Coronavirus and the GAA

[h754136]

But Joe, all these relatively low numbers are a product of the lockdown and the other measures we've all taken. These two things are not independent of one another.

This is the fallacy at the heart of your reasoning - using the 'success' of the thing you want rid of as an excuse to get rid of it.

I want my life back too, we all do. But the discussion is now about deciding the right path back there. The experts are suggesting one course of action, you are suggesting another. No harm, but I'm happy enough that our leaders are broadly sticking with the expert advice.

 

[Big Jim]

Heard it said that when respirators are needed, it’s the older person who draws the short straw. Awful scenario for the unfortunate patient, and medics to be placed in.

A while back I came down with a chest infection, and was short of breath for a few days. Struggled to breathe at times, especially when trying to lie down. I tell you what, it was a scary experience. Nothing as bad as not being able to breathe properly. God help any poor soul fighting for their life with such symptoms.

Thankfully P, less than 10% of the available respirators in both the UK and Ireland were in use at any given time. None at all available in the City Hospital were used and more more than 10 patients at it's peak were even in the unit. again none needed respirators/intubators (not a spelling error - apparently it's the correct name when a tube is used and an incubator is a unit normally used for babies. Every day is a school day). A neighbour was speaking to a technician who is doing testing in one of the pods, Belfast I believe, and they have had no new cases test positive in over a week. Seems it's the same in Craigavon.
All things to be pleased about. I'm still believing that we will see games this side of Christmas. There has been a lot of chatter over this past week about how to handle distancing outside now that things are easing. The advice has changed now and apparently transmission is less likely unless there's close contact for around 15 minutes. Things are so damn confusing!

 

[Big Jim]

Just something that I've wondered about in terms of games returning.

Leave aside the discussion of attendances and behind closed doors as that's a completely separate issue.

If an agreement is reached to return to games and player welfare is covered by testing, the why couldn't games begin? Only as an example, but all players, management and backroom are tested on a Monday and are returned as negative, retested on say Thursday for a game on the Saturday/Sunday and again all return negative results and the same is done with all officials, how can the players be in any danger? The virus doesn't just materialise out of the air. No danger to players or their families. If a player happens to test positive, then he won't have contracted it from his team or a game if it's an isolated incident. If he isn't available for selection, then he won't infect anyone else and all others are safe. Same for their families. If competitions are to be played, then it "could" be done.

On the other discussion of behind closed doors. Jeez I'd hate that, especially trying to get to @PatMustard's high spot before him, although that aside, I think it would genuinely be crap having to watch it on my massive 21" tele!

 

[PatMustard]

@Big Jim - maybe I’m mooing up the wrong chimney here, but a player could pick up the virus on Monday night after training. I thought it takes a few days to manifest itself or appear positive? If that’s so, if tested again on the Thursday, he could spread it to other squad members, while still ‘negative’.

The virus might not even have appeared by matchday. So a player could potentially take part in a training session, not knowing he’s infected. He could then infect others during the match.

By the way, the top step of the cathedral steps is my spot. Don’t you even think about knicking it, or I’ll bate you off it with me floorbrush! (I take it everywhere you see, for the social distancing thing).

 

[Big Jim]

Yeah I get ya @PatMustard and it was just a suggestion, but the idea would be that the players avoid close contact with anyone outside the squad. management to reduce the risk until game day. My understanding and my wife works in CAH, is that yes you can have no symptoms and yes test negative, but if it's picked up on Monday, and retested on Friday, it will show in the results - testing wouldn't be done at training. I'd assume they'd have to attend some clinic or other to have it done so that the results can be sorted quite quickly.
As I say, it's just a suggestion and I've absolutely no idea if it is even feasible. It't exactly like everyone else who isn't a professional in virology, I'm giving it my best guess, based on information similar to what @JoeH would have mentioned. I watch the daily updates "most" days from Ireland and UK (it's truly amazing what you will watch when there's bugger all else you can do in a day).

