sluggerotoole--2020-03-20--Potential game changer in testing for #Covid-19 antibodies…

So testing .
Here ’ s a couple of things I ’ ve found I think might be useful .
This from the BBC ’ s reality check team is well worth reading : At the moment only people in hospital are being routinely tested , so if you have symptoms and you are not sure if you have the virus , you may well not be able to find out .
As of 19 March , 64,621 people in the UK had been tested for coronavirus .
The number of tests has been rising from just over 1,000 a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when testing began , to more than 6,000 per day by mid-March .
The government plans to increase this to 10,000 a day initially , with a goal of reaching 25,000 tests a day within four weeks So that ’ s good .
Too late you might say .
Yes , but our just-in-time , super-fast , super-efficient supply system was ill-prepared for this scale of disruption ( we ’ ll look at that in a later post ) or the diffuse challenges it ’ s made for our depleted health system .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s coming in health through the clearing of shelves in our supermarkets .
The surge in panic has temporarily created an artificial scarcity in our normally abundant supply chain .
In retail that will even out relatively soon .
In the case of our health systems , not so much .
Anyway , testing .
More from the BBC : There are two main reasons for testing people – to diagnose them individually , and to try to understand how far the virus has spread in the wider population .
This second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing ” .
This can involve mass testing people even if they do not have symptoms , or testing samples of people with symptoms , to get an idea of the total number of people with the virus .
Positive results can also be used to try to trace the contacts of people who are known to be infected .
The failure to test more widely means that many people might be self-isolating for no good reason .
Public Health England says it will do some surveillance testing on a local level if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a network of 100 designated GP surgeries .
This is to try to get a sense of how many milder cases there are in the community that do not result in hospitalisation .
But the UK is not currently doing any mass surveillance testing or actively tracing people who have come into contact with known cases .
So why is the UK doing less testing ?
Ultimately , this mainly comes down to resources .
Every country is limited by how much money , equipment and staff it has – it is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single person , so healthcare systems have to prioritise .
The UK ’ s chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Vallance told a group of MPs that “ we simply don ’ t have mass testing available for the population now ” , and that “ when you only have capacity to do a certain number of tests ” you have to prioritise the most vulnerable groups .
But it ’ s also partly to do with how widespread the virus is .
“ Testing and contact tracing is critical – particularly in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark Woolhouse , an infectious diseases expert at the University of Edinburgh .
However , he says once you are beyond the “ containment phase ” , this may become less useful .
If the illness becomes so widespread that the cases known to health services are just the tip of the iceberg , and there are many more milder cases among people who don ’ t present , then “ contact-tracing of the small fraction of cases that are visible won ’ t do very much , ” he said .
Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a molecular virologist at the University of Nottingham says that testing is needed to monitor where the disease actually is , and it could prevent health workers from self-isolating unnecessarily and depleting the workforce .
The problem with the current test is that it only tells you whether you have Covid-19 at the time of testing .
But a team led by Professor Florian Krammer thinks they may have a serological test that can test for Covid-19 antibodies .
…the answers won ’ t come from the RNA-based diagnostic tests now being given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look for the presence of viral genes in a nose or throat swab , a sign of an active infection .
But scientists also need to test a person ’ s blood for antibodies to the new virus , known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ( SARS-CoV-2 ) .
Such tests can detect active infections , too , but more importantly , they can tell whether a person has been infected in the past because the body retains antibodies against pathogens it has already overcome .
It is still very much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving on to testing in the team ’ s New York hospital .
If proven through rapid trialling to be reliable , this one innovation in testing could help change the course of the epidemic : Widespread antibody testing could also provide key data for efforts to model the course of the pandemic .
Current predictions vary so widely , causing some scientists to question the need for severe containment methods such as lockdowns and social distancing .
By indicating how much of the population is already immune because of mild infections , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how fast the virus will continue to spread .
Such data could inform practical issues such as whether and how to reopen schools that have been closed .
Relatively few cases have been diagnosed among children , but it isn ’ t clear whether that ’ s because they don ’ t get infected or because their infections are generally so mild that they go unnoticed .
Testing children for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies should resolve that .
Longer term antibody tests will also help researchers understand how long immunity to the virus lasts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For other coronaviruses , Krammer notes , immunity after an infection is strong for several months , but then begins to wane .
Doctors in Germany are now testing COVID-19 patients from the small cluster of cases in Bavaria in January .
One month after infection , antibody levels remained high , says Clemens Wendtner , an infectious disease specialist at the Schwabing Clinic .
Do read it all .
There ’ s no indication yet as how long it would take to get such a test operational and working say on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so in the meantime , the much blunter instruments of societal closure will continue apace .
But at least it is a chink of light up ahead… “ HIV Antibody Testing Kit ” by NIAID is licensed under CC BY

