Coronavirus: COVID-19 sparks big civic response in Derry

The Council, churches, businesses and many sections of civil society have taken extraordinary measures to stop the disease from spreading.

Some schools have closed for the week, pubs and restaurants have shut their doors, and the Derry Feis has been postponed.

Seven new cases were confirmed in the North yesterday bringing the total number in the jurisdiction to 52. Seventy nine new cases were confirmed in the south over the weekend bringing the total number there to 169.

As the ‘Journal’ went to Press there were 221 cases on the island.

Yesterday the Health Minister Robin Swann said dealing with the pandemic could be the greatest societal challenge since the Second World War.

“There is no magic bullet, no single action to stop this virus, but there are a number of actions which will reduce its impact. We will take all necessary decisions to reduce the potential toll on our society and to seek to ease the pressures on our health service - so the sickest get the care they need.”

But Mr. Swann and his Executive colleague, the Education Minister Peter Weir, both said now was not the time to close schools, in contrast to their counterparts Simon Harris and Joe McHugh across the border.

Some schools in Derry have opted to voluntarily close their doors to pupils this week in order to make contingencies for remote learning.

The Derry girls’ grammar school, Thornhill College, said: “In the absence of any clear guidance from the Government we have taken the decision to utilise our remaining three INSET Days to make contingency plans for remote learning.

“Therefore in the interests of well-being, students are asked to remain at home for the remainder of this week.”

Lisneal College will be closed on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday “to allow staff to prepare for the likely closure of schools referred to by the Education Minister in his most recent communication to Principals”.

Several primary schools - from St. Eithne’s Primary School in Hazelbank to Glendermott Primary School in Ardmore - have closed for the week but will open again next Monday unless advised otherwise by the Executive.

Derry City and Strabane District Council agreed to shut all Council owned buildings to the public for an initial two-week period. It has cancelled the City of Derry Jazz Festival with other events and services being kept under constant review. Bin collection services will continue including today and Recycling Centres are operating as normal.

But the Council’s Bulky Waste Collection service has been suspended until March 27.

The Western Trust introduced restricted access at Altnagelvin yesterday but did not say whether this was a precautionary measure against the potential spread of COVID-19.

“There will be no hospital access via the Emergency Department. Only people attending the Emergency Department may use this entrance. We advise that the Main Hospital entrance and South Wing entrance are used as alternates. Out of hours, South Wing entrance is to be used to gain entry to the hospital. Staff can gain access using their swipe access card and visitors who have pre authorisation to attend the hospital can gain access via the video intercom at the South Wing entrance,” the Trust said.

Culturally, coronavirus has taken its own toll. The Feis Dhoire Cholmcille committee has called off the Feis.

“We are in uncharted times and we all must do as much as possible to stop the spread of this terrible disease,” the committee said. It hopes to hold the competition in the autumn.

The Millennium Forum is among several venues that have closed for a time to try to stop COVID-19.

Cancelled events include: Moves and Melodies: 19 March; Springfest: 24 March; Kevin ‘Bloody’ Wilson: 25 March; Dementia Tea Dance: 26 March; Energy Of Light Disco: 27 March; Keep Telling Me Lies: 27 March.

The Brunswick Moviebowl has closed until the end of March.

“We are incredibly proud of our team here at Brunswick Moviebowl and we would ask all employees to use this time wisely to look out for and care for the vulnerable and elderly in our community who are most at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said management.

And many bars, pubs and restaurants have voluntarily decided to shut up shop.

The owners of Peadar O’Donnell’s, the Gweedore Bar and 57 called last orders indefinitely on Sunday.

“This decision was not taken lightly as this is our busiest time of year and is a big contributor to our viability as a going concern,” it said.

The proprietor of the Sooty Olive said: “Due to the current public health crisis we have made the decision to close with immediate effect until it’s deemed safe to reopen.”

In a positive development Derry e-cig liquid maker Liquid Creations Ltd. in Newbuildings, has rejigged its production lines in order to produce free hand sanitiser for older people.

Moheet Vij started the new line at the weekend and said the plant in Newbuildings had been extremely busy.

“In the first instance, we want to supply over 500 bottles free to the elderly and charities, but we will also be delivering 100,000 units to a UK supermarket chain.”

Meanwhile, Masses across the entire Diocese of Derry will be suspended from tomorrow, the Bishop of Derry, Dónal McKeown confirmed.

In his St. Patrick’s Day message Archbishop Eamon Martin said: “I ask for your prayers in particular for our brave and selfless health workers and for the medical scientists who are searching for a vaccine and better treatments. Pray that government and public health authorities can make wise judgements and decisions about how to limit the impact of the virus, especially on the most vulnerable.

“In Ireland we have a strong tradition that God is at our side in time of trouble. It remains important to keep reminding ourselves and others in the coming days that we are never completely isolated: Christ is beside us, before us, behind us, on our right and on our left, beneath us and above us.”