DUNDALK BRACED FOR LOCKDOWN TO CURB COVID-19
SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES CLOSE PUBS AND CLUBS TOLD TO SHUT ALL SPORT SUSPENDED PANIC BUYING IN SUPERMARKETS
Dundalk is braced for lockdown this week as scores of commercial, retail and service industries grind to a halt in a bid to curb the spread of Coronavirus.
Shops and businesses, bars and clubs closed their doors in the days after schools and colleges shut on Thursday last, as efforts to prevent the spread of the virus were ramped up.
Many local businesses voluntarily shut up shop for the safety of staff and the public. Others were left with little choice as customer numbers dwindled amid calls for people to stay at home and reduce social interaction.
At least one company, National Pen, is planning lay offs as the economic impact of the virus hits. The company said 94 staff will be affected by temporary lay-offs.
But amid the crisis, a renewed sense of community spirit is also emerging.
Stores such as Supervalu Dundalk have announced a shopping hour for elderly people only - those who are in the most vulnerable group.
Local GAA clubs, and a number of businesses have also been offering assistance to the elderly or those self isolating.
DUNDALK schools were given little warning of the unprecedented shutdown announced last week which saw schools across the country closed until March 30th.
But with fears of the Coronavirus pandemic growing, most schools say they had begun implementing measures in the event of closures.
Martina Rafferty, principal at Scoil Eoin Baiste, Bay Estate said: ‘We got limited time to prepare the children for this unprecedented closure, learning about it from the media first of all just before lunch time. Obviously teachers had been discussing respiratory hygiene and the importance of hand washing in recent days with their classes. All teachers assigned work which children can work on independently over the next two weeks.
She added the school had issued parents with advice on how to talk young children about the outbreak. And while a series of events the pupils had been looking too have now been cancelled or postponed, she said ‘What’s most important at this time is that our pupils, staff and their families and indeed all in our country remain safe from this deadly virus.’
Meanwhile, Dundalk secondary schools facing the difficult challenge of students preparing for exams have adopted tech savvy measures to ensure they can continue learning.
Michelle, Dolan, principal at St. Louis Secondary explained: ‘While the announcement from the Taoiseach was unexpected we were ready to mobilise students, staff and parents so that books could be collected from lockers and students went home with a sense of purpose.’
‘ The school admin and communication systems are cloudbased so we are in a strong position to sustain contact with students and colleagues who already share resources, collect work and offer feedback using digital technology. We have a whole-school digital strategy in place, so we were able to provide some exam students with chrome books to support access at home.
‘Our Leaving Cert students have completed their mock exams, including mock orals in Irish and French. They are in a good position to revise and consolidate their prior learning.
She added: ‘We sent the girls home with some wise words of comfort and a prayer for all who may be affected in the coming weeks.’
Meanwhile a spokesman for DkIT said: ‘Circumstances this week are unprecedented for the Institute and for the country as a whole. The decision to severely limit access to the campus for a duration of two weeks is not one that we make lightly and was made in accordance with national guidelines. During the period of campus closure, lectures, tutorials and practical classes will not take place on site. Staff are asked to facilitate student learning at a distance and work remotely, where possible.’