So testing. Here’s a couple of things I’ve found I think might be useful. This from the BBC’s reality check team is well worth reading:
At the moment only people in hospital are being routinely tested, so if you have symptoms and you are not sure if you have the virus, you may well not be able to find out. As of 19 March, 64,621 people in the UK had been tested for coronavirus. The number of tests has been rising from just over 1,000 a day at the end of February, when testing began, to more than 6,000 per day by mid-March. The government plans to increase this to 10,000 a day initially, with a goal of reaching 25,000 tests a day within four weeks
So that’s good. Too late you might say. Yes, but our just-in-time, super-fast, super-efficient supply system was ill-prepared for this scale of disruption (we’ll look at that in a later post) or the diffuse challenges it’s made for our depleted health system.
We can see an echo of what’s coming in health through the clearing of shelves in our supermarkets. The surge in panic has temporarily created a scarcity in our normally abundant supply chain. In retail that will even out relatively soon.
In the case of our health systems, not so much.
Anyway, testing. More from the BBC:
There are two main reasons for testing people – to diagnose them individually, and to try to understand how far the virus has spread in the wider population. This second reason is referred to as “surveillance testing”. This can involve mass testing people even if they do not have symptoms, or testing samples of people with symptoms, to get an idea of the total number of people with the virus. Positive results can also be used to try to trace the contacts of people who are known to be infected. The failure to test more widely means that many people might be self-isolating for no good reason. Public Health England says it will do some surveillance testing on a local level if clusters of cases are identified, using a network of 100 designated GP surgeries. This is to try to get a sense of how many milder cases there are in the community that do not result in hospitalisation. But the UK is not currently doing any mass surveillance testing or actively tracing people who have come into contact with known cases.
So why is the UK doing less testing?
Ultimately, this mainly comes down to resources. Every country is limited by how much money, equipment and staff it has – it is not going to be possible to test every single person, so healthcare systems have to prioritise. The UK’s chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Vallance told a group of MPs that “we simply don’t have mass testing available for the population now”, and that “when you only have capacity to do a certain number of tests” you have to prioritise the most vulnerable groups. But it’s also partly to do with how widespread the virus is. “Testing and contact tracing is critical – particularly in the early stages,” according to Prof Mark Woolhouse, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Edinburgh. However, he says once you are beyond the “containment phase”, this may become less useful. If the illness becomes so widespread that the cases known to health services are just the tip of the iceberg, and there are many more milder cases among people who don’t present, then “contact-tracing of the small fraction of cases that are visible won’t do very much,” he said.
Not everyone agrees. Prof Jonathan Ball, a molecular virologist at the University of Nottingham says that testing is needed to monitor where the disease actually is, and it could prevent health workers from self-isolating unnecessarily and depleting the workforce.
The problem with the current test is that it only tells you whether you have Covid-19 at the time of testing. But a team led by Professor Florian Krammer thinks they may have a serological test that can test for Covid-19 antibodies.
That’s a potential game-changer. Here’s Science Mag:
…the answers won’t come from the RNA-based diagnostic tests now being given by the tens of thousands. They look for the presence of viral genes in a nose or throat swab, a sign of an active infection. But scientists also need to test a person’s blood for antibodies to the new virus, known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Such tests can detect active infections, too, but more importantly, they can tell whether a person has been infected in the past because the body retains antibodies against pathogens it has already overcome.
It is still very much in the discovery stage but is rapidly moving on to testing in the team’s New York hospital. If proven through rapid trialling to be reliable, this one innovation in testing could help change the course of the epidemic:
Widespread antibody testing could also provide key data for efforts to model the course of the pandemic. Current predictions vary so widely, causing some scientists to question the need for severe containment methods such as lockdowns and social distancing. By indicating how much of the population is already immune because of mild infections, antibody data could offer a key to how fast the virus will continue to spread. Such data could inform practical issues such as whether and how to reopen schools that have been closed. Relatively few cases have been diagnosed among children, but it isn’t clear whether that’s because they don’t get infected or because their infections are generally so mild that they go unnoticed. Testing children for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies should resolve that. Longer term antibody tests will also help researchers understand how long immunity to the virus lasts, a key issue for any future vaccine. For other coronaviruses, Krammer notes, immunity after an infection is strong for several months, but then begins to wane. Doctors in Germany are now testing COVID-19 patients from the small cluster of cases in Bavaria in January. One month after infection, antibody levels remained high, says Clemens Wendtner, an infectious disease specialist at the Schwabing Clinic.
Do read it all. There’s no indication yet as how long it would take to get such a test operational and working say on the ground in Ireland and the UK, so in the meantime, the much blunter instruments of societal closure will continue apace.
But at least it is a chink of light up ahead…
“HIV Antibody Testing Kit” by NIAID is licensed under CC BY


sluggerotoole--2020-03-20--#Quarantunes: The big Slugger Friday night concert/playlist thingie…

Was talking to our local publican last night and he pointed out that performers of all sorts were simply not @ @ @ @ @ play .
Then I came across the # Quarantunes hashtag from Paddy Cullivan on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ of it .
Here ’ s Willie Nelson ’ s son Lukas for a starter @ @ @ @ @ own best finds ?
Only rule is that it has to be a fresh performance @ @ @ @ @ oldies , please .
Let the concert begin !
Many singers , many songs !
@ @ @ @ @ under CC BY-NC-SA

Was talking to our local publican last night and he pointed out that performers of all sorts were simply not going to have anywhere to play. Then I came across the #Quarantunes hashtag from Paddy Cullivan on Twitter. But YouTube is full of it.
Here’s Willie Nelson’s son Lukas for a starter. Fire away with your own best finds? Only rule is that it has to be a fresh performance from this hashtag. No oldies, please. Let the concert begin! Many singers, many songs!
Photo by Free-Photos is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-03-20--A plea to Our Politicians; please spend the emergency funding you have been allocated by the Chancel

A plea to Our Politicians; please spend the emergency funding you have been allocated by the Chancellor as he intended and on the basis of need…

Following the publication of my recent article on Monday literally pleading for Stormont to reallocate money from its capital budgets to stop the collapse of the local economy , it is pleasing to hear Westminster announce targeted financial support for Northern Ireland .
However , the pronouncements from our Politicians in recent days as to how they are going to spend these funds is however deeply worrying and their approach needs to be challenged and scrutinised to ensure these funds are not wasted and are then distributed fairly , efficiently and quickly .
The three months rates holiday proposed is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in duration .
Its shows a lack of understanding of how business works in practice .
It assumes that when this is all over in three months , that business will just suddenly return back to normal .
This is not going to happen , and businesses will need at least a year to bounce back .
Northern Ireland now needs the same business rates holiday as the rest of the UK .
The Assembly is proposing to give the supermarkets and large-scale convenience retail the same rates holiday as distressed sole traders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
This makes no sense considering there is so much distress elsewhere in the economy .
These types of businesses should not benefit from business rates relief .
My first observation on the emergency funding provided by Westminster is that the NI Assembly seem to have held back the majority of the funds provided to it and seem to be treating these funds as the missing funds they previously requested to fill the holes in their existing budgets , I hope this is not the case and that the funds are spent as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to be used to protect jobs and support the local Economy ensuring it does not collapse .
My second observation is the NI Assembly has literally no idea how to distribute these funds have come up with proposals to allocate the monies to businesses based on the rateable value of the premises they occupy .
This is grossly unfair and needs to be rethought through .
These funds need to be allocated on the basis of need , not by the NAV of a property .
On this basis , a small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three staff trading in a property with a NAV of greater than £15k and can continue to trade during this crisis would receive a cash payment of £25k whilst a hair salon in premises with an NAV of £12k employing say 12 staff which can not trade as their staff have to physically touch customers would only receive £10k .
This is wrong and not thought through .
Another real example would be self-employed businesses who are located in Flexible Office Accommodation such as Serviced Offices and Coworking Spaces would end up receiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Business Rates , these are paid by their Landlord .
This is wrong and certainly not the Chancellors intent .
You would have thought from RHI , that our Politicians and Civil Servants would have learned from their past mistakes about wasting money .
However , from my reading of the proposals outlined by the Assembly , it appears they have not and that many of the businesses and the jobs they support and which are in distress will not receive the support they need .
Finally , from reading the Hansard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the sense of urgency just is not there with our Politicians .
Businesses shouldn ’ t expect this financial support anytime soon based on a reading of some of the debates that went on in there in recent days .
Our Politicians and Civil Servants need to regroup , talk to representatives of the various Trade Bodies , a sample of businesses and self-employed people from across NI and work out how they are going to give this money out on the basis of need , in an efficient way and above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Slugger readers who accused me of being political in suggesting the funds allocated for capital projects such as Casement Park , should be reallocated to saving our local economy , I would still strongly argue this should still happen as it is going to take everything we have to stop our economy from collapsing .
The world has changed , this is all about survival now .
Photo by fotografierende is licensed under CC0

