Covid 19 (Corona Virus) and Wexford. A few tips on how to respond

Ahead of what may be a challenging and difficult time for all, I’m circulating some advice that you may find useful in the next few weeks.

Switch your radio to either RTE Radio One or South East Radio for the latest up to date local and national news. Make a note of listening to news at the top of the hour, Alan Corcoran at 10AM on South East Radio or Drivetime 4.30pm or watch Six One on RTE1

Buy the Wexford People and follow their posts on Twitter or facebook for up to date information.

Saturday 4th

Emergency email addresses

Wexford County Council; Community Support Helpline to provide assistance medical, fuel & food. covidsupport@Wexfordcoco.ie

Alone  Register your interest in volunteering to bring prescriptions, shopping, support and fuel to senior citizens at alone.ie

Aware  Need help coping with mental health issues? supportmail@aware.ie



Emergency phone numbers

Ambulance/Garda                              999/112

HSE                                                      1850 24 1850

Dept of Social Protection                   1890 800 024                                                              

Caredoc                                               0818 300 365

Samaritans                                         116123

Rape Crisis Centre                              1800 778 888

Wexford Womens Refuge                    9121876

Friday 27th
A lockdown comes into effect at midnight. What that means is that unless you are working in the health or community sector or the work can't be done from home, going to a shop or chemist, traveling for the specific reason of providing family care, taking exercise within 2 km of home, you've to stay at home.
Cocooning is to commence for those over 70 and all public gatherings are banned.
All non essential shops are to shut as will Adult Community Education centres. Remaining Hospitals allowing visiting are to cease the practice and prison visiting is the end. This will be for a minimum of 2 weeks.

The following occupations are exempt from the restrictions announced tonight;  Health Care Workers and Social Carers, Food and medicine providers, Public service / civil service, Utilities, Transport (Lorry drivers, hauliers, bus/train), Commentators/Journalists, Financial services.


Wednesday 25th
Schools will now remain shut until Monday April 19th although that date is likely in time to be also pushed back. Gardaí are now arresting those who persist in the Covid Challenge. The government stopped paying the Early Childhood Education Support to play schools since play schools are now closed. Take aways, hairdressers, betting shops,
Changes have now been made to criteria by which a patient will receive a test for corona virus. Already delays of 5 -6 days are common. From today a patient will only be tested if they have 2 symptoms minimum; Fever plus one of either a cough or shortness of breadth. Patients already awaiting a test must revert to their GP to get another referral.

Tuesday 24th
Parents who have been asked to pay creches to maintain a place for their child until after the crisis ends have been told by government that no fees are to be now levied as the operators and the government have concluded a deal.

Wexford Bus has suspended its Loop service to Castlebridge, Carlow service and reduced its Clonard loop service to an hourly service reflecting the reduced demand.

Other services to Dublin Airport has scaled back connections to depart every 2 hours.

Bus Eireann services continue on an hourly rate. Irish Rail services to Dublin continue as timetabled but catering services have been discontinued.

For passengers using Stena line or Irish Ferries services continue but  customers can amend their bookings at no extra cost.

While driving tests and lessons are long suspended the NCT still is open to test your car.

Gatherings of no more than 4 people are allowed unless you’re all members of the same family while there are changes to the amounts paid to those on Covid-19 temporary payments and there is help with paying salaries  for SME’s that continue to function

Not quite a lock down but if most non essential services are told to shut, there’s little reason to leave the house now.

Monday 23rd.
An urgent plea to continue with physical distancing was issued as good weather brought large numbers out to beaches, parks and mountain paths. McDonalds will close its restaurants from today, Supermacs will close on Thursday next. Glendalough National Park and the coastal path between Bray and Greystones is also closed.
Bank of Ireland branches in Wexford, Enniscorthy, New Ross, Gorey and Bunclody will remain open, all others in the county will close.
Extensive signage on the approaches to Wexford direct motorists to the temporary Covid-19 test centre. Motorists are asked to follow the signed route to the test.

The following restrictions apply to intending visitors to Wexford General Hospital.
 
* All Adult Medical and Paediatric outpatient appointments are postponed.

* All non urgent elective day and inpatient surgery has been postponed.

Visitors are not allowed except for:

• people visiting patients at end of life
• people visiting patients in critical care
• parents visiting children
• people assisting confused patients - for example, patients with dementia
• partners of women in the maternity unit

Children should not visit the hospital, even in these cases.
Only one visitor per patient is allowed.

Friday 20th

A mobile Covid 19 testing unit is to be set up from next week in Whitemill Industrial Estate in Wexford, This will be a drive in unit where a person will be tested in their car. The patient should already be self isolating and return home to self isolation after testing to await results.

Wexford Post Office at Anne St remains open today (Friday 20^th) to facilitate the collection of pensions until 7pm. This initiative was proposed by the staff there and only applies to Wexford.

What you may need to prepare
Ensure if you use a pay as you go mobile phone that you have enough credit or can top up electronically

2.       
       Ensure that you have your Eircode handy. This will make it easy to alert public services or delivery services. If you don't know your eircode it can be found by entering your address at the link

        https://finder.eircode.ie/#/

3.       
 Do not visit your GP if you feel unwell, phone and ask for advice. Your GP may be busy so hold on the line and expect a call back. The GP will arrange for a test for Covid19  to be taken in your home.

4.      
      You should self isolate once you suspect that you are displaying symptoms of Covid 19. If Covid 19 is confirmed you will get the medical advice relevant to the level of the infection that you experience

5.      
             Do not present yourself Wexford General Hospital unless your GP decides to admit you.

6.      
            If you do not have a GP telephone Wexford General Hospital directly and ask for advice. Check out the HSE website. Here’s the link

https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/

Ring ahead to a chemists if you need to visit a pharmacy. Here's the website for one local chemist in Wexford. Many practitioners are giving similar advice

  https://www.fortunespharmacy.ie/covid-19-coronavirus-measures/

7.       Check on elderly neighbours especially those that may live alone and ensure that your contact details are up to date.

8.       All religious services, sporting and cultural events have been cancelled. Schools will remain closed. These will not resume until the present public health emergency us over.

9.       Public transport within Ireland continues as timetabled as does shipping connections from Rosslare

10.   Cancel any plans to leave Ireland for any other European country.

11.   Check that your account with utility services are in order to prevent interruption to services.

12.   Keep a list of useful service websites or relatives up to date phone numbers and email addresses.

13.   Set up a family WhatsApp group

14.   Supermarkets are open and are fully stocked. Buy what you need for the day ahead to prevent food building up at home.

15.   Most importantly; There is a lot yet to be established about how this virus works and infects people. You should understand that much of what is posted online may have no scientific basis to it. Be objective about all information that you read.  Ignore much of what may be posted on social media, it may not be verified and there may well be doubts about its veracity. It may only serve to panic and frighten.
the following shops and outlets are not open until things improve; Shaws, Pamela Scott, Flying Tiger, Peter Marks, Wexford Book Centre.

Email me at joeblogswexford@gmail.com or facebook me by PM if there is any way that you think I can help.