Dr Cillian de Gascun, Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory

This afternoon.

Tests reportedly show a case of the Omicron coronavirus variant has been confirmed in Ireland.

Via RTÉ:

The tests were conducted at the National Virus Reference Laboratory.

Dr Cillian de Gascun told a technical briefing of the National Public Health Emergency Team that 14 samples were analysed over the weekend.

Eight of the samples underwent whole genome sequencing and one of those eight was confirmed as having the Omicron variant on Tuesday.

Dr De Gascun said it is a travel associated case to one of designated countries, which have confirmed cases of Omicron.

Case of Omicron variant confirmed in Ireland (RTÉ)

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65 thoughts on “O’Micron

    1. I can't stand the rain

      I certainly hope so!
      Life is pretty unbearable listening to all these fringe whingers

    2. SOQ

      If it is a less virulent variant then surely that is a good thing?

      Or has positivity been banned altogether?

          1. Cian

            That is my point.
            If it is less serious in the elderly but more serious in the young it will be a bad thing.

            If it is less serious in the elderly and the same (or less) serious in the younger then it will be a good thing.

          2. Nigel

            Not exactly ‘not serious,’ though, unless you’re getting particularly callous about statistics. Rates of serious illness must have been higher, too, and what are the global figures?

          3. Micko

            5707 over 88 weeks is about 9 people a day if you average it out.

            Considering that about 70-90 people die every day in Ireland anyway.

            Yes, it’s not a big deal.

          4. Nigel

            They all died from the same, novel, highly communicable disease, many who survived did so thanks to advances in modern medicine but will suffer long term effects, numbers were arguably kept low due to pandemic measures, and in the course of the current wave of infections, numbers of deaths in highly vaccinated countries like ours are so far remaining considerably lower than in countries with lower vaccination rates. I realise none, or few, of these details are real to you, but it’s worth keeping them in mind.

          5. Micko

            “I realise none, or few, of these details are real to you,”

            Great.

            Let’s say you’re right about everything and I’m completely wrong about everything. Totally could be – I’m only human.

            The facts are:

            3 people a day died in November from Covid.

            Now is that an emergency to you?

            Do you think that the government seeking to extend EMERGENCY powers until the middle of next year, when there clearly hasn’t been an emergency for a while now is not worrying?

            Can you never admit that you might be wrong?

            And that every little bit of your freedom you’re giving away now is going to comeback around and bite you in the ass?

          6. Nigel

            In the context of everything that I said that you magnanimously allowed to be true, as if you are the gatekeeper of truth,as if anything i said was not true, then yes, there is still an ongoing emergency that may require emergency powers for the government to act. There are so many things currently biting us in the ass and coming down the line to bite us in the ass because of this government, and past governments, before we even get started on direct effects of the pandemic such as mental health, that your one will just have to get in line.

            ‘Can you never admit that you might be wrong?’

            Prove me wrong about something and find out.

          7. Nigel

            ‘So that’d be a ‘no’ then…. ‘

            Going by your record so far, it’s not likely to be put to the test.

  1. White Dove

    It’s typical of a pandemic that the virus mutates and becomes milder. Hopefully this is a sign we are nearing the end. Not sure what all the panic is about. Perhaps it is being exaggerated for a reason?

    1. f_lawless

      No sign of the that. Look at the latest maniacal pronouncement from the European Commission president, von der Leyen. Step by step, attempting to lead us further down a tyrannical path.

      https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/01/eu-must-consider-mandatory-covid-jabs-says-von-der-leyen

      “The EU must consider mandatory vaccination in response to the spread of the “highly contagious” Omicron Covid variant across Europe, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has said.

      ..’not each and every one can be vaccinated.. but the vast majority could and therefore, I think it is understandable and appropriate to lead this discussion now’ .”

      It’s not hard to point out flaws in her pseudologic – the vaccines weren’t designed to prevent the spread; countries with highest rates of vaccination have seen high levels of cases; Covid is a potentially serious threat to only a relatively small subset of a population, etc, etc

      But they don’t plan to let thing end before the coming digital monetary system is in place and the vast majority have been issued these blockchain digital IDs in the form of Covid digital certificates. This is the unpleasant reality we must confront.

  2. hmmm

    Wait… What ?

    You mean the Vaccine Passport system didn’t work?

    How could we not see this coming?

  3. Nilbert

    Ireland has the highest vaccination coverage and among the lowest death rates from Covid-19 in the European Union, according to new data showing that vaccination radically cuts how often people die when infected.
    Over a 14-day period Ireland had 15 deaths per million of Covid-19. In Bulgaria, which has the EU’s lowest vaccine coverage at just 29 per cent, the rate of deaths was more than 21 times higher than Ireland’s, at 325 deaths per million over a two-week period.
    Similarly in Romania, which has 43 per cent vaccination coverage, there were 267 deaths from Covid-19 per million people over a 14-day period, almost 18 times Ireland’s rate.