Following the publication of my recent article on Monday literally pleading for Stormont to reallocate money from its capital budgets to stop the collapse of the local economy, it is pleasing to hear Westminster announce targeted financial support for Northern Ireland.
However, the pronouncements from our Politicians in recent days as to how they are going to spend these funds is however deeply worrying and their approach needs to be challenged and scrutinised to ensure these funds are not wasted and are then distributed fairly, efficiently and quickly.
The three months rates holiday proposed is a good start but is too short in duration. Its shows a lack of understanding of how business works in practice. It assumes that when this is all over in three months, that business will just suddenly return back to normal. This is not going to happen, and businesses will need at least a year to bounce back. Northern Ireland now needs the same business rates holiday as the rest of the UK.
The Assembly is proposing to give the supermarkets and large-scale convenience retail the same rates holiday as distressed sole traders when their businesses are booming, Why? This makes no sense considering there is so much distress elsewhere in the economy. These types of businesses should not benefit from business rates relief.
My first observation on the emergency funding provided by Westminster is that the NI Assembly seem to have held back the majority of the funds provided to it and seem to be treating these funds as the missing funds they previously requested to fill the holes in their existing budgets, I hope this is not the case and that the funds are spent as the Chancellor intended. These funds now need to be used to protect jobs and support the local Economy ensuring it does not collapse.
My second observation is the NI Assembly has literally no idea how to distribute these funds have come up with proposals to allocate the monies to businesses based on the rateable value of the premises they occupy. This is grossly unfair and needs to be rethought through.
These funds need to be allocated on the basis of need, not by the NAV of a property. On this basis, a small business, say a high-end Jeweller with three staff trading in a property with a NAV of greater than £15k and can continue to trade during this crisis would receive a cash payment of £25k whilst a hair salon in premises with an NAV of £12k employing say 12 staff which cannot trade as their staff have to physically touch customers would only receive £10k. This is wrong and not thought through.
Another real example would be self-employed businesses who are located in Flexible Office Accommodation such as Serviced Offices and Coworking Spaces would end up receiving nothing as they don’t pay the Business Rates, these are paid by their Landlord. This is wrong and certainly not the Chancellors intent.
You would have thought from RHI, that our Politicians and Civil Servants would have learned from their past mistakes about wasting money. However, from my reading of the proposals outlined by the Assembly, it appears they have not and that many of the businesses and the jobs they support and which are in distress will not receive the support they need.
Finally, from reading the Hansard for today’s proceedings at Stormont, the sense of urgency just is not there with our Politicians. Businesses shouldn’t expect this financial support anytime soon based on a reading of some of the debates that went on in there in recent days.
Our Politicians and Civil Servants need to regroup, talk to representatives of the various Trade Bodies, a sample of businesses and self-employed people from across NI and work out how they are going to give this money out on the basis of need, in an efficient way and above all, quickly.
And to the Slugger readers who accused me of being political in suggesting the funds allocated for capital projects such as Casement Park, should be reallocated to saving our local economy, I would still strongly argue this should still happen as it is going to take everything we have to stop our economy from collapsing.
The world has changed, this is all about survival now.
Photo by fotografierende is licensed under CC0


sluggerotoole--2020-03-20--Is there a spirit of the Troubles that could help see us through Covid 19?

Some people have been invoking “ the Blitz spirit ” to cope with the “ war ” against coronavirus .
Is there a Troubles spirit that might help too ?
Perhaps .
In the early 70s bombing was the grisly routine .
People skirted around incidents and shopkeepers called in council workers and the glaziers , ( a highly profitable trade ) , to clear up the mess .
It helped that a chief constable ’ s certificate rather than insurance became the norm for claiming compensation .
For most of the time an easier normality prevailed , once town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zones ” and frisking on entering premises of any size became universal .
This of course is the surface impression .
The reality was punctuated by episodes of real horror when normal life stood still .
And behind the routine were cramped spirits , constricted ambitions and deep , underlying anxiety and anger .
In 1973 -4 , routines were seriously interrupted for more than week by two events that occurred within six months of each other , the UK wide Three Day Week of late 1973 early 74 and the Ulster Workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a UDA rebellion ) , four months later , a sort of local encore of the first staged especially for us in Northern Ireland .
In the three day week the clue is in the name ; electricity was rationed for factory production after the oil price soared in response the latest Arab Israel War .
Seizing their chance , British coal miners struck for massively more pay for fuelling the power stations , most of which were adaptable for both oil and coal .
Ted Heath ’ s government battened down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Who Governs Britain election the voters replied with “ Not You Mate ” and Harold Wilson formed a minority government .
For us the two stoppages were intimately connected .
In the middle of the power cuts , the British and Irish government and the local parties ( but not Sinn Fein , still at war with no end in sight ) concluded the Sunningdale Agreement that set up the first power sharing government .
But not as single pro power sharing unionist was returned in the Westminster election only two months after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was set for its overthrow in May .
The effect on routine was striking .
BBC NI and UTV staked out the negotiations in Sunningdale civil service college in Berkshire .
Our accommodation was basically a toilet block away from the main house .
We ’ d hired the last few cars out of Heathrow 20 miles away .
But petrol stations were usually empty or closed , many street lights were switched off and we didn ’ t dare to make for the only local hotel available miles away in Windsor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christopher Wren , in case we couldn ’ t make it back to Sunningdale .
Nights stretched into days .
Some colleagues drowned their sorrows a little too well and had to be bailed out with impromptu copy services when the conferences suddenly broke up on Sunday evening .
The following May human agency was much more close up and personal in the UWC strike .
The power workers at Ballylumford walked out willingly or otherwise .
Masked men set up road blocks .
The UWC council graciously issued permits to allow essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces took little action , refusing to fight a war on two fronts against the IRA and UDA/UVF..
The BBC set up a prototype continuous news service in the infant Radio Ulster and was inevitably criticised for making things worse .
Senior managers the controller Dick Francis and the head of programmes Ronnie Mason hugely enjoyed themselves driving emergency generators up from Dublin .
It was less fun for staff who had their names taken by masked men as they left home to loyally turn up for work .
One evening the UWC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unionist Home Affairs Minister came in for interview .
Bill had founded , Vanguard a quasi fascist group that contained former and actual unionists like himself .
Inflammatory speeches and dark threats were Bill ’ s shtick rather than organisation .
Events were certainly beyond his control .
Some of us joined him for a drink in the small hospitality room where the problems of Northern Ireland were frequently solved in drink but the solutions were forgotten in sobriety .
Our programme secretary began quietly sobbing .
What was wrong ?
Masked UDA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work that morning but she had defied them .
At this Ronnie Mason stood up and leant over the capo de capi .
He had been to Queen ’ s with Bill and was not impressed with his shady eminence .
“ Bill ” , Ronnie roared , “ Call your f *** ing dogs off my staff.
” Oh Christ I thought , we ’ re for it now .
“ I ’ m awful sorry , Ronnie ” , said Bill , a man who claimed he was off the drink @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I ’ ll try to do something about it.
” The collapse of Sunningdale and the UDA rebellion that followed was of those episodes that gave us more than a hint of what a breakdown of society might be like – something fervently to avoid , however long the Covid 19 emergency lasts .

