 wrote: »

Very disappointing today. Seems to me there isn't the same respect for the situation this time around. I remember the last lockdown when hardly a car went past my house all day, literally two or three. This time the road is as busy as a normal no-lockdown day.

I wonder is the cluster in the hospital large. One nurse from the hospital who spent the day working in Ballyraine Health Centre tested positive and the Centre is now closed. I'd say in a days work in a busy GP surgery a nurse would see quite a number of patients.

Possibly something up with testing and/or reporting with some recent wildly varying numbers.

I think you're doing a pretty good job over there and wish we were being as on the ball over here in England.

Heighway61

RobMc59 wrote: »

I think you're doing a pretty good job over there and wish we were being as on the ball over here in England.

Yeah, some of the stuff shown on BBC and Sky news was a bit mad. Crowds out on a big piss up last night and tonight before the lockdown kicks in. Might have been outside but they were packed together.

NIMAN

NIMAN wrote: »

It's not the same type of lockdown this time round though, and it's seen in how busy the roads are.

It's estimated 50% of the economy is still open.

1st time round it was basically food shops and chemists and that was it. This time from what I can see a lot of places are chancing their arms and there back up to tell places to close.

I think it depends where you are, Niman. I just checked the incidence rate for my LEA, and it's 79.4!

Its pretty quiet around here, busier than the last lockdown, but still quiet.

Previous rate for this area was 121 or so, so, thankfully rates are dropping.

I hope tonight's cases are due to the cluster in LGH, and possibly some results coming through for yesterday.

Yesterday's results were just too good to be true, tbh.

Still, the overall rate in the County is dropping, so, thats good news!

Here's hoping it keeps dropping!

muffler

Numbers are well down today nationally and at local level here we have 20 new cases. Unfortunately it still leaves us on top of the 14 day incidence rate ... and well on top of it. 275.9 compared to the next highest, Limerick, on 213.4 and miles ahead of Dublin on 173.7.

I suppose the outbreak at LUH and the increased figures in Buncrana/Inishowen are contributing to those figures.

JoannieG

muffler wrote: »

I suppose the outbreak at LUH and the increased figures in Buncrana/Inishowen are contributing to those figures.

Any word on how many cases have been attributed to the outbreak at LUH?

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Is there actually an outbreak at LUH or just a lot of Covid patients in the hospital at the moment?

JoannieG

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Is there actually an outbreak at LUH or just a lot of Covid patients in the hospital at the moment?

Highland Radio confirmed that there was an outbreak there but no figures were given.

Donegal Storm

muffler wrote: »

Numbers are well down today nationally and at local level here we have 20 new cases. Unfortunately it still leaves us on top of the 14 day incidence rate ... and well on top of it. 275.9 compared to the next highest, Limerick, on 213.4 and miles ahead of Dublin on 173.7.

I suppose the outbreak at LUH and the increased figures in Buncrana/Inishowen are contributing to those figures.

Any idea how they're doing in Derry/Strabane these days? The north is still recording far more cases per capita than we are so wouldn't be surprised if it's still a big factor in why our cases have stayed stubbornly high

RobMc59

Donegal Storm wrote: »

Any idea how they're doing in Derry/Strabane these days? The north is still recording far more cases per capita than we are so wouldn't be surprised if it's still a big factor in why our cases have stayed stubbornly high

According to this link the Derry/Strabane infection rate has dropped significantly.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-54869861

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Donegal Storm wrote: »

Any idea how they're doing in Derry/Strabane these days? The north is still recording far more cases per capita than we are so wouldn't be surprised if it's still a big factor in why our cases have stayed stubbornly high

Derry/Strabane have had 392 cases in the last 7 days. Two of the areas bordering them to the east, Causway Coast and Glens, and Mid Ulster, have had 339 and 418 cases in the same period of time, and seem to have the biggest numbers. Given Derry/Strabane was the worst area in the entire UK for a while there, you'd assume it's had the same effect on their neighbours in the other direction too.

Donegal Storm

RobMc59 wrote: »

According to this link the Derry/Strabane infection rate has dropped significantly.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-54869861

Interesting, even though its dropped by 70% their rate is still 279 per 100k which is near identical to our own rate

Heighway61

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Is there actually an outbreak at LUH or just a lot of Covid patients in the hospital at the moment?

It's not too good in there with regard to staff infections. They are under pressure with the number of positive and isolating. A colleague of my wife has tested positive, some of the patients she tended my wife also tended. The patients are to be tested and if any are positive my wife will be tested. She's waiting for the call.

Spread has also occurred from the hopital out into the home "runs".

Admission is a last resort and discharge a first. Discharge is happening too early in the opinion of some.