So, I admit I know absolutely nothing about the damn bug. I guess, I hope, I listen, I assume, I wait, but mostly I know nothing will ever be "normal again, nor would I want to go back to that old normal, but I do think we will have sport returning this year after soccer have announced that they are going ahead. Whatever works for them will work for other field sports and all the professionals agree, it doesn't spread as readily outdoors - that doesn't mean I'm suggesting it doesn't, just less likely, same as with kids. It does spread via them, but is less likely and science has no idea why yet.

I've even noticed another of our posters on the forum has slightly changed their tune in relation to games, which I find interesting. Their is hope. Hold on to it!

Now, on the other side, our game is all about the [us] spectators, fans, mad eejits! A game without that loud "C'MON ARMAGH" just isn't cricket.

BTW (who's down with the kids now then?) if you bloody pee down the back of my neck at the next game, I'll unleash the rottweiler on ye ya bollox, now that I know who the brush wielding auld fart is! Can't say anything about Covid and the mutt, but it's definitely Rabid!!

 

[PatMustard]

@Big Jim - it’ll be weird if games are played with no fans. But I’m sure many of the players have played in matches with only a gowling manager and cows mooing in the next field, for background noise. Once the match starts, their focus is on the ball. Given the choice, I’d take that as long as we seen some ball played.

That Rottweiler of yours wouldn’t be much use with the head of a yard brush stuck in his bake

 

[pablo]

@Big Jim - it’ll be weird if games are played with no fans. But I’m sure many of the players have played in matches with only a gowling manager and cows mooing in the next field, for background noise.

That's pretty much the norm for Derry. They will be well used to it

 

[Big Jim]

That's pretty much the norm for Derry. They will be well used to it

 

[Big Jim]

@Big Jim - maybe I’m mooing up the wrong chimney here, but a player could pick up the virus on Monday night after training. I thought it takes a few days to manifest itself or appear positive? If that’s so, if tested again on the Thursday, he could spread it to other squad members, while still ‘negative’.

The virus might not even have appeared by matchday. So a player could potentially take part in a training session, not knowing he’s infected. He could then infect others during the match.

By the way, the top step of the cathedral steps is my spot. Don’t you even think about knicking it, or I’ll bate you off it with me floorbrush! (I take it everywhere you see, for the social distancing thing).

Oh boy am I ever gonna regret this, but hands held up, it seems that Mr Patrick Harold Edward Wilfred Denis Alexander Norman Gerald Mustard
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nope can't do it.............
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damn it condiment man
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okay, okay
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he had a point after all...............................(a person can be tested and give a negative reading even though they could have have the virus and then be retested several days later and now have it)

Dang it that was tough to do! I still think we should start preparing for our games next week though, so I do!!

 

[Big Jim]

It's on the horizon and the sun is coming up
https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2020/0603/1145126-gaa-look-set-to-sign-off-on-return-to-play-roadmap/

 

[PatMustard]

What’s the jist of it? I can’t be bothered reading all that

 

[Big Jim]

What’s the jist of it? I can’t be bothered reading all that

Training starts at 6.30pm this evening BE THERE!! No excuses that you can't be arsed!
Games return Sunday week 14th, but we get a bye until the AI final, just because our manager has lost his hair! BE THERE!! No excuses that you can't be arsed!

 

[PatMustard]

Training starts at 6.30pm this evening BE THERE!! No excuses that you can't be arsed!
Games return Sunday week 14th, but we get a bye until the AI final, just because our manager has lost his hair! BE THERE!! No excuses that you can't be arsed!

Even your reply was too long. Can’t be bothered reading that neither

 

[Big Jim]

Even your reply was too long. Can’t be bothered reading that neither

BE THERE!!

 

[JoeH]

It's on the horizon and the sun is coming up
https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2020/0603/1145126-gaa-look-set-to-sign-off-on-return-to-play-roadmap/

The necessity to change from 2m to 1m distancing is required soon to move all of this along.
With elite athletes returning to training and some league of Ireland soccer teams returning to training next week its important that, as long as the figures back it up, the June 29th date should really include elements of stage 4.
This would mean club games could start early August.
I note that other European countries are already considering allowing spectators into games so 8-10 weeks from now we could see spectators at our games albeit under some sort of control.