Some people have been invoking “the Blitz spirit” to cope with the “war” against coronavirus. Is there a Troubles spirit that might help too? Perhaps. In the early 70s the threat of the no warning bomb was the terrifying norm. People skirted around incidents and shopkeepers called in council workers and the glaziers, (a highly profitable trade), to clear up the mess. It helped that a chief constable’s certificate rather than insurance became the norm for claiming compensation. Once town centres were sealed off by “control zones” and frisking on entering premises of any size became universal, tensions eased a little. But this was the surface reality. Episodes of real horror were part of an endless vista of a disordered existence in which normality of a kind could still be lived. Behind the routine were cramped spirits, constricted ambitions and deep, underlying anxiety and anger.
In 1973 -4, routines were seriously interrupted for more than week by two events that occurred within six months of each other, the UK wide Three Day Week of late 1973 early 74 and the Ulster Workers’ Council strike, four months later, a local encore of the first staged exclusively for us in Northern Ireland.
In the three day week the clue is in the name; electricity was rationed for factory production after the oil price soared in response the latest Arab Israel War. Seizing their chance, British coal miners struck for massively more pay for fuelling the power stations, most of which were adaptable for both oil and coal. Ted Heath’s government battened down the hatches. In February 1974 in the Who Governs Britain election the voters replied with “Not You Mate” and Harold Wilson formed a minority government.
For us the two stoppages were intimately connected. In the middle of the power cuts, the British and Irish government and the local parties (but not Sinn Fein, still at war with no end in sight) concluded the Sunningdale Agreement that set up the first power sharing government. But not a single pro power sharing unionist was returned in the Westminster election only two months after the Executive was formed. The stage was set for its overthrow in May.
The effect on routine was striking. BBC NI and UTV staked out the negotiations in Sunningdale civil service college in Berkshire, ready to go live. Broadcasting equipment was much more cumbersome than today and with power supplies erratic, it was a very hairy operation. .Our accommodation was basically a toilet block away from the main house. We’d hired the last few cars out of Heathrow 20 miles away. But petrol stations were usually empty or closed, many street lights were switched off and we didn’t dare to make for the only local hotel available miles away in Windsor, a magnificent boutique establishment designed by Sir Christopher Wren , in case we couldn’t make it back to Sunningdale. Nights stretched into days. Some colleagues drowned their sorrows a little too well and had to be bailed out with impromptu copy services when the conferences suddenly broke up on Sunday evening.
The following May human agency was much more close up and personal in the UWC strike. The power workers at Ballylumford walked out willingly or otherwise. Masked men set up road blocks. The UWC council graciously issued permits to allow essential services like ambulances through. The security forces took little action, refusing to fight a war on two fronts against the IRA and UDA/UVF.
The BBC set up a prototype continuous news service in the infant Radio Ulster and was inevitably criticised for making things worse. Senior managers the controller Dick Francis and the head of programmes Ronnie Mason hugely enjoyed themselves driving emergency generators up from Dublin. It was less fun for staff who had their names taken by masked men as they left home to loyally turn up for work.
One evening the UWC’s figurehead Bill Craig the former Unionist Home Affairs Minister came in for interview. Bill had founded Vanguard a quasi fascist group that contained former and actual unionists like himself. Inflammatory speeches and dark threats were Bill’s shtick rather than organisation. Events were certainly beyond his control.
Some of us joined him for a drink in the small hospitality room where the problems of Northern Ireland were frequently solved in drink but the solutions were forgotten in sobriety.
Our programme secretary began quietly sobbing. What was wrong? Masked UDA man had warned her off coming into work that morning but she had defied them. At this Ronnie Mason stood up and leant over the capo de capi. He had been to Queen’s with Bill and was not impressed with his shifty eminence.
“Bill”, Ronnie roared, “Call your f *** ing dogs off my staff.”
Oh Christ I thought, we’re for it now.
But no!
“I’m awful sorry, Ronnie”, said Bill, a man who claimed he was off the drink when he was on the sherry. “I’ll try to do something about it.”
The collapse of Sunningdale and the UDA rebellion that followed was of those episodes that gave us more than a hint of what a breakdown of society might be like – something fervently to avoid, however long the Covid 19 emergency lasts.


sluggerotoole--2020-03-20--Podcasts to get you through the day

Podcasts to get you through the day

We are up with non coronvirus post number 2 and this is for those who want a bit of escapism @ @ @ @ @ a political blog , we thought we would have some great political podcasts to share @ @ @ @ @ i will be back to share more mindfulness techniques but for now these are a @ @ @ @ @ started .
As always leave your podcast ideas in the comments below .
Also the @ @ @ @ @ one for Irish history/politics/culture

We are up with non coronvirus post number 2 and this is for those who want a bit of escapism. Now since we are a political blog, we thought we would have some great political podcasts to share with you. Tomorrow, i will be back to share more mindfulness techniques but for now these are a few things to get you started.
As always leave your podcast ideas in the comments below.
Also the Irish Passport is a great one for Irish history/politics/culture


sluggerotoole--2020-03-20--Schools expected to stay open for children of key workers

So in the UK , schools will continue next week but only for those key workers needed to keep the country moving .
This morning the government published a list of who is essential to that effort .
It ’ s to be expected that some of these may change over time .
It ’ s also likely that there will be some consolidation in terms where they end up going since not all schools are expected to remain open .
Here ’ s the government ’ s text : This includes but is not limited to doctors , nurses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , care workers , and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers ; the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK ’ s health and social care sector ; those working as part of the health and social care supply chain , including producers and distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment .
This includes childcare , support and teaching staff , social workers and those specialist education professionals who must remain active during the COVID-19 response to deliver this approach .
This includes those essential to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religious staff , charities and workers delivering key frontline services , those responsible for the management of the deceased , and journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting .
This only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response , or delivering essential public services , such as the payment of benefits , including in government agencies and arms length bodies .
Food and other necessary goods This includes those involved in food production , processing , distribution , sale and delivery , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key goods ( for example hygienic and veterinary medicines ) .
This includes police and support staff , Ministry of Defence civilians , contractor and armed forces personnel ( those critical to the delivery of key defence and national security outputs and essential to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic ) , fire and rescue service employees ( including support staff ) , National Crime Agency staff , those maintaining border security , prison and probation staff and other national security roles , including those overseas .
This includes those who will keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response , including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass .
This includes staff needed for essential financial services provision ( including but not limited to workers in banks , building societies and financial market infrastructure ) , the oil , gas , electricity and water sectors ( including sewerage ) , information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the COVID-19 response , as well as key staff working in the civil nuclear , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited to network operations , field engineering , call centre staff , IT and data infrastructure , 999 and 111 critical services ) , postal services and delivery , payments providers and waste disposal sectors .
Adds : The HuffPo adds this note on the two exam years most affected : …guidance about exam cancellations will be issued on Friday , including how pupils unable to sit their exams will get their grades .
Gavin Williamson said the government would work with schools , colleges and England ’ s exams regulator , Ofqual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualifications they need ” .
School leaders have said they expect that grades will be based on teacher assessment and evidence of internal assessment – such as mock exams – which could then be submitted to the exam boards to check .
Photo by klimkin is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