Donegal Storm

Another 48 today, our incidence rate is actually increasing and is now more than double the national average and 50% higher than the next worst county

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

The numbers here are really annoying. We should be at the point now where we're really seeing the impact of Level 5 but instead they're going up. RTE quoting one of the Lifford doctors as blaming the easy access to the North and the fact there's limited restrictions there.

malinheader

Rest of the country looking at hopefully decreasing to level 3 for Christmas.
Is there a possibility if the North eases restrictions further and Donegal continues the way it' is we might be the only county at level 5 for Christmas.

But does it really matter when you can just cross an imaginary border and do all the shopping you want.

jonnygee

I dont think shoppers should be blamed especially. Cross border shopper numbers are way way down on pre covid numbers. Even then they were low because of high sterling.
Most people that i know who cross the border have to cross because they work there and have no choice.
Could it be that that Donegal has amongst the highest number of cross border workers along the border with the six counties.
Is it even fact that it is being brought in from there or is it because of something else.

Nollog

I'll tell you what's to blame, downstairs from me on both sides having loud gatherings with people coming and going.
Almost nightly. Garda show up 2 hours late and stop outside, then leave immediately. Given up on that shower.

Is anyone taking it seriously?

slimboyfat

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

The numbers here are really annoying. We should be at the point now where we're really seeing the impact of Level 5 but instead they're going up. RTE quoting one of the Lifford doctors as blaming the easy access to the North and the fact there's limited restrictions there.

If that was the case, the numbers would be high in all the border counties

slimboyfat

jonnygee wrote: »

I dont think shoppers should be blamed especially. Cross border shopper numbers are way way down on pre covid numbers. Even then they were low because of high sterling.
Most people that i know who cross the border have to cross because they work there and have no choice.
Could it be that that Donegal has amongst the highest number of cross border workers along the border with the six counties.
Is it even fact that it is being brought in from there or is it because of something else.

I have to agree with this more sensible point of view

muffler

slimboyfat wrote: »

If that was the case, the numbers would be high in all the border counties

But all other border counties do not have the same high population levels in close proximity to them.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

slimboyfat wrote: »

If that was the case, the numbers would be high in all the border counties

Not all the border counties are bordering the area of NI that had the highest infection rates in the UK, possibly the world, at one point. Derry/Strabane have big populations and are literally the closest big towns/cities to several parts of Donegal. I'm not sure you'd get the same levels of movement from people in Monaghan, for example, going to Enniskillen or Armagh to do their weekly shopping, or socialise.

ednwireland

hope no ones expecting level 5 to lifted in donegal anytime soon

ednwireland

ednwireland wrote: »

hope no ones expecting level 5 to lifted in donegal anytime soon

I'm not sure it will make much difference, tbh.
I've read several comments online where people have said they're coming home for Christmas.

I know I, for one, won't dissuade my sons from returning, because they have their own house to isolate in, and we can use my daughters kitchen for Christmas Dinner. It's huge ( wish I had it!), and we can easily maintain a 2 metre distance.

I haven't seen my kids in a year, I haven't been out, except for essentials, since March.

Frankly, I'm done. No family (socially distanced) Christmas Dinner is a step too far... so, they'll pay for a test, they'll isolate for the 5 days - but we will have Christmas Dinner.

slimboyfat

ednwireland wrote: »

hope no ones expecting level 5 to lifted in donegal anytime soon

Is that your opinion or do you know something else the rest of us don't?

ednwireland

slimboyfat wrote: »

Is that your opinion or do you know something else the rest of us don't?

newspapers full of articles over the weekend, basically saying donegal might stay at level 5 due to the 14 day rate. it was in the sunday times yesterday (but cant link to that ) so i know nothing apart form news articles

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/donegal-at-risk-of-longer-lockdown-as-virus-rate-remains-high-39741764.html

https://www.buzz.ie/news/donegal-lockdown-could-be-extended-over-virus-rates-399816

NIMAN

I wonder what it is that's keeping Donegal numbers high?

People are blaming the border, but if that was the case wouldn't all border counties be as high?

Maybe the Donegal Derry border sees higher amount of traffic than other border areas?

I was out a walk on our local beach yesterday and it was full of Derry reg cars.

Or maybe it's just that Donegal folk generally have a more 'don't give a damn attitude' than others? I was in a hardware store about an hour ago and 2 tradesmen in their 40s were dandering around the compact shop with no masks. I Would prefer if guards did the odd random walk into shops, supermarkets etc and issue on the spot fines for such people. Perhaps they do? But I doubt it.

madalig12

Funerals. Carndonagh. Saturday. One of the worst areas for covid. Big crowd outside the house/walking behind coffin. No social distancing only about 5/6 wearing masks. How stupid are people?

NIMAN

Funny i had heard funerals mentioned a few times this last week or two.

It appears people are ignoring the rules when it comes to them, wakes etc.