Thread by @MariaIreland

THREAD - Update on #covid19 #CoronavirusOutbreak #ireland We hope to hear conferences tomorrow from @WHO @HSELive with guidelines on where we go from here. Mass H2H transmission evident in many countries,including Italy. Italy was 1st country in Europe to close border w/China (1)

Why does Italy have so many cases and Ireland has none? Well Italy wisely began testing all pts presenting with flu like symptoms for #covid19, to see if evidence of H2H transmission, which they indeed did find. (2)

HSE currently only testing for #covid19 in pts with flu like symptoms AND travel hx to China or effected areas. Community acquired infection won't be picked up with these tests. Hence why we are not picking up on these cases. H2H transmission is undeniably occurring here too. (3)

What does this mean for us here in Ireland? Well #Covid_19 is a NOVEL virus & as such this is new for all involved. Many of us have not experienced #Pandemic here in Ireland, and it is understandably confusing and frightening at this early stage. (4)

However, the @WHO and @HSELive @hpscireland is here to lead us through this dark night. Tomorrow, we implore you to give us honest, transparent, and realistic guidance and advice in the wake of the revelations from Italy this weekend. (5)

@HSELive Please. Please not another conference denying transmission in Ireland at this point. There IS no denying it. Tell us that you will actively seek to diagnose #Covid_19 in pts with flu like symptoms. Tell us how you are going to deal with this inevitable #pandemic (6)

Are schools and businesses going to close? Will we be placed under quarantine once cases are dx? Have supermarkets enough supply should everyone be placed under quarantine at the same time, such as is happening in Italy? Why are members of the public unable to purchase masks? (7)

Should the elderly and the immunocompromised not at the very least be afforded this extra protection? When are you going to source extra ICU beds? Where are you going to put these extra beds? When are you going to hire additional healthcare staff? (8)

How are you going to protect healthcare staff when already globally we are running low on PPE? Are you going to open factories in the coming weeks to manufacture additional PPE to meet demand? Do we have the potential to provide 1,000's additional hospital beds in coming weeks?(9

There are many more questions and issues that need to be addressed. So, @HSELive @WHO instead of having a conference tomorrow telling us what we already know, be brave. Answer us the questions that we actually need answers for. You owe us that. (10)

@ciarakellydoc

@FergalBowers