So in the UK, schools will continue next week but only for those key workers needed to keep the country moving. This morning the government published a list of who is essential to that effort. It’s to be expected that some of these may change over time.
It’s also likely that there will be some consolidation in terms where they end up going since not all schools are expected to remain open. Here’s the government’s text:
Health and social care This includes but is not limited to doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers; the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector; those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment. Education and childcare This includes childcare, support and teaching staff, social workers and those specialist education professionals who must remain active during the COVID-19 response to deliver this approach. Key public services This includes those essential to the running of the justice system, religious staff, charities and workers delivering key frontline services, those responsible for the management of the deceased, and journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting. Local and national government This only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response, or delivering essential public services, such as the payment of benefits, including in government agencies and arms length bodies. Food and other necessary goods This includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery, as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines). Public safety and national security This includes police and support staff, Ministry of Defence civilians, contractor and armed forces personnel (those critical to the delivery of key defence and national security outputs and essential to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic), fire and rescue service employees (including support staff), National Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas. Transport This includes those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response, including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass. Utilities, communication and financial services This includes staff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure), the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors (including sewerage), information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the COVID-19 response, as well as key staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications (including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services), postal services and delivery, payments providers and waste disposal sectors.
Adds: The HuffPo adds this note on the two exam years most affected:
…guidance about exam cancellations will be issued on Friday, including how pupils unable to sit their exams will get their grades. Gavin Williamson said the government would work with schools, colleges and England’s exams regulator, Ofqual, “to ensure children get the qualifications they need”. School leaders have said they expect that grades will be based on teacher assessment and evidence of internal assessment – such as mock exams – which could then be submitted to the exam boards to check.
Photo by klimkin is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-03-21--Coronavirus is a long haul which will transform us as individuals and societies

Ian Parsley has the right idea , this is not a disaster we can run at .
The scrambling and poor communications , as we perceive it anyway , is because of the scale of the preparations needed to deal with this pandemic without the system falling over .
On the whole , the decision not to close the schools straight away was initially supported by the government ’ s own scientific evidence ( all of which has now put in the public domain ) , although this note from Monday suggested it wasn ’ t enough .
The perfect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perhaps early intervention would have prevented congestion in intensive care .
What that note also shows is that the UK is working on the assumption that the problem will take a year , not 14 weeks , to sort out .
That ’ s not a year that can be spent in lockdown , and as Newton pointed out on Thursday , government policy is to flux isolation policy to manage intensive care demand .
That means a second wave in the autumn may come priced in .
Everywhere .
The UK ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second lockdown may be a lot harder to manage than this first one will be .
In Argentina , they are already struggling with the first one : No one , not any of the parents or teachers , at my youngest ’ s primary school had any doubts that it was their last day of school until September , at the earliest .
The survival of much of our social infrastructure is hanging by a thread .
Not even war closes pubs .
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is going to splash the cash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to £2,500 .
It was welcomed yesterday by the Resolution Foundation who have been calling for the bailout to be pushed at the working and lower-middle classes .
Overnight , the Republic is already thinking of following the UK ’ s lead : The tendency has been in the onset period of this crisis has been to catastrophise everything .
The UK ’ s slower move to school closures brought an accusation from one of Ireland ’ s most prominent public economists that it was operating as a rogue state .
Such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ base human fear of the unknown and for our loved ones .
None of us are immune to it , including yours truly .
But it won ’ t help sort out a health crisis which has quickly transposed to a global economic shock .
One that has seen a right-wing government , the party of Margaret Thatcher no less , to bring in communitarian policies to keep society together ( and avoid starvation ) not because of the disease but because of our policy reactions to it .
( More on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic progresses and our scientific knowledge of how it operates can be moderated and life slowly returned to normal as we find more effective ways to identify and isolate the most vulnerable and keep them safe .
This is a long haul in which we are going to be tested as individuals and societies .
Those that find resilience will meaningfully connect and transact with each other , coordinate new networks ( not just governments ) to agree on what needs to be done .
Then , go do it .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be at the parish level base : in your family , among your neighbours , or other parents from school who are currently self-isolating and need your help to perform the important public service of cutting off the spread .
Photo by Wokandapix is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

Ian Parsley has the right idea, this is not a disaster we can run at. The scrambling and poor communications, as we perceive it anyway, is because of the scale of the preparations needed to deal with this pandemic without the system falling over.
On the whole, the decision not to close the schools straight away was initially supported by the government’s own scientific evidence (all of which has now put in the public domain), although this note from Monday suggested it wasn’t enough.
The perfect is the enemy of the good. Perhaps early intervention would have prevented congestion in intensive care. What that note also shows is that the UK is working on the assumption that the problem will take a year, not 14 weeks, to sort out.
That’s not a year that can be spent in lockdown, and as Newton pointed out on Thursday, government policy is to flux isolation policy to manage intensive care demand. That means a second wave in the autumn may come priced in. Everywhere.
The UK’s behaviourial pyschology advisors say that a second lockdown may be a lot harder to manage than this first one will be. In Argentina, they are already struggling with the first one:
Un grupo de jovenes violando #AislamientoSocialObligatorio en
Jujuy – Parque San Martín es detenido por Policia #AlertasTransito pic.twitter.com/gV284Aqzwn — Alertas Transito (@AlertasTransito) March 20, 2020
No one, not any of the parents or teachers, at my youngest’s primary school had any doubts that it was their last day of school until September, at the earliest. The survival of much of our social infrastructure is hanging by a thread. Not even war closes pubs.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is going to splash the cash on the right people who were earning up to £2,500. It was welcomed yesterday by the Resolution Foundation who have been calling for the bailout to be pushed at the working and lower-middle classes.
Overnight, the Republic is already thinking of following the UK’s lead:
I understand that Irish officials are tonight looking at decisions to support workers made in other countries (including this evening's big intervention by the British) and are considering further options to reduce job losses and support people who have lost their jobs. — Paul Colgan (@paulcolgan) March 20, 2020
The tendency has been in the onset period of this crisis has been to catastrophise everything. The UK’s slower move to school closures brought an accusation from one of Ireland’s most prominent public economists that it was operating as a rogue state.
Such hyperbole partly arises out of genuine and base human fear of the unknown and for our loved ones. None of us are immune to it, including yours truly. But it won’t help sort out a health crisis which has quickly transposed to a global economic shock.
One that has seen a right-wing government, the party of Margaret Thatcher no less, to bring in communitarian policies to keep society together (and avoid starvation) not because of the disease but because of our policy reactions to it. (More on this later).
This may change as the pandemic progresses and our scientific knowledge of how it operates can be moderated and life slowly returned to normal as we find more effective ways to identify and isolate the most vulnerable and keep them safe.
This is a long haul in which we are going to be tested as individuals and societies. Those that find resilience will meaningfully connect and transact with each other, coordinate new networks (not just governments) to agree on what needs to be done. Then, go do it.
The greatest need for help is likely to be at the parish level base: in your family, among your neighbours, or other parents from school who are currently self-isolating and need your help to perform the important public service of cutting off the spread.
If you do not practice social distancing or have dismissed concerns about shaking hands and hugging everyone you meet this graphic brilliantly put together by Juan Declan will change your mind pic.twitter.com/JqLQCB3MzB #CoronavirusOutbreak — Ashraf Garda (@AshrafGarda) March 16, 2020
Photo by Wokandapix is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


Body scan meditation.

