Tag Archives: COVID-19

Doctors Dan Erickson and Artin Massihi, co-owners of a California-based chain of Accelerated Urgent Care facilities. have conducting more than 5,000 coronavirus tests.

They say they  have ‘come to the conclusion that COVID-19 is no more dangerous than a normal seasonal flu and quarantines are not making any difference in preventing its spread’.

At a press conference (full link below) Dr Erickson said:

“Do we need to still shelter in place? Our answer is emphatically no. Do we need businesses to be shut down? Emphatically no. Do we need to test them and get them back to work? Absolutely.”

Doctor: After Doing 5,000 Coronavirus Tests, It’s Similar To The Flu And Quarantine Should End (Real Clear Politics)

Full press conference here…

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

This afternoon.

In the Dáil.

Green Party TD Joe O’Brien raised the case of undocumented healthcare workers in Ireland.

Specifically, a case of two such workers, one of whom had a direct message for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Mr O’Brien told the chamber:

“In many respects, I think, the virus and the State’s response to it has provided it with a human rights audit.

“Who’s health protection needs and health rights is the State responding to the slowest? It’s asylum seekers, it’s people in residential settings. Who are we leaving behind? It’s Travellers, it’s Roma, it’s international students, and it’s undocumented workers.

“So few of us are aware of the fact that so many of our frontline workers in this battle against Covid-19 are undocumented workers. People unrecognised, unacknowledged and unappreciated by Official Ireland.

“I spoke to two undocumented workers recently and, to some extent, I want to bring their voices in here today. Their names are Debra and Shiron. These are their real names.

“Both are, now as we speak, live-in care workers with elderly women. They are cocooning with these ladies and tending to their every need during this crisis.

“Both Debra and Shiron have worked in the centre in Ireland for over a decade, working in the shadows but providing an essential care service.

“There are likely to be many hundreds, if not thousands, of people in similar situations all over the country where undocumented migrants are caring for elderly people, helping them to cocoon.

“And this is just one sector. But going forward, and developing our response to Covid-19, we simply cannot have people who are in the shadows or left behind. For their own sake, for their rights, for the sake of developing thorough and robust set of systems to allow, to eliminate and keep out Covid-19.

“But also, quite simply, because it’s only just and fair that those who contribute so much in this battle are allowed to be full members of society.

“Debra asked me to, and I quote, ‘Tell the Taoiseach that we are frontline workers, we can’t go out, we are looking after our ladies, we are working all day, all night, 24/7 and we love them like our family‘.

“Debra said she knows hundreds of other women from her home country, working in similar situations, around Ireland

“The ask is simple: can you set up a scheme, regularisation scheme, whereby undocumented people in Ireland can view a set of fair and reasonable criteria that they need to satisfy in order to be regularised.

“And it’s not just me who’s calling for this. Chambers of Commerce Ireland, unions, National Youth Council, National Women’s Council, as well, there’s quite a list of bodies calling for this.”

Watch the Dáil proceedings live here

Top pic: Rollingnews

Solidarity and Socialist Party TD for Cork North Central Mick Barry

This afternoon.

Solidarity and Socialist Party TD for Cork North Central Mick Barry raised the protest held by several former Debenhams workers on Henry Street, Dublin 1, on Tuesday (top).

Last week, a High Court appointed povisional liquidators to the UK chain’s Irish operation after it was told by the company that it is insolvent and couldn’t pay its debts.

During his contribution, Mr Barry briefly held up a Debenhams sign.

He said:

“Taoiseach, I also want to ask you about the use of emergency powers by gardai on Tuesday to disperse a disciplined, socially distanced protest, by Debenhams workers here in Henry Street in Dublin.

“Not only did the gardai instruct the workers to disperse, and to take down the signs, which they’ve asked me to hold up cause they were refused the right to hold up that sign on Tuesday.

“Those workers were threatened with arrest, they were threatened to be put in the back of a Garda van.

They were escorted to their Luas and bus stops by the gardai and the guards instruction a trade union shop steward to desist from conducting an interview, well away from the store, with a journalist.“

Yesterday: Do A Bit Of Debenhams

Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking to journalists outside the HSE Dublin Covid 19 response hub in Granegorman, Dublin yesterday

More fear porn?

This morning.

Ahead of the Dáil sitting from noon today when statements will be made on the economy, health and education,  The Irish Times,reports on a ‘jaw-dropping’ memo sent to cabinet on the next phase of the pandemic

In a note sent to the Cabinet from the Department of the Taoiseach this week, Ministers were told that while the initial stage was “both swift and unprecedented, and was experienced by everyone together and in a relatively unified spirit”, this may change as the long-term effects come into play.

“This includes unemployment, reduced income, increased debt, closure of businesses, reduced educational opportunities, restrictions on movement and social interactions, and ultimately the loss of loved ones.”

The note, the tone of which was described as “jaw-dropping” by sources, outlined the challenges ahead, such as the difficulty of opening some sections of the economy and not others, reducing income supports and tightening procedures for those entering the country, as well as opportunities.

Save yourselves, etc.

Coronavirus: ‘Jaw-dropping’ confidential Government memo warns of ‘divisive’ phase (Fiach Kelly, The Irish Times)

Rollingnews

“Remember this is coronavirus Covid-19, that means there’s been eighteen other coronaviruses and I don’t think they’ve successfully found a vaccine for any.”

Minister for Health Simon Harris on RTÉ Radio 2FM earlier.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), COVID 19 stands for, Corona (CO) Virus (VI) Disease (D) and 19(2019).

Good times.

Coronavirus in Ireland – Simon Harris criticised for ‘eighteen other coronaviruses’ gaffe during RTE radio interview (The Irish Sun)

Rollingnews

Thanks Piece of Pi55

Meanwhile…

Update:

Grounded airline fleets around the world.

Above: Stansted airport, London. Photograph: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images; Shuttlesworth international airport in Birmingham, Alabama. Photograph: Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters (x2); Bournemouth airport. Photograph: National Police Air Service/PA; Incheon international airport, South Korea. Photograph: YONHAP/EPA and Brisbane Airport, Australia. Photograph: Darren England/AAP)

MORE: Planes grounded by coronavirus pandemic sit idle at airports around the world (The Guardian)

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty at a Covid-19 press briefing in Government Buildings last month

This afternoon.

In a press released issued by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, minister Regina Doherty said:

“Between our Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, those on the Live Register and workers who are benefitting from the wage subsidy scheme, over a million people are receiving some sort of state income support – a situation unparalleled in our nation’s history.

“This is a temporary health emergency and many sectors of the economy will be able to switch back on relatively quickly once the danger has passed.

“However, some sectors will be slower than others to recover and we will also have a challenge with youth employment as many young people who could have expected to have entered a buoyant jobs market will now face a much more complex environment.

“Understanding this, my Department is already planning for the post-pandemic environment and considering the best measures to help every worker to get back into the labour force as quickly as possible.”

Update on Payments Awarded for Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment And Enhanced Illness Benefit (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)

Rollingnews

Of course you are.

Tonight at 7pm.

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald (above), Sinn Féin’s vice president and First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O’Neill and Sinn Féin TDs Louise O’Reilly, Pearse Doherty and Matt Carthy will hold a live online meeting.

The meeting can be watched live here, here or here.

This afternoon.

Dublin City Council announces that, last month, it experienced a 33 per cent increase in notifications from the public about illegal dumping compared to March 2019.

Mmmf.

Previously: Meanwhile, In Meath

When Glove Breaks Down