‘Act like we all have this virus’

A BRAY pharmacist has said that people must assume we all have Covid-19, ‘ to protect ourselves and others’.

‘It’s a virus and it is unseen and we have to treat everyone as if they are in danger or we are in danger,’ said Michael Kennedy of Kennedy’s Pharmacy and Vance and Wilson. ‘ There is a lot of the virus around Bray,’ he said.

He is sad, he said, that many of his peers in the business community in Bray must now close their doors for the coming weeks under tighter restrictions. ‘We all look forward to getting this vaccine and things going back to normal, or near normal,’ he said. ‘Christmas is important to everyone,’ he said. ‘But the danger is ongoing every day.’ He said that most quarters expect a vaccine to be approved by Christmas. ‘ Then it’s a question of distribution,’ said Michael. ‘It will be well into next year before we can avail of it in Ireland, in Bray.’

BRAY pharmacist Michael Kennedy of Kennedy’s Pharmacy and Vance & Wilson has said that he and the staff are very nervous at this time.

‘There is a lot of the virus around Bray,’ he said. Both pharmacies are located on the town’s main street.

‘We realise we are in the front line of service to people,’ he said. ‘Maybe not to the same extent as nurses. I and all the staff are very conscious. We take every precaution we can, but we are at risk.

‘You don’t know who has or hasn’t got the virus,’ he said. ‘You have to assume we all have it, to protect ourselves and others. It’s a virus and it is unseen and we have to treat everyone as if they are in danger or we are in danger.’

Michael said that while strict safety measures are in place, they are not guaranteed to provide absolute protection.

‘Both of our shops are fairly big,’ he said. ‘We can allow five or six in at a time, spaced out, and have hand sanitising and PPE.’

He said that in the most part people have been very cooperative.

‘People are aware of the dangers out there. You just never know who has been in contact with whom, even five minutes before.

‘We take every precaution and there’s nothing more you can do, except shut down for business, and that’s not an option.’

He is sad, he said, that many of his peers in the business community in Bray must close under tighter restrictions. ‘We all look forward to getting this vaccine and things going back to normal, or near normal,’ he said. ‘All of the businesses in the town depend on each other for business, and it’s terrible to see anyone having to close.’

On whether the measures are necessary, Michael is unsure. ‘It’s hard to know what’s the best procedure the government can make,’ he said. ‘They are in a very difficult situation. No decision is easy. We just have to hope and pray that things work out and numbers go down.’

With the festive season approaching, Michael continues to urge caution. ‘Christmas is important to everyone,’ he said. ‘But the danger is ongoing every day. ’

He said that most quarters expect a vaccine to be approved by Christmas. ‘Then it’s a question of distribution,’ said Michael. ‘It will be well into next year before we can avail of it in Ireland, in Bray. Even at the moment we’re finding it difficult to source flu vaccines.’

He said that the seasonal flu vaccine is in high demand because of publicity relating to Covid-19. ‘More and more people are looking for the flu vaccine. We have a lot of people on our waiting list and we’re pressing the HSE for more supplies,’ he said.