Our age group has observed the rules... others have not
“I haven’t been out much, but when I go shopping, I’m very careful. Recently, I had to go to Cork and travelled by train. I was very impressed by the way things were done, the seat next to me was designated to remain empty and there was no catering trolley going around.
“Our age group has observed all the rules and it’s disappointing that it is other people who are putting everyone in danger.
“I’m a member of the local ICA and Boherbue Active Retired Group. We haven’t had meetings or gone anywhere since early March. We were looking forward to going on an outing soon, and the ICA had planned a trip abroad for September but obviously all that is now cancelled. It can be very isolating. We miss our ICA meetings and I always went to two card plays every week, so all that is gone as well. I’m lucky that I have plenty hobbies so I can be content at home”.
“We’ve been staying indoors mostly since all this started and avoiding crowded places.
“As far as I’m concerned, I think that the people in NPHET telling people over 70 to be careful are looking out for our welfare and not punishing us, as some people feel.
“Many of us have health issues, myself included, and so we are more susceptible to this.
“We’ve found it difficult not being able to go out and have family and friends in regularly but we’re thankful to be healthy.
“We have plenty fresh air and lovely forestry walks here in Rockchapel so we’ll continue to enjoy that and hopefully the crisis will be over soon”.
“It’s very disappointing that the same people are being hit all the time such as older people and pubs.
“Here in Kilbrin, we have a fantastic social club where people gather to socialise, some would come in every evening around 7pm to meet up with friends and enjoy a chat and a drink or a cup of tea. Many were really looking forward to reopening but now they are devastated by this new surge and no end in sight.
“It’s very upsetting even at home when you can only have six people in at any one time, we have a large family and we had a break planned for next week but now we don’t know what to do, we will probably have to cancel. It’s especially hard for older people who don’t have family living near them, it’s very tough on them”.
Amongst the new Covid measures announced by Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Tuesday evening are directions for the over 70s to limit their time spent outdoors, avoid congregated settings, avoid public transport where possible and to shop during designated hours. Active Retirement Ireland, a voluntary organisation for older people, said the new measures unfairly target older people who have already sacrificed so much. The Corkman’s Sheila Fitzgerald went out and about to find out what locals think about the new measures introduced regarding the over 70s.
“Interaction with people is what keeps us feeling young. but all that is taken away, so we have to make a lot more effort in order to try and remain alert and upbeat.
“It is very important to try and find a bright side to all this. Our attitude should be to try and find something to cheer up people and not look at the bad side.
“I think prayer is very important, and to ask God to guide us through this, so we should continue to pray and ask him to help us cope with what is happening. Many of us feel we got this illness last Christmas, a lot of people were awfully sick around that time.
“Now the main thing is to follow the rules, and continue to be vigilant at all times”.