Virus strikes in Enniscorthy as testing begins
LOCAL PERSON IN HOSPITAL DUE TO CORONAVIRUS
ONE PERSON from the Enniscorthy area has been hospitalised as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the numbers of suspected cases in the county is expected to rise in the coming days with the opening of the test centre in Wexford town.
Speaking to this newspaper, Minister Paul Kehoe said a lot of people have contacted him over the last few days seeking advice as to where they can go to get tested.
‘A lot of people have presented to local GPs with symptoms of the virus,’ said Minister Kehoe.
‘ They are awaiting testing but I expect with the opening of the testing facility in Wexford the number of people in the county is likely to rise,’ he added.
‘I am advising anyone who fears they may have it to contact their GP who will then refer them to the testing centre.’
People can only get tested on referral.
A WELL-KNOWN businessman living in Enniscorthy has urged the Government to implement measures that will help businesses reopen once the coronavirus crisis is over and said that, without such support, many businesses won’t survive.
Angelo Bonfirraro, who owns Alba Restaurant, said that if businesses like his have to remain closed for a number of months it would result in a massive net income decrease by the end of the financial year.
Mr Bonfirraro is also urging people to exercise caution with regard to the food they are eating at home in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Mr Bonfirraro spoke to this newspaper to highlight his concern that if strict measures aren’t adhered to, Ireland could follow a similar path to that of his native Italy, where his brother-in-law is helping to create temporary hospitals and assisting with the burial of those who have died as a result of contracting the virus.
Significantly, Mr Bonfirraro was one of the first restaurateurs to close the doors of his business even before the Government asked for such measures to be taken.
‘I had initially wanted to keep it going with delivery service and take-away but the more I thought about it the more I was worried that even with the best approach to hand-washing and keeping things clean there was the possibility that the virus could spread so I decided to shut the business completely,’ he said.
He also took on board the concerns of his staff, some of whom were very worried.
‘ That was another reason I decided to close early because some of the staff were very worried,’ said Mr Bonfirraro.
However, he said the Government must take measures to help businesses open their doors again once the crisis is over.
Mr Bonfirraro said that if businesses like his have to remain closed for the next two or three months it would take around two years to recover the loss in income the closure would cause.
With that in mind he said the
Government will need to look at things like VAT reductions because without doing that it will be very difficult for restaurants to reopen.
Mr Bonfirraro also said that commercial rates for this year should be drastically reduced or cancelled altogether because that would have a very positive affect on businesses trying to open up again – especially if the closures remain in place for a period of months.
‘If we did not have to pay rates for this year it would help immensely,’ he said.
As result of his closure, five people lost their jobs but Mr Bonfirraro is hopeful that things will get back on track again but it will necessitate a lot of proactive support from the Government.
‘It’s more than just restaurants physically opening again because people will probably have less money to spend too on dining out,’ he said.
‘People’s habits will also possibly have changed too and they will get used to cooking more at home so definitely the Government will need to do something but we have to wait and see what their plans are going forward,’ he added.
Mr Bonfirraro is from Sicily and while up to now that region of Italy was the least affected area, it’s now bracing itself as the number of cases increases daily.
At the moment his family members are safe but he said his wife’s brother is at the heart of helping out and is working on establishing temporary hospitals and also with burials of those who have passed away.
He is worried that the horrendous situation in Italy could be replicated here in Ireland and he said that people’s safety has to come first.
‘ This is a very contagious virus that seems to mutate differently in different people but for the elderly it is particularly dangerous,’ said Mr Bonfirraro.
From a dietary point of view Mr Bonfirraro said there are certain foods that people should avoid to keep their system as healthy as possible, including deep-fried food, sweets, sugar, alcohol and cigarettes.
In contrast, he said people should try to eat as much fresh fruit and vegetables as possible and drink plenty of water.
However, he also encouraged people to adhere to HSE guidelines and limit interaction with other people as much as possible and to remain at home until the crisis is over.
When that happens, the job of reopening businesses will begin but without the full support of the Government that could prove to be a task too far for many business owners.