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We are at a Sliding Doors juncture in the epidemic, partly fueled by misconceptions.
The signs today suggest this could be about to get a whole lot worse.
How this goes from here is up to our behaviour. Redouble all your efforts on hand washing, social distancing, thank you.
The signs today suggest this could be about to get a whole lot worse.
How this goes from here is up to our behaviour. Redouble all your efforts on hand washing, social distancing, thank you.
Last 48 hours:
Tests completed: 21,990
Positives: 258
Negativity rate: 98.9%
There's good and bad news contained above.
To test 22,000 people and find 21,750 are negative is reassuring that the virus has not disappeared out-of-sight.
Tests completed: 21,990
Positives: 258
Negativity rate: 98.9%
There's good and bad news contained above.
To test 22,000 people and find 21,750 are negative is reassuring that the virus has not disappeared out-of-sight.
These were also mostly targeted tests of close contacts and at-risk people, where you would expect to find more positives.
But are you happy with 130 positives every day, regardless of why or how? I'm not.
That's not good news, at all, on that level.
But are you happy with 130 positives every day, regardless of why or how? I'm not.
That's not good news, at all, on that level.
What this highlights is one of the biggest problems we are facing.
It's a behavioural problem.
People are having too many close contacts. The average for recent positives is 6 close contacts, but some people who tested positive had 20 or 30.
This is far, far too high.
It's a behavioural problem.
People are having too many close contacts. The average for recent positives is 6 close contacts, but some people who tested positive had 20 or 30.
This is far, far too high.
I don't even know 20 people well enough to talk to them in person for 15 minutes.
That some of you have so many friends and family is wonderful but it's not helping contact tracers.
We must reduce close contacts. This limits the potential spread of the virus.
That some of you have so many friends and family is wonderful but it's not helping contact tracers.
We must reduce close contacts. This limits the potential spread of the virus.
University Hospital Limerick has 2 confirmed Covid19 cases today and that might sound pretty great.
They also have 55 suspected Covid19 and 30 people on a trolley.
In the highly unlikely event all 55 were positive, that 2 becomes 57 instantly.
Still sound so good?
They also have 55 suspected Covid19 and 30 people on a trolley.
In the highly unlikely event all 55 were positive, that 2 becomes 57 instantly.
Still sound so good?
People talk about respect for doctors and nurses.
If you want to show them your respect, reduce your close contacts.
You don't need to be in gatherings of 30 people, during a pandemic, and the place that behaviour leads is into a hospital.
If not for you, for someone else.
If you want to show them your respect, reduce your close contacts.
You don't need to be in gatherings of 30 people, during a pandemic, and the place that behaviour leads is into a hospital.
If not for you, for someone else.
Misconceptions fuel this behaviour:
"You're safe from Covid19 in warm weather."
Take one look at the devastation in the Amazon to know that heat and humidity are small factors in transmission, regardless of how they impact viability of virus.
Huge factors are human behaviour.
"You're safe from Covid19 in warm weather."
Take one look at the devastation in the Amazon to know that heat and humidity are small factors in transmission, regardless of how they impact viability of virus.
Huge factors are human behaviour.
In Ireland, we don't tend to throw BBQ's and garden parties in gale force wind and driving rain.
Warm weather leads us to congregate in bigger groups.
You're safer outdoors than indoors with the virus - but that's assuming congregation stays outdoors, which often it doesn't.
Warm weather leads us to congregate in bigger groups.
You're safer outdoors than indoors with the virus - but that's assuming congregation stays outdoors, which often it doesn't.
Sweltering heat brings younger people out.
It also keeps the elderly indoors to try stay cool - precisely where they are most vulnerable.
We are not protecting the elderly if we continue to swell infection in the community. It will reach them again.
It also keeps the elderly indoors to try stay cool - precisely where they are most vulnerable.
We are not protecting the elderly if we continue to swell infection in the community. It will reach them again.
Old people indoors on this beautiful day are relying on us to get on top of this, even if they aren't aware of it.
-Small groups (<10 people, ideally 5)
-Masks, especially indoor near others
-If you can remember how many times you washed your hands yesterday, it's not enough.
-Small groups (<10 people, ideally 5)
-Masks, especially indoor near others
-If you can remember how many times you washed your hands yesterday, it's not enough.
The sun will not save us from our recklessness. UV rays will not shield us from our selfishness.
Human behaviour is all that matters. What we all choose to do.
There's too many good people, from nurses to elderly, relying on us to get this right.
Stay the distance on this.
Human behaviour is all that matters. What we all choose to do.
There's too many good people, from nurses to elderly, relying on us to get this right.
Stay the distance on this.
