Covid 19 Part XXXV-956,720 ROI (5,952 deaths) 452,946 NI (3,002 deaths) (08/01) Read OP

fits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204266#Comment_118204266

My mother in law didn’t bother with pcr after positive antigen. Her GP told her she didn’t need to. Father in law had already tested positive and they were isolating anyway. They were quite sick but seem to be over it now - thank goodness for vaccines.

fits

@shesty we have tuned out of it too. I watch euro news the odd time to see what’s going on elsewhere but rarely consume Irish radio or tv news. Mindless stuff on Netflix is great.

i genuinely feel sorry for nightclub and pub industry too. If places could run antigen testing on entry wouldn’t that help things a little?

VinLieger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118203742#Comment_118203742

So all the people in the health service who had it twice prior to the vaccinations are lying?

lawred2

I like how Tony doesn't trust those medical card holders.. freeloaders would only be stockpiling the antigen tests.

He's some card is our Tony.

Yet many still revere him

is_that_so

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204323#Comment_118204323

TBH we shouldn't be in a situation where the CMO gets so much media coverage on a single topic. It's not his job to be stating what he thinks should be government policy. The position of NPHET and others on antigen tests is well known and doesn't need to be aired continuously. The government decision has been made and we move on.

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204323#Comment_118204323

Mad illogical stuff once again from the CMO and Government.

People on the medical card are probably the group that need to go to work just to eat so in turn aren't likely to spend money on something like this.

Why can't we give them an allowance of tests per week or something. Himself and Nolan are totally out of touch with reality.

the kelt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204393#Comment_118204393

He’s in the radio this morning claiming this surge has nothing to do with waning immunity and is being caused by socialisation…. But everyone needs to get a booster when offered!!

I mean this is almost trolling at this stage, surely everyone can see this now?

is_that_so

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118203815#Comment_118203815

No it doesn't but it will pick up some. It's an extra tool, one we probably should have been using for months. Mass PCR testing also doesn't mean you'll catch all cases out there. Some may just never be found.

another great lecture to the plebs from the sainted one on the airwaves.don’t question his lordship

is_that_so

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204407#Comment_118204407

That I mind less as it is the standard public health message, it's the presumption that his advice should be government policy. Last year both NPHET and the government pulled the same way but since October they seem to have pushed out their own boat and got people's backs up.

celt262

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118203742#Comment_118203742

They are well aware of it.

Leftwaffe

Tony issuing decrees from the peoples radio early on a Monday morning, no better way to start off the week.

JRant

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204012#Comment_118204012

The important part is whether people are isolating after a positive antigen test. Unless you need a PCR for work or school then it makes zero sense to have positive people heading to busy test centres. The messaging is all wrong again, something they have been consistent with.

shesty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118203975#Comment_118203975

I am in this situation.Preschooler and Junior infant and 1st class.It is extremely hard, moreso than many people realise. So I have to deal with what's in front of me, any commentary from the powers that be, I ignore.

You'd go mad if you didn't.

Timmy O Toole

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118203281#Comment_118203281

There was 193 in ICU and 1,800 in hospital last January with room for more

Rebelbrowser

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204414#Comment_118204414

For the first 6 months of the pandemic I thought TH was an excellent communicator. He obviously got masks wrong but got a lot right, even when going against the grain. But then he obviously had his personal tragedy and since he has returned he has been a different person (or maybe the mask slipped, I don't know). All I know is every time I hear him now I really feel like doing the direct opposite of what he says just to spite him (and yes that's puerile and spiteful). He really does just lecture down to us now, it's awful communicating. On Newstalk Ciara Kelly (of whom I'm no huge fan either) mentioned masks etc to him and he just aggressively defends everything NPHET have ever done. It would be a lot more effective if he showed a bit of humility and accepted they'd made some mistakes.

On a more micro level, his position on PCR tests might make sense if you could actually get any. However I just looked out of curiosity for Cork about 20 mins ago and there were no appointments in Cork city and surrounds today or tomorrow. There were still some appointments in Dunmanway tomorrow afternoon, but that's well over an over from the city (think of a Dub going to Mullingar or somewhere for a test). So if I have a sniffle in Cork today, and really don't think it's Covid, TH thinks I should self isolate until Wednesday, get (hopefully) a PCR test then and continue to self isolate until I hopefully get my result back on Thursday. NO ONE IS GOING TO DO THIS IF THEY BELIEVE IT ISNT COVID. Instead they can either take an antigen test and, as they are symptomatic, probably get the correct result, or alternatively they can do what NPHETs advice will cause most people to do when PCR is unavailable, namely they will go about their normal business not knowing if they have Covid or not and possibly spread the damn thing further. Good stuff Tony....

Supercell

So dont use the antigen test, get a PCR instead..OK so I'll book one, oh wait..

Maybe need to rethink antigen testing?

Royale with Cheese

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204601#Comment_118204601

It started before his extended absence in 2020. That summer when cases were extremely low the government started making noises about opening up some limited EU travel, Tony immediately took to his own Twitter account to tell the public to stay put that summer (complete contradiction to actual government advice). Every time he doesn't get his own way on anything he's advising it's straight to RTE or Twitter for him, he's still at it now with the antigen tests.

Doctor Jimbob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204640#Comment_118204640

This is just it. They want people to stay away from work, school, or wherever else until they get a test that isn't available. Now that's grand for anyone working from home, but there are plenty of workplaces where people still need to be in attendance. There are plenty of managers who wouldn't look too kindly on staff taking a day or two off while they wait for advice. I think most people understand that getting a PCR test is ideal, but for a lot of people, it just isn't a practical option at the moment. Antigen tests have a higher false negative rate, we all know that at this stage, but by getting behind them, we'd still stop a significant amount of people with COVID from spreading it. It wouldn't catch everyone, but it would be a hell of a lot better than nothing - and with the lack of PCR availability, nothing is literally the only other option for a lot of people.