Part 3 of the non coronavirus thread .
Have you ever tried a body scan ?
It ’ s so @ @ @ @ @ .
It helps you stop your mind running at 100 miles a minute to just @ @ @ @ @ should point out that it will take some practice for you to get this .
@ @ @ @ @ your mind wanders during it , that ’ s normal .

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sluggerotoole--2020-03-21--We can all help save lives. Be part of the #FightBack

We can all help save lives .
Be part of the # FightBack Keep your distance Wash your hands Please @ @ @ @ @ COVID19 # stayathomeNI pic.twitter.com/j5xOGgtUyD


sluggerotoole--2020-03-22--Tackling the boredom; Some Youtube Channels to keep you going

Bored yet ?
A wise man said to me today that boredom is a luxury in life but I understand @ @ @ @ @ real strain .
So here are some video channels that for me are really interesting @ @ @ @ @ .
When you have learned something new , you get a real sense of achievement @ @ @ @ @ motivated to find out more information .
Biographics-This channel is excellent , it has many @ @ @ @ @ about some of famous royals the world has had , the most brutal dictators and @ @ @ @ @ and leaders .
The last one I watched was about Franz Ferdinand , the man @ @ @ @ @ One .
David Boothroyd-Want to do into a political frenzy of UK and NI history @ @ @ @ @ channel and you will be good for months and there are more than 700 videos @ @ @ @ @ and materials here to watch .
There is an Irish equivalent of this site too

Bored yet? A wise man said to me today that boredom is a luxury in life but I understand it can also be a real strain. So here are some video channels that for me are really interesting to watch and learn from. When you have learned something new, you get a real sense of achievement and it will keep you motivated to find out more information.
Biographics-This channel is excellent, it has many great videos to tell you about some of famous royals the world has had, the most brutal dictators and some of the great writers/inventors and leaders.
The last one I watched was about Franz Ferdinand, the man whose death started World War One.
David Boothroyd-Want to do into a political frenzy of UK and NI history, then click on this channel and you will be good for months and there are more than 700 videos with UK elections, documentaries and materials here to watch.
There is an Irish equivalent of this site too


sluggerotoole--2020-03-23--Free advice on how to work effectively online…

My day job is web projects , I have been working in the internet industry for 25 years .
For @ @ @ @ @ have worked from home , so working online from home is the norm for me @ @ @ @ @ of people and organisations are trying remote work for the first time and I imagine @ @ @ @ @ curve for you all .
I am offering free advice and assistance to help you @ @ @ @ @ You can email me at brian @ sluggerotoole.com but I prefer if you put your @ @ @ @ @ other people can see the replies .
My first tip is to read Remote : @ @ @ @ @ at least read this 2 page summary of the book .
Also , feel free @ @ @ @ @ on what gear to buy , best tools etc .
Photo by mohamed_hassan is licensed @ @ @

My day job is web projects, I have been working in the internet industry for 25 years. For most of that time I have worked from home, so working online from home is the norm for me.
I know a lot of people and organisations are trying remote work for the first time and I imagine it is a big learning curve for you all.
I am offering free advice and assistance to help you out where I can. You can email me at [email protected] but I prefer if you put your questions in the comments so other people can see the replies.
My first tip is to read Remote: No office required. Or at least read this 2 page summary of the book.
Also, feel free to ask any tech-related questions on what gear to buy, best tools etc.
Photo by mohamed_hassan is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-03-23--What’s in the Coronavirus Bill?

What’s in the Coronavirus Bill?

This week the government intends to push its Coronavirus Bill through Parliament .
In its “ summary of impacts ” document , the government states that the bill is “ temporary , emergency legislation ” which intends to “ provide powers needed to respond to the current coronavirus epidemic.
” MPs will be expected to grapple with the 300-page bill over the course of a few days .
It will , for as long as it is in operation , fundamentally change our way of life .
The legislation represents the biggest diminution of civil liberties since World War II @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The bill amends Scottish , Welsh and Northern Irish legislation in respect of mental health , inquests , criminal law and employment law .
The government believes its plans take “ due account of the UK ’ s devolution settlement in a way that enables swift action to be taken when and where it is needed.
” It ’ s impossible to cover every provision within one article but here are the proposals that stand out : The Coronavirus Bill relaxes the rules around detaining people under the Mental Health ( NI ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic will put a strain on mental health services and affect the ability of people to get treatment .
Mental health advocates worry that the provisions will leave people at the mercy of doctors , social workers and leave them in detention for long periods of time .
Schedule nine of the bill states that a “ relevant social worker ” in Northern Ireland can make an application for a compulsory admission to hospital .
This is a change from current rules were an “ approved social worker ” must do this .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ must be assessed “ immediately after ” he is admitted to hospital for an assessment .
The bill amends this to “ as soon as practicable and not later than 12 hours after.
” The Coronavirus Bill gives authorities more time to furnish reports that lead to detention for patients .
It provides for doctors other than the “ responsible medical practitioner ” to examine patients .
For accused persons remanded into the care of the Department of Health for admission to hospital , the 1986 Order states that they , “ shall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this Article for more than 28 days at a time or for more than 12 weeks in all.
” The Coronavirus Bill , in contrast , amends the provisions in 1986 Order and states that it “ has effect as if the words ‘ or for more than 12 weeks in all ’ were omitted.
” Significantly , the bill gives scope for an accused person to be remanded to hospital based on the evidence of one doctor where the “ evidence of at least two registered medical practitioners…is impractical or would involve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provisions under the Mental Capacity Act ( Northern Ireland ) 2016 .
The Coronavirus Bill gives powers to the Department of Health to impose or enable , “ the imposition of restrictions or requirements on or in relation to persons , things or premises ” in the event of “ a threat to public health.
” This includes , under s25C ( 3 ) ( c ) , “ a special restriction or requirement.
” Under the legislation , a special restriction or requirement includes , among others : -that a person be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be kept in isolation or quarantine -that a person be subject to restrictions on where that person or goes or with whom that person has contact -in the case of a dead body , that it be cremated or buried The Department may only impose a restriction if , “ the restriction or requirement is proportionate to what is sought to be achieved by imposing it.
” • None Orders that may be made by a Magistrates ’ Court The Coronavirus Bill states that a Magistrates ’ Court may make an Order if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be infected or contaminated , the infection presents a risk to public health , there is a risk that a person may infect others and it is necessary to make an Order to remove or reduce the risk .
The court can impose several restrictions that include , among others : -that the person be removed to a hospital -that the person submits to a medical examination -that the person abstains from working or trading The Magistrates ’ Court can also apply orders to a “ thing ” if the court is satisfied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The court can also make Orders in respect of premises .
Any Order can be revoked or varied by an affected person , the Department or the owner of a thing or premises .
There are further , widespread powers for the police .
S , 25R gives an authorised officer the power “ to enter any premises at all reasonable hours ” for the purpose of , ascertaining whether there has been a breach of a court Order .
The officer must have “ reasonable grounds ” for entry to the premises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power of entry , “ does not authorise entry to any part of premises which is used as a private dwelling ” but makes clear that this does not affect the power of a court to make an Order to authorise entry into a private dwelling .
If the Department of Health is of the view that “ the incidence and transmission of coronavirus ” is a “ serious and imminent threat to Northern Ireland , ” the Department can make a declaration to that effect .
The declaration will trigger a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control period , the Department of Health will have the power to direct a potentially infected person towards screening and assessment .
It will also have the power to remove that person to a place suitable for assessment and screening .
A constable can be requested to do this if it isn ’ t safe for the Department to do so .
The Coronavirus Bill makes it an offence not to comply with the direction of a public health official .
Constables and Immigration Officers also have powers under the bill .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern Ireland is “ potentially infectious ” they may direct that person to go for a screening or assessment or remove them to a place suitable for screening or assessment .
If an infected person is at a place suitable for screening or assessment , a public health officer may “ require them to remain at the screening place for up to 48 hours.
” The Department can revoke its declaration , and end the transmission control period , if it changes its view on the threat to Northern Ireland .
If the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view that Covid-19 is of a “ serious and imminent threat to Northern Ireland ” it can make a declaration like the Department of Health .
Once this declaration is made , Northern Ireland will enter a “ public health response period ” During the “ public health response ” period , the Executive Office can issue directions prohibiting events or gatherings if it is necessary to protect , prevent or delay the spread of coronavirus .
The Executive will be able to close premises or impose restrictions upon them .
Before doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must consult with the Chief Medical Officer or Deputy Chief Medical Officers in Northern Ireland .
The Executive Office can vary or revoke any Orders it makes .
This section is important in light of the First Minister ’ s recent comments hat the Executive may need to “ enforce social distancing.
” When it comes into operation , how long will it apply ?
S , 75 of the bill states that , ‘ This Act expires at the end of the period of 2 years beginning with the day on which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power to shorten that by six months .
This issue is already the subject of much dispute .
Tory MP David Davis has proposed an amendment which would see the legislation end after a year .
Labour ’ s Chris Bryant wants MPs to have a vote every 90 days .
A cross-party group of MPs have tabled an amendment to the bill that would see the legislation expire after 6 months with the option of extension upon review .
It ’ s no exaggeration to say that the above reads like something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill hands large swaths of power to the government , Executive and public health officials .
For that reason , it ’ s very important that the bill is scrutinised and analysed by MPs .
While it ’ s easy to see why the legislation is being implemented and why the measures are so stringent , handing any sort of power to the Executive , even in times of crisis , should always be regarded with caution .
“ Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 ” by NIAID is licensed under CC BY

