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People tag me in angry tweets because I think Ireland have done really well in a pandemic.
Dozens of hours going through every European country looking at testing, how they classify deaths, how they count them and you think I'll ignore all of it because you call me a prick?
Dozens of hours going through every European country looking at testing, how they classify deaths, how they count them and you think I'll ignore all of it because you call me a prick?
The CIA classify Western Europe as follows: Belgium, France, Holland, UK, Ireland.
Out of that lot, not only did we over-count like Belgium, we're still doing best despite the over-counting.
If you go with the definition that includes Spain and Portugal, we're doing 2nd best.
Out of that lot, not only did we over-count like Belgium, we're still doing best despite the over-counting.
If you go with the definition that includes Spain and Portugal, we're doing 2nd best.
And you'd have to ignore the University of Lisbon study asserting Portugal has up to 4,000 excess deaths unaccounted for in their official totals in order to place Ireland 2nd.
The overwhelming likelihood is we've performed the very best in Western Europe, where we live.
The overwhelming likelihood is we've performed the very best in Western Europe, where we live.
Holland's outbreak started 2 days before us. Belgium and Portugal's transmission started after us in March.
We utilized our late-start pretty well. Our ICU's never got overwhelmed and we've maintained a shit ton of spare hospital beds.
We utilized our late-start pretty well. Our ICU's never got overwhelmed and we've maintained a shit ton of spare hospital beds.
We've the lowest # of HCW deaths per capita in Western Europe, which is the ultimate determination of how well a country protects their front line.
So far we've by far the lowest excess deaths in Western Europe, a sign of how well a country protected the general population.
So far we've by far the lowest excess deaths in Western Europe, a sign of how well a country protected the general population.
Our testing levels are top 10 in the world for the overall amount of population tested and we've almost certainly tested more nursing home residents per capita than any country in Europe given the recent testing drives.
That's a lot of good stuff.
That's a lot of good stuff.
Take Dublin.
1,200 death notices in April on http://RIP.ie - the highest on record.
Yet previous highest in Jan 2018 was also over 1,000. So at worst we're looking at only 17% extra deaths in Dublin than bad flu season. Lowest capital city excess in western Europe.
1,200 death notices in April on http://RIP.ie - the highest on record.
Yet previous highest in Jan 2018 was also over 1,000. So at worst we're looking at only 17% extra deaths in Dublin than bad flu season. Lowest capital city excess in western Europe.
Take Cork.
This is a pandemic and yet Cork's April death postings aren't even the highest in the past 5 years!
15 of the 26 counties show no excess deaths on last year.
Think that through. Roughly same amount of people dying as last year in 15 counties.
In a pandemic.
This is a pandemic and yet Cork's April death postings aren't even the highest in the past 5 years!
15 of the 26 counties show no excess deaths on last year.
Think that through. Roughly same amount of people dying as last year in 15 counties.
In a pandemic.
Reality here is we have done an exceptional job in Ireland.
By "we" I do not mean the Government, which people seem hopelessly confused about. The Government CAN'T socially distance, can't make you wash your hands, can't go into a lab and test people, can't operate a ventilator.
By "we" I do not mean the Government, which people seem hopelessly confused about. The Government CAN'T socially distance, can't make you wash your hands, can't go into a lab and test people, can't operate a ventilator.
Success of a pandemic response is society led. Universal truth. You can love or hate politicians in any country but they can't flatten a curve without their people doing it for them.
And we did it, while protecting HCW's and maintaining the lowest death rate in Western Europe.
And we did it, while protecting HCW's and maintaining the lowest death rate in Western Europe.
Tony, Paul, Simon all worked tremendously together to get the Public Health side of it right.
I'm in a minority of one but I believe every political party would have done well leading this pandemic response because they had the Irish people on their team.
I'm in a minority of one but I believe every political party would have done well leading this pandemic response because they had the Irish people on their team.
"Green jersey flag waver".
Yeah, actually.
I love this country, and it says more about you than me if you think that's an insult to support Ireland during a global crisis.
I rooted for us to do well. I think we have. Your insults won't change my opinion.
Yeah, actually.
I love this country, and it says more about you than me if you think that's an insult to support Ireland during a global crisis.
I rooted for us to do well. I think we have. Your insults won't change my opinion.