In an ideal world where anyone can take time off or work from home until they get a PCR test and wait for the results to come back, NPHET's advice on antigen tests makes perfect sense. Unfortunately, we don't live in an ideal world. That seems to be forgotten or ignored a lot of the time when this conversation comes up.

seamus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204587#Comment_118204587

This morning there are 684 in hospital, which is an increase of just 15 on yesterday. In fact, it's an increase of just 2 overnight. These are really good numbers at this point; Sunday night/Monday morning tends to be a bad time for admissions - people who tried to stick it out over the weekend but wake up on Monday morning realising that they can't cope alone.

We have quite a decent bit of runway in hospitals at the moment. As you quite rightly point out, today our hospital numbers are a third of what they were at the peak in January (~2,200), and at current hospitalisation rates we are likely not in danger of coming hitting 1,000 people in hospital before Xmas.

ICUs are busy, but we currently have 18 free ICU beds*, and surge capacity for 50-70 more. After a period of ICU increases at the start of November, this seems to have slowed to a net 1-2 new admissions per day. So how this will play out over the next 10 days is still hard to say. The booster programme is what will pay the most dividends in this area.

*This is not good, but it's also not out of the ordinary. Irish ICUs operate on an average 90% occupancy over the entire year, usually being completely full during the winter one way or another. The fact that ICUs are 95% full does not mean that our hospitals are on the verge of collapse.

For the first 6 months of the pandemic I thought TH was an excellent communicator.

The wheels have really come off over the last few weeks. The communication from everyone is a mess, it's confusing, sometimes contradictory, and sometimes condescending. Holohan admitted this morning that closing nightclubs early is probably having no effect.

Wolf359f

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204266#Comment_118204266

I read the article, but had you have explained who and what it would have made more sence. Dumping a link and being very vague with your rage makes it difficult to figure it out. I thought for a second it was the scare the bajayus reference in the article.

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204715#Comment_118204715

Exactly. Based on these figures any talk of further restrictions or closures are premature and only serving a certain agenda. I think the Government and NPHET are in for a surprise with peoples attitudes. They have lost a large cohort of vaccinated people due to their fudging and scaremongering and will only lost more. If things deteriorate after Xmas then they will have no hope of selling any message to the public.

Russman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204666#Comment_118204666

Would those same managers look kindly on staff attending with symptoms though ? Its probably a wider debate than COVID in fairness !

Someone with, say, flu, still shouldn't be going into work just because its not COVID. While totally agreeing with you re the availability of PCR tests, or lack of.

Sweet.Science

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204715#Comment_118204715

All true .My main concern is that as you say we are over capacity every Winter. The HSE now have a way to ease that pressure like they wished they had since 2017.

shesty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204666#Comment_118204666

The messages I have picked up in recent weeks are (mainly headlines I admit, I avoid reading most articles, but some stuff gets discussed on Whatsapp groups and similar):

Antigens tests are ok to use if you use them over 3 or 4 days repeatedly (or continuously week on week if needed at work). (From the HSE Close contacts advice, when they are meant to send you antigens. Which have never shown up).

Antigen tests are always wrong, never use them.

If you get a negative antigen, but have symptoms, you should go get a PCR anyway.

We are going to use antigens in schools. But only from second class up. Only where there is a positive case in a pod. We'll post them out to you if your child is a close contact (don't expect them to arrive!!!). Parents don't have to use them, it's not obligatory. Nobody will record the results. Keep your child at home if they have symptoms. ANY symptoms. Of anything.

(the most recent personal favourite, courtesy of Holohan I believe)...If you have symptoms, and you get a negative PCR - isolate for 2 to 3 days anyway.

So what I'm hearing is antigens are useless, PCRs are unreliable, and vaccines are...what? And the other conclusion I am drawing is that Holohan/NPHET etc, do not live in the real world and have no idea how absolutely impractical half this advice is when dealing with real life, real jobs, real schools and the works.

They have absolutely lost me and many others. I have no clue what they are trying to do. But I do know I went to buy antigens locally at the weekend and they were sold out - said they had sold in the order of hundreds on a single day. So people are using them, regardless of what NPHET think.

fits

In fairness to them they are trying to keep everything moving and open. This is probably the most difficult period of the pandemic so far to manage. But yeah I have no idea what the official advice is anymore. But we are using antigen tests, pcr tests, isolating with symptoms and going to our amazing gp for advice. I’ve tuned out of a lot of the messaging too so can’t blame others for doing the same.

I see sheep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204027#Comment_118204027

They would have been either vaccinated/recovered/negative test to get on the plane - so I don't think it matters much does it?

firemansam4

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118203784#Comment_118203784

Its strange how people against vaccines all seem to know how its only vaccinated people getting ill and dying which is against all we hear from people working in the hospitals and what statistics are saying.

Can you please provide some credible proof of how the vaccine is increasingly being revealed as dodgy please?

BTW im not blaming unvaxed people for the mess we are in now, but im starting to get fed up with the mis-information being posted by some people on hear now when it comes to vaccines.

floorpie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204870#Comment_118204870

Its strange how people against vaccines all seem to know how its only vaccinated people getting ill and dying which is against all we hear from people working in the hospitals and what statistics are saying.

95% of adults are vaccinated, and unvaccinated people are overrepresented in marginalised communities that most people would have no exposure to. So this makes sense, no?

Psychedelic Hedgehog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118203784#Comment_118203784

A respiratory consultant who works in the NHS begs to differ with you.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/21/icu-is-full-of-the-unvaccinated-my-patience-with-them-is-wearing-thin