Hopefully it will clear the way for schools to be able to take all their pupils come September

It's all positive as normality returns
But there will always be naysayers......

https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0603/1145257-high-performance-athletes-set-to-return-to-training/

 

[Big Jim]

The necessity to change from 2m to 1m distancing is required soon to move all of this along.
With elite athletes returning to training and some league of Ireland soccer teams returning to training next week its important that, as long as the figures back it up, the June 29th date should really include elements of stage 4.
This would mean club games could start early August.
I note that other European countries are already considering allowing spectators into games so 8-10 weeks from now we could see spectators at our games albeit under some sort of control.

Hopefully it will clear the way for schools to be able to take all their pupils come September

It's all positive as normality returns
But there will always be naysayers......

https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0603/1145257-high-performance-athletes-set-to-return-to-training/

Ah yeah. It'll turn all right, but I guess, as you say, it'll be dependant on the numbers being right and stabilising.

Known for talking sh*te I may as well add, it's just strange now that you "HAVE" to wear a mask going in to a bank. Oh how things change. Not so very long ago, young wemen of a certain ethnicity were belittled for wearing their face covering Niqab. He who laughs last and all that! If it weren't for the alcohol brigade at games, there'd be no reason not to have masks worn at games. Toilet facilities though pose the biggest issue I see going forward, with a massive emphasis on hygiene. How often do men notice [sorry ladies] others leaving the toilets without washing??

Just one thing though Joe, I'm not in 100% agreement with. I'm not keen on normality returning. Don't want no more of that. A new normal will do nicely!

NOW, let's all stay safe and start dreaming of watching our games again LIVE - well at least with Tiger's commentary on the ecclesiastically caramel covered capital team. I'm gonna buy one of those super fancy mobile phone things and stream the stream so I can make a fortune aff buck eeeejits lack me!!

 

[PatMustard]

Here @Big Jim - thanks for telling me about training tonight!

 

[PatMustard]

Ah yeah. It'll turn all right, but I guess, as you say, it'll be dependant on the numbers being right and stabilising.

Known for talking sh*te I may as well add, it's just strange now that you "HAVE" to wear a mask going in to a bank. Oh how things change. Not so very long ago, young wemen of a certain ethnicity were belittled for wearing their face covering Niqab. He who laughs last and all that! If it weren't for the alcohol brigade at games, there'd be no reason not to have masks worn at games. Toilet facilities though pose the biggest issue I see going forward, with a massive emphasis on hygiene. How often do men notice [sorry ladies] others leaving the toilets without washing??

Just one thing though Joe, I'm not in 100% agreement with. I'm not keen on normality returning. Don't want no more of that. A new normal will do nicely!

NOW, let's all stay safe and start dreaming of watching our games again LIVE - well at least with Tiger's commentary on the ecclesiastically caramel covered capital team. I'm gonna buy one of those super fancy mobile phone things and stream the stream so I can make a fortune aff buck eeeejits lack me!!

Aye I thought about the toilet facilities at matches. Most of the time the taps don’t work, never mind having soap or towels. Perhaps they’ll have hand squirty bottles instead.

You’ve your head screwed on. Stream the stream. Nice one. Just don’t cross the streams. You know what will happen if you do that.

 

[Big Jim]

Here @Big Jim - thanks for telling me about training tonight!

No bo'her big lad. Hope ye enjoyed yersel!! I couldn't be arsed going!!

 

[Big Jim]

Aye I thought about the toilet facilities at matches. Most of the time the taps don’t work, never mind having soap or towels. Perhaps they’ll have hand squirty bottles instead.

You’ve your head screwed on. Stream the stream. Nice one. Just don’t cross the streams. You know what will happen if you do that.

Jeez I do that Pat, I do that alright.

I mind the time was in the public loos in belshaft with me wee mate. Must a been about 14 or 15. We were trying to see how high we could pee and you'd never believe it but big Ian (you know thon priest bloke from Billymeena) walked in. He hit the bloody roof. Never crossed streams since. Got well slimed that day!!