This week the government intends to push its Coronavirus Bill through Parliament. In its “summary of impacts” document, the government states that the bill is “temporary, emergency legislation” which intends to “provide powers needed to respond to the current coronavirus epidemic.”
MPs will be expected to grapple with the 300-page bill over the course of a few days. It will, for as long as it is in operation, fundamentally change our way of life. The legislation represents the biggest diminution of civil liberties since World War II.
The contents of the Coronavirus Bill
The bill amends Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish legislation in respect of mental health, inquests, criminal law and employment law. The government believes its plans take “due account of the UK’s devolution settlement in a way that enables swift action to be taken when and where it is needed.”
It’s impossible to cover every provision within one article but here are the proposals that stand out:
1.Mental Health
The Coronavirus Bill relaxes the rules around detaining people under the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986. The government believes the pandemic will put a strain on mental health services and affect the ability of people to get treatment. Mental health advocates worry that the provisions will leave people at the mercy of doctors, social workers and leave them in detention for long periods of time.
Schedule nine of the bill states that a “relevant social worker” in Northern Ireland can make an application for a compulsory admission to hospital. This is a change from current rules were an “approved social worker” must do this.
Under the current rules, a patient must be assessed “immediately after” he is admitted to hospital for an assessment. The bill amends this to “as soon as practicable and not later than 12 hours after.”
The Coronavirus Bill gives authorities more time to furnish reports that lead to detention for patients. It provides for doctors other than the “responsible medical practitioner” to examine patients.
For accused persons remanded into the care of the Department of Health for admission to hospital, the 1986 Order states that they, “shall not be remanded or further remanded under this Article for more than 28 days at a time or for more than 12 weeks in all.” The Coronavirus Bill, in contrast, amends the provisions in 1986 Order and states that it “has effect as if the words ‘or for more than 12 weeks in all’ were omitted.”
Significantly, the bill gives scope for an accused person to be remanded to hospital based on the evidence of one doctor where the “evidence of at least two registered medical practitioners…is impractical or would involve undesirable delay.” This amends the current provisions under the Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.
Protection of public health measures
The Coronavirus Bill gives powers to the Department of Health to impose or enable, “the imposition of restrictions or requirements on or in relation to persons, things or premises” in the event of “a threat to public health.” This includes, under s25C(3)(c), “a special restriction or requirement.”
Under the legislation, a special restriction or requirement includes, among others:
-that a person be subject to medical examination
-that a person be kept in isolation or quarantine
-that a person be subject to restrictions on where that person or goes or with whom that person has contact
-in the case of a dead body, that it be cremated or buried
The Department may only impose a restriction if, “the restriction or requirement is proportionate to what is sought to be achieved by imposing it.”
Orders that may be made by a Magistrates’ Court
The Coronavirus Bill states that a Magistrates’ Court may make an Order if it is satisfied that a person may be infected or contaminated, the infection presents a risk to public health, there is a risk that a person may infect others and it is necessary to make an Order to remove or reduce the risk.
The court can impose several restrictions that include, among others:
-that the person be removed to a hospital
-that the person submits to a medical examination
-that the person abstains from working or trading
The Magistrates’ Court can also apply orders to a “thing” if the court is satisfied that it is infected or contaminated. The court can also make Orders in respect of premises. Any Order can be revoked or varied by an affected person, the Department or the owner of a thing or premises.
There are further, widespread powers for the police. S, 25R gives an authorised officer the power “to enter any premises at all reasonable hours” for the purpose of, ascertaining whether there has been a breach of a court Order. The officer must have “reasonable grounds” for entry to the premises.
The legislation is clear that the power of entry, “does not authorise entry to any part of premises which is used as a private dwelling” but makes clear that this does not affect the power of a court to make an Order to authorise entry into a private dwelling.
Powers relating to potentially infected persons
If the Department of Health is of the view that “the incidence and transmission of coronavirus” is a “serious and imminent threat to Northern Ireland,” the Department can make a declaration to that effect. The declaration will trigger a “transmission control period.”
During the transmission control period, the Department of Health will have the power to direct a potentially infected person towards screening and assessment. It will also have the power to remove that person to a place suitable for assessment and screening. A constable can be requested to do this if it isn’t safe for the Department to do so. The Coronavirus Bill makes it an offence not to comply with the direction of a public health official.
Constables and Immigration Officers also have powers under the bill. If they reasonably suspect that a person in Northern Ireland is “potentially infectious” they may direct that person to go for a screening or assessment or remove them to a place suitable for screening or assessment.
If an infected person is at a place suitable for screening or assessment, a public health officer may “require them to remain at the screening place for up to 48 hours.”
The Department can revoke its declaration, and end the transmission control period, if it changes its view on the threat to Northern Ireland.
Powers relating to events or gatherings
If the Northern Ireland Executive Office is of the view that Covid-19 is of a “serious and imminent threat to Northern Ireland” it can make a declaration like the Department of Health. Once this declaration is made, Northern Ireland will enter a “public health response period”
During the “public health response” period, the Executive Office can issue directions prohibiting events or gatherings if it is necessary to protect, prevent or delay the spread of coronavirus. The Executive will be able to close premises or impose restrictions upon them.
Before doing any of the above, the Executive must consult with the Chief Medical Officer or Deputy Chief Medical Officers in Northern Ireland. The Executive Office can vary or revoke any Orders it makes.
This section is important in light of the First Minister’s recent comments hat the Executive may need to “enforce social distancing.”
When it comes into operation, how long will it apply?
S, 75 of the bill states that, ‘This Act expires at the end of the period of 2 years beginning with the day on which it is passed.’ Ministers have the power to shorten that by six months.
This issue is already the subject of much dispute. Tory MP David Davis has proposed an amendment which would see the legislation end after a year. Labour’s Chris Bryant wants MPs to have a vote every 90 days. A cross-party group of MPs have tabled an amendment to the bill that would see the legislation expire after 6 months with the option of extension upon review.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the above reads like something out of dystopian fiction. The Coronavirus Bill hands large swaths of power to the government, Executive and public health officials. For that reason, it’s very important that the bill is scrutinised and analysed by MPs. While it’s easy to see why the legislation is being implemented and why the measures are so stringent, handing any sort of power to the Executive, even in times of crisis, should always be regarded with caution.
“Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2” by NIAID is licensed under CC BY


