Calls for community to stand together against virus

Calls are being made for the local community to stand together and heed government advice as efforts intensify to stop the spread of conoravirus.

Mirroring scenes across the country, Tipperary towns are strangely quiet this St Patrick's week following the closure of schools, cafes, pubs, restaurants, offices and sports venues. Nenagh's Abbey Court Hotel has also announced its temporary closure along with most of the shops and businesses in town. Staff of some companies are operating staggered hours or working from home where possible, but many people have found themselves suddenly unemployed.

Masses continue but people are being asked not to attend, and to instead watch online or listen on radio (see page 3). Several funerals have taken place over recent days but have been confined to close family members only, with other mourners invited to leave online messages of condolence.

Supermarkets remain open and are set to introduce dedicated opening hours to facilitate elderly and vulnerable customers. There have been multiple reports of “panic-buying” of commodities such as toilet roll and bread in recent days, though supermarkets say they have ample supplies and are trying to restock as quickly as possible. Several local clubs and organisations - including the newly-formed Coronavirus Community Assistance-Tipp North - are offering to bring supplies to those in need (see page 3).

Gardaí are stepping up patrols in order to assist the community during the crisis. A spokesman at Nenagh Garda Station this week assured that full service would be maintained and gardaí would be responding to all calls. A number of incidents of motorists driving away without paying for fuel have occurred in recent days, as well as thefts from vehicles and businesses, and public disorder.

 

MEDICAL SERVICES

Medical services are also under intense pressure. A visiting ban remains in force at Nenagh hospital and the other five public hospitals in the Mid West and many procedures have been cancelled (see pages 10 and 11).

GPs have been inundated with requests for coronavirus tests. Nenagh doctor Pat Harrold this week called for calm and expressed optimism that the problems wrought by this new and rapidly changing situation can be overcome.

“Be guided by what we say. I would advise people to keep calm, get fresh air, keep warm. If everybody pulls together, we will get through this,” Dr Harrold said.

The local GP advised people who have been travelling abroad and/or suspect they have symptoms of the virus to phone their doctor. “We need to keep waiting rooms empty,” he said, adding that the majority of people are adhering to the advice. People concerned about their health should also check their temperature regularly.

Dr Harrold also encouraged people to shop locally as much as possible, as he feared many shops and businesses would suffer and would need community support in the time of recovery. But he again stressed that this situation is surmountable.

“If we all stay in for two weeks, this virus will have nowhere to go,” Dr Harrold said.  

 

NENAGH TRADERS

Vice President of Nenagh & District Chamber of Commerce Denis Finnerty said there is a great deal of concern amongst local traders. He cited a number of local examples where entire families have ended up out of work overnight. Mr Finnerty also called for community co-operation and for people to realise that this is an “emergency situation”.  

“We’re depending on everyone in the community to play their part because this is going to get worse before it gets better,” he said.

The Kenyon St pharmacist said he would keep his shop open for as long as possible with strict protocols in place with regard to social distancing and the observation of hygiene. “Pharmacies will probably be the last ones standing,” Mr Finnerty added. “We’re in the frontline and we’re trying to come up with ways of keeping ourselves and our customers as safe as possible because, at the end of the day, we have to stay open.”

He was satisfied with the integrity of his supply chain and expected this to continue. He encouraged people with multiple prescriptions to prepare in advance and to get their orders in with plenty of time, so as to avoid having people waiting in the shop.

Mr Finnerty revealed that he was considering closing the door last week as he and his staff were “over-run” with customers. This situation has however since subsided. He added that the Chamber has looked at new ways of facilitating people during the crisis, including a proposal for banks to increase the card tapping limit from €30 to €200.

Another Nenagh trader staying open for now is Michael Cleary of JKC’s news agency and toy store. “It’s likely in the not too distant future we might have to close our shop and let staff go,” he said. “It may happen, it may not; I hope it doesn’t but if it has to, it has to.”

Taking to Facebook to express his view of the situation, Mr Cleary said there is a lot of fear in the community over the coronavirus crisis. But the former Tipp hurler was also optimistic about the future, believing that people would learn from this experience and better appreciate the value of life.

“We’ll get through all this,” he said, adding that he was delighted to see so many people enjoying the fresh air by the lake at Castlelough recently. “The health of the nation is going to go up. People are going to re-evaluate where they are in their lives.

“We’re going to realise that we’re living the rat race, chasing our tails around. The real values are going to come to the fore and, believe it or not, it’s so, so important we survive this because the world is going to be a way, way better place when all this is done and dusted.”

 

PUBLICAN VIEW

Local publican Joe Mulqueen of Andy’s Bar & Restaurant spoke of grave concern shared by many in the already hard-hit pub trade. “We don’t know how long this going to go on for because they’re not telling us, which is worrying,” he said. “But it is what it is and we’re just going to have to wait for it to pass; hopefully we’ll have a good summer to look forward to.”

Mr Mulqueen pointed out that although they are closed to visiting customers, several of Nenagh’s restaurants are offering a meal delivery service to people’s homes. He said Andy’s would continue providing this service for as long as possible and he hoped to see an increase in business, with meals being delivered to people in the town and its hinterland.

 

FARMING SITUATION

Meanwhile, President of the Irish Farmers Association Tim Cullinan this week assured that the local farming community is continuing to work in tandem with industry in the supply of food. The Toomevara farmer said Ireland produces enough food to feed its own population and an additional 30 million people.

Milk and feed are still being collected, though Mr Cullinan advised farmers to minimise contact with the lorry drivers. Appreciating that marts are critical to farmers at this time of year, the national IFA head said gathering thresholds should be observed, and buyers and sellers should maintain their distance.

Mr Cullinan paid tribute to those working in dairy and meat processing plants, as well as the merchants supplying feed.

He also sympathised with people who have lost their jobs in Nenagh.

“This is a very trying time for everybody,” Mr Cullinan commented.

The Toomevara man said there are many people living in rural parts of Tipperary feeling a deep sense of isolation over the present circumstances. But he stressed that the IFA - which has 62 branches in Tipperary - is available to help and he advocated that IFA members should help assist neighbours, whether that be in delivering messages from town or helping out on a farm where a farmer becomes ill.

“Pick up the phone and ring somebody,” Mr Cullinan advised, adding that North Tipp IFA Chair Imelda Spillane or the association’s Nenagh office would be good first ports of call. He too agreed that there is reason to be optimistic, citing the circumstances overcome in China.

“We’re following Government guidelines and I would appeal to people to continue following what the Government are saying,” Mr Cullinan said. “There is light coming.”