Author Archives: Bodger

Oh yes.

This afternoon.

During RTÉ’s News At One, Sean Whelan reported on statistics which show 32,000 people with Covid-19 have died in the United Kingdom.

Mr Whelan said he would caution against saying that the UK “definitely has the highest death toll in Europe” given the different ways different countries are counting deaths.

He signed off with this bombshell:

“It is probable that the UK has the biggest death toll now but we can’t say that for certain. And unfortunately we are going to have to wait a while until the standard European statistical methodology of counting excess deaths, adjusted for age, at the end of the year come out.

“At that point you can definitely blow the whistle and say that’s it, these people have won the European championships for dead people which is not a nice thing to be looking at.“

It’s the only thing not cancelled this year.

Listen back in full here.

From top: The COVID-19 testing facility on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay on the Liffey in Dublin city centre, Róisín Shortall co-leader of the Social Democrats

This afternoon.

Following the closure of some testing centres, Róisín Shortall, of the Social Democrats, has called on Government to ‘provide an explanation’.

Ms Shorthall said:

“The public deserves clear answers about the reason we are not operating at full testing capacity. The national strategy to combat Covid-19 is test and trace, but some testing centres were closed over the weekend.

For example, the test centre in Tallaght was closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday and is only working a half day today. Others have been operating very restricted hours or not opening at all on some days.

Given that the infrastructure and staff are in place, and indeed many volunteers have been sent home, what is holding up the full-scale operation of test and trace?

Last week Ireland had a testing capacity of 60,000 and yet only 41,470 tests were carried out.

“The case definition remains very narrow and this is a cause of much frustration for GPs, many of whom believe a wider cohort of their patients need to be tested.

We’ve been told that not enough is known about the behaviour of the virus at community level, yet puzzlingly very little community testing is taking place.

The public has put in a huge effort to stay at home for many weeks now, but the success of their efforts and the country’s recovery is entirely dependent on the test and trace strategy.

“Why are we not using the full testing capacity when the national strategy is based on test and trace? The facts don’t add up, and the public deserves a clear answer from the Government.”

Anyone?

Previously: Without A Trace

Rollingnews

This morning/afternoon.

Howth, County Dublin.

The Government has relaxed the 2km restriction zone allowing cocooning seniors out for a stroll of no longer than 5km.

They don’t know they were born.

Rollingnews

Meanwhile…

This morning.

The Four Courts, Dublin 1.

Gemma O’Doherty and John Waters arriving at the Four Courts today for a High Court action challenging the State over the introduction of Covid-19 restrictions.

With a heavy garda presence outside and around the Four Courts in Dublin, supporters were prevented from joining Ms O’Doherty and Mr Waters inside the building.

The two have launched a legal challenge against the State over its decision to implement ‘unconstitutional’ emergency restrictions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic

Update:

Sam Boal/RollingNews

Yesterday.

Ashton Carolan (above centre) celebrated his 10th birthday with a carefully choreographed socially distant party in his Dublin driveway for relatives, friends and neighbours

In fairness.

Happy birthday, Ashton.

Rollingnews

Yesterday.

A Facebook message sent by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to the EU/G20 video conference on efforts to find a #COVID_19 vaccine.

Ireland has pledged €18m to GAVI, the vaccine alliance which includes the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Meanwhile…

Seemed to go well.

Ireland has pledged 18 million to GAVI (Facebook)

Leo Varadkar, Facebook)

Um.

This morning.

Ballincollig [Cork]Tidy Town write:

What a terrible pity that this is the sight greeting us at the Recycling Bins in Ballincollig.. This really is a disgrace. Given the Covid-19 restrictions, this can only have been done by our own Community…

Shame (Ballincollig Tidy Town)

Meanwhile…

This morning.

Dargle River Walk, Bray town, County Wicklow.

Pic by Aaron

On Thursday at 6pm.

A live-streamed Zoom webinar will be held to discuss Covid-19 and vulnerable or marginalised groups.

The event will be chaired by Dr Ebun Joseph, race relations consultant, while the panel will comprise Dr Sindy Joyce, human rights activist and member of the Council of State (Ireland); Lucky Khambule, co-founder of MASI Movement for Asylum Seekers in Ireland; Dr Ronit Lentin, retired Associate Professor of Sociology at Trinity College Dublin; Teresa Buczkowska, Integration Manager at Immigrant Council of Ireland; and Dr Piaras Mac Éinrí, lecturer in Migration Studies at University College Dublin.

They write:

“At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the coronavirus appeared to be an ‘equal opportunities’ virus that affected everyone in its path. Weeks into the lockdown in Ireland and around the world, we see marginalised and vulnerable communities in society most affected, exacerbated by underlying racism.

“While COVID 19 did not create racism and socioeconomic inequality, it has made the disparity in the Irish society between those at the top and bottom of the racial and economic ladder noticeable.

“This conversation in Ireland is to bring us together to discuss what we are observing locally and globally about the impact of COVID 19 on vulnerable groups.”

Register for the webinar here

Meanwhile…

This morning.

RTÉ’s Aisling Kenny reports:

Figures obtained by RTÉ News show there are 1,700 people in direct provision who are sharing a bedroom with one or two non-family members.

This is despite advice from Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, who said if someone is sharing sleeping quarters with people who are not part of the same family it is not possible to social distance.

Figures show that up to 30 April there were nine clusters of Covid-19 in direct provision centres across the country.

Concern over numbers sharing bedrooms in direct provision (RTÉ)

Related: Direct provision settings may be unlawful (Conall Ó Fátharta, The Irish Examiner)

Previously: No Room To Isolate

Forced Together

[Click images to enlarge]

Front Square revisited.

Newly-unearthed images by American photojournalist Harrison Forman Include this small trove of Trinity College Dublin campus photos from the late 1960s. Restrictions on its members becoming students were finally lifted by the Catholic Church. in 1970.

Meanwhile…

Name those jammers (at front, left to right), anyone?

Pics via University of Wisconsin

Previously: Gone For A Burton

Grand Jurys

Vintage Green Day