STOP BEING SO RECKLESS
Church and State unite in crisis warning ++ 50,000 jobs to be lost as bars shut ++ Only the loved ones at funerals, warns bishop
HEALTH chiefs have told the ‘reckless minority’ who insist on dangerously partying in crowds during the coronavirus crisis to ‘wise up’ – as 50,000 bar workers look set to be laid off today.
The warnings come as Health Minister Simon Harris announced that the Government was shutting down 7,000 bars and clubs around the country, from midnight last night until March 30 at least.
HSE chief Paul Reid said: ‘The public have been great to date. Some bars and people have been reckless though. To that minority – cop on, get your act together and comply with the advice.’
And the Bishop of Limerick has told people attending funerals, who are not immediate family or very close friends, that they were ‘entering the realm of recklessness’.
Minister Harris said the crowds seen on social media at the weekend, gathering in small spaces, were an ‘insult’ to the healthcare workers putting
themselves in harm’s way to help others, and working hard to fight the virus.
Ministers and health chiefs were forced to take a tough line on gatherings in pubs and clubs after the weekend activities, they had previously only issued guidelines.
However, the move could have serious consequences for the bars and their 50,000 staff, as it will hit St Patrick’s festival events, a major part of their revenue.
It follows social media outrage over videos of coronavirus stag and hen parties in Dublin over the weekend.
One post showed a group of young men walking through Temple Bar in mock-protective clothing. The Government said that bars had difficulty implementing social distancing, especially as alcohol encourages people to lose their inhibitions.
The Licenced Vintners Association described the decision
Partying in mock protection suits
as ‘absolutely traumatic’ for members, and said many staff will be in shock today. It said it supported the move, even though it knew it would lead to difficulties for bar staff for several weeks.
The Department of Health yesterday announced 40 new confirmed cases – 23 males and 17 females.
There were 25 are in the east, nine are in the west and six in the south. There are now 169 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Republic, and 214 north and south.
Minister Harris, said the country is facing a ‘national emergency’. In a statement, the Government said: ‘Following discussions today with the Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners Federation of Ireland, the Government is now calling on all public houses and bars (including hotel bars) to close from this evening (March 15) until at least March 29.’
The Government said bars had ‘real difficulty’ in implementing the Government guidelines on social distancing, ‘as pubs are specifically designed to promote social interaction in a situation where alcohol reduces personal inhibitions. For the same reason, the Government is also calling on all members of the public not to organise or participate in any parties in private houses or other venues which would put other people’s health at risk.’
Publicans in Temple Bar had actually announced a complete shutdown of all bars and nightclubs in the area yesterday, hours before the rest of the country.
Martin Harte, of the Temple Bar Company, said the decision was taken voluntarily.
‘This is the owners of all pubs sitting down and deciding this is the best thing to do in terms of public health and safety,’ he said.
Mr Harte said the problem is that social distancing and limiting of numbers is impossible to enforce in bars.
However, Harcourt Street night club Dicey’s Garden said yesterday it was staying open last night, with restrictions, and would close today.
Meanwhile, the Bishop of Limerick advised people to stay away from funerals unless they were close family or friends, and said special memorial ceremonies will be arranged when the coronavirus danger has passed.
He also advised against hugs and handshakes at funerals.
In a message, read at the end of yesterday’s midday Mass, streamed live from St John’s Cathedral, Bishop Leahy also confirmed that all Masses – not just on Sunday – will no longer be in public.
He said: ‘No one should attend funerals unless they are immediate relatives or very particular friends. While I do, of course, understand the desire of others to attend, to do so if not members of immediate family or a very particular friend could enter into the realms of recklessness. And in keeping to the HSE advice, there should be no hand-shaking or hugs regardless. Once this crisis has passed, and it will pass, another ceremony can be arranged for all those who should not now attend,’ he said.