    In other news…
    Marcus Lamb, founder and CEO of conservative Christian broadcaster Daystar Television Network and a vocal anti-vaxxer, died at the age of 64, weeks after he tested positive for Covid-19.

    1. SOQ

      When is it going to dawn on you clowns that the efficacy of these injections wanes very quickly and that any metric must be over a prolonged period of time?

      The only way they are going to be effective is if you are jabbed every three months- are you actually going to do that?

      1. Nigel

        That’s an amazing act of completely ignoring the substance of the comment. Amazing. Not to mention the sense of absolute personal pique that people are acting like the pandemic is real and dealing with it is diffcult.

      2. Nilbert

        As usual, you ignored the point and continued with your condescending and yet hysterical ranting.
        Quite an achievement!
        I’m reluctant to answer your highly suggestive question, but yes I’ll take the booster jab (because they are massively effective in preventing death in the actual real world).
        Hopefully there will be anti-virals available early next year.
        But as long as people like you continue your bizzare campaign of misinformation, new variants are more likely to emerge, and further lockdown measures will be required, so who knows….

        1. SOQ

          There is no mis information in stating that these experimental MRNA concoctions wane over a very short period of this- this is now widely accepted. Six months ago in Israel they were touting 2 shots as a complete success and now they are regarded as useless.

          To quote 14 days is at best disingenuous when those things were sold to us as being for life.

    2. Cui Bono?

      Over 14 days means nothing – you need to look over a longer time period.

      This 14 day snap shot is a great way to mislead people though.

        1. Cui Bono?

          @Cian
          It has to be at least 1 year.

          I hope Kinzen or whoever you work for don’t give you your Xmas bonus this year. You’re not doing a very good job.

          1. Cian

            Right. So we won’t be able to asses the success of vaccines in Ireland until June 2022.
            That is useful.

      1. Nigel

        They wanted to open up completely again in October and then the current wave hit. It’s almost as if the near future is quite fraught and uncertain.

          1. Nigel

            They were dying to open up,they were sweating bullets to open up they would have opened up even with the new wave if they thought they could have gotten away with it.

          2. Nigel

            There is literally no advantage, benefit or gain from the government NOT opening up. It damages the economy, their shortcomings and mishandlings are only getting more and more obvious and prominent, the have to keep the PCR tests running, they don’t have enough subs to keep the schools going when all the teachers are getting sick, the health service is imploding and they can’t even claim they didn’t have time to fix obvious problems with it because they did, and the entire country is sick of it, so even if it’s justified for saving lives, everyone’s going to hate them and blame them and associate them with it.

        1. Cui Bono?

          @Nigel
          You only think there’s no advantage for them because you refuse to accept (or even consider) that they’ve another agenda.

          It’s a global plan to implement a Digital ID pass system. This is the future the wealthiest people, who own everything, want for us. You think it’s government incompetence but it’s not, they are taking the steps to implement it. It’s the same in most countries in the world, every government is gradually doing it to suit their people.

          Covid is the excuse to get everyone on the vaccines and the vaccines are the tool to get everyone on the Digital ID pass system. Next they are going to add passports, drivers license, and most importantly digital currency wallets and a social credit system like already in use in China, you know that big country with 1.4 billion people.

          The world “leaders” have been telling us this for 2 years now. Listen to what they’ve been saying – Tony Blair, Klaus Scwabb, Bill gates, Boris Johnson, Leo Varadker, Jacinda Ardern, Macron, WEF young leaders graduates, all countries, even Sweden.

          1. Nigel

            ‘It’s a global plan to implement a Digital ID pass system’

            No. It isn’t. If it is, it’s the worst conceived and stupidest and most inept and pointless plan since, i dunno, the Bertiebowl.

            ‘Covid is the excuse to get everyone on the vaccines and the vaccines are the tool to get everyone on the Digital ID pass system’

            No we have digital vaccine passes because we are a digital society increasingly reliant on digital technology. That’s been the trend for decades. I fail to see what a fake pandemic acheives that wasn’t already rolling along.

            ‘a social credit system like already in use in China, you know that big country with 1.4 billion people. ‘

            Two and a half years in and the social credit plot is really ramping up from one scheme that rewards people for taking a walk in a park to…. dunno, Tesco Value Club Points?

            ‘The world “leaders” have been telling us this for 2 years now. Listen to what they’ve been saying’

            They’re openly talking about it and keep getting elected… sneaky and evil! Politicians openly talk about stuff i bitterly oppose all the time and keep getting elected anyway, and they never needed a fake pandemic for any of it.

          2. Cui Bono?

            @Nigel
            “No. It isn’t. If it is, it’s the worst conceived and stupidest and most inept and pointless plan since, i dunno, the Bertiebowl.”

            It gives them complete control of all citizens. This is what they want. There will be zero dissenters once fully in place. You just can’t comprehend it. You have zero foresight.

            “No we have digital vaccine passes because we are a digital society increasingly reliant on digital technology. That’s been the trend for decades. I fail to see what a fake pandemic acheives that wasn’t already rolling along.”

            I never said it was fake – it’s real but exaggerated. The vaccines passes do not stop transmission of the virus – they’re only being implemented to get us on the system.

            “Two and a half years in and the social credit plot is really ramping up from one scheme that rewards people for taking a walk in a park to…. dunno, Tesco Value Club Points?”

            Again you’re demonstrating your lack of foresight. It’s not being rolled out in one move because that’s too obvious even you would cop on. It’s gradual over the next 10 years or so, maybe faster if we don’t stop complying.

            “They’re openly talking about it and keep getting elected… sneaky and evil! Politicians openly talk about stuff i bitterly oppose all the time and keep getting elected anyway, and they never needed a fake pandemic for any of it.”

            That’s because people like you cannot see what’s happening and where they’re leading us.

          3. Nigel

            ‘It gives them complete control of all citizens.’

            No it doesn’t.

            ‘it’s real but exaggerated’

            Not a plan, then.

            ‘they’re only being implemented to get us on the system.’

            We’re already on loads of systems, why would they want us on another one?

            ‘It’s gradual over the next 10 years’

            Wow, hope nothing unexpected happens to upset their plans, like a pandemic, or climate change.

            ‘That’s because people like you cannot see what’s happening and where they’re leading us.’

            You’ll be pleased to learn I never voted for any of those guys.

          4. Cui Bono?

            @Nigel
            “No it doesn’t.”
            It does but you’re incapable of comprehending it.

            “Not a plan, then.”
            How so? Of course that can be a plan – classic divide and conquer – release a virus slightly worse than the flu to kill granny and pump fear into the herd types while the critical thinkers see through it and then everyone wastes time arguing while they implement the digital pass and change the monetary system.

            “We’re already on loads of systems, why would they want us on another one?”
            For total control, again you don’t comprehend.

            “Wow, hope nothing unexpected happens to upset their plans, like a pandemic, or climate change.”
            These are tools to implement their plan.

            “You’ll be pleased to learn I never voted for any of those guys.”
            Voting is a waste of time now. The opposition are just as bad because those in the top positions are controlled opposition.

          5. Nigel

            I’t does but you’re incapable of comprehending it.’

            You;re incapable of proving it.

            Of course that can be a plan”

            So prove it.

            ‘again you don’t comprehend’

            Again you can’t prove.

            ‘These are tools to implement their plan.’

            This is meaningless.

            ‘Voting is a waste of time now’

            Better keep arguing online so, it’s our only hope.

      2. Micko

        He’s not trolling.

        He just has a pathologic issue with saying he wrong. About anything.

        Jeez your missus must have her fecking head melted Nigel

        1. Nigel

          Yes, if I don’t find your oh-so-persuasive arguments and opinions compelling rather then generally inane and risible I must be either trolling or pathological. These are the only two options. No, wait, I must be getting paiid! Only a troll, somone who is pathological, or getting paid could POSSIBY disagree with such reasonable and well argued opinions as presented by the gentlemen who think the vaccine is designed to cull the Earth’s population or that opinions about current events are formed and fixed in the same way gender and sexuality is.

          1. Micko

            “think the vaccine is designed to cull the Earth’s population ”

            I literally said “well done vaccines” in my post above.

            You don’t actually read what anyone else says do you?

          2. Nigel

            Wasn’t talking about just you, was I, speaking of not reading what anyone else says. They’re daft, you’re myopic.

          3. Micko

            Umm – you’re replying to my comment. You even mention my comment about your little “pathologic issue”.

            Should I not assume that you were talking to me then?

            Good stuff so

          4. Nigel

            Only if you pay attention to what the comment actually says and maybe work out from context who is being referred to, but maybe that’s just your myopia kicking in again.

          5. Micko

            “Only if you pay attention to what the comment actually says and maybe work out from context who is being referred to, but maybe that’s just your myopia kicking in again.”

            Not sure if you’re talking to me now or not…

            “When I say “Hello Mr Thompson” and press down on your foot – you smile and nod”

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quxW1V8Hwlg

          6. benblack

            @Bodger

            I disagree with your editorial decision to censor that particular post.

            Completely inoffensive and relevant to the wider discussion.

            Any particular reason, apart from the general contact/us page?

            Just so I’ll know better in future. Thanks.

  4. Kali

    It’s nice to see even the pitchfork wielding folk at thejournal are copping on to the media hysteria since the omicron story started. This could very well be the end to this dark era (fingers crossed)

    1. Cui Bono?

      Yes, there’s definitely a bit of an awakening.

      We all go into hysteria at the same time but we come out of it one at a time.

  5. Kim The Cardassian

    De Gascun is one of the better medics we have on NPHET and definitely far more qualified to be talking about Covid then the GPs they have on the team.

    But why is it that every photo of him looks like he is holding in a fart?

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