sluggerotoole--2020-03-23--Fergus on Monday: Reeling in the Years

Fergus on Monday: Reeling in the Years

Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window )


sluggerotoole--2020-03-23--Britain and Northern Ireland now go into total lockdown…

Boris Johnson on the BBC tonight has announced the UK lockdown .
The BBC reports : From this evening people must stay at home except for shopping for basic necessities , daily exercise , any medical need and travelling to and from essential work .
Shops selling non-essential goods will also be shut and gatherings in public of more than two people who do not live together prohibited .
If people do not follow the rules police will have the powers to enforce them , including through fines and dispersing gatherings , Boris Johnson said in a televised statement from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the UK government has also announced that it is contacting 1.5 million individuals whom it considers to be vulnerable to the Covid-19 virus .
Some 40,000 of these are in Northern Ireland .
That tighter focus on who is and who is not vulnerable may itself have benefits in holding down the mortality rates when the deaths inevitably rise .
And until we get the antibody test online that will be the only marker for how well we bend the curve .
It is only when the deaths start coming down that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment , there won ’ t be a game change until we get a reliable antibody test .
Any other general testing now is just far too late to be of any practical use anywhere but on the clinical front line to protect staff and patients .

Boris Johnson on the BBC tonight has announced the UK lockdown. The BBC reports:
From this evening people must stay at home except for shopping for basic necessities, daily exercise, any medical need and travelling to and from essential work. Shops selling non-essential goods will also be shut and gatherings in public of more than two people who do not live together prohibited. The UK death toll has reached 335. If people do not follow the rules police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings, Boris Johnson said in a televised statement from Downing Street.
On the same day, the UK government has also announced that it is contacting 1.5 million individuals whom it considers to be vulnerable to the Covid-19 virus. Some 40,000 of these are in Northern Ireland.
That tighter focus on who is and who is not vulnerable may itself have benefits in holding down the mortality rates when the deaths inevitably rise. And until we get the antibody test online that will be the only marker for how well we bend the curve.
It is only when the deaths start coming down that is the ONLY reliable count at the moment, there won’t be a game change until we get a reliable antibody test.
Any other general testing now is just far too late to be of any practical use anywhere but on the clinical front line to protect staff and patients.


Getting good sleep

A few people had been in touch to ask about sleeping .
Again , i am just saying what works @ @ @ @ @ i ever have a few restless nights a couple of things that work for me @ @ @ @ @ an hour before bed , it helps to relax .
• Another is try not @ @ @ @ @ Your body will let you know this , don ’ t think it .
• @ @ @ @ @ a journal before you go to sleep .
Reading and writing things down really helps @ @ @ @ @ mind .
• Have something quiet to listen to .
Like above .
Once again @ @ @ @ @ are always welcome .


sluggerotoole--2020-03-23--We need leaders who are not only motivated by the muck of tribalism

Coming hot on the deals of the release of the RHI Report , if ever affirmation were needed of the sickly nature of our politics in Northern Ireland it was its reaction to the global virus pandemic , engulfing every aspect of living across the world .
How quickly local political responses to the pandemic became an orange and green issue is the greatest indication of how deeply unwell our politics has become .
As businesses wrestle with when and how to let staff go , to abate its entire ship from sinking , and those within the vulnerable brackets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they will be driven into the pit of ever-growing statistics before the summer is out , and loved ones are consumed with concern about how best to protect them , politicians and political commentators responded by slopping their orange or green paint across the issue .
The fact that when confronted with this level of gravity that is some people ’ s first response is beyond bewildering and utterly and abjectly depressing .
But the sheer raw childishness of it is awe-inspiring .
The problem with voting in hecklers to take the stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them for the whole set ; the problem with handing your car keys to a child is the whiplash that comes after the inevitable crash .
The problem of consistently giving the levers of power for our entire country – the NHS , taxation , the economy , and schools – to some who only entered politics on a green and orange basis is they have nothing to contribute beyond that .
They have neither the wavelength nor the capacity .
I have confidence in individuals like Robin Swann and Conor Murphy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas and listen constantly to experts .
However , the wider political apparatus and other departments in Northern Ireland are heaving under the weight of the deadwood , who are only motivated by the muck of tribalism .
The casualties that we face in Northern Ireland will be significant and made all the more significant due to what our politics has done for the last 4 years .
This – DUP and Sinn Fein – is why you do not refuse to create a government for three years .
The wreckage that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a crisis like this occurs , you are far less capable of absorbing it .
Northern Ireland was already on the verge of a recession , if not already beginning to become submerged in one ; we already had the worst waiting lists in the UK ; we already had the highest portion of people with less than £100 of savings out of any region in the UK ( over 56.8 % of all adults ) .
We already had an unreformed justice , health , and education system , which was slow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political institution that was incapable of providing rigorous debate , analysis , and accountability or passing any reform .
When we emerge from this pandemic , in many ways , each of us needs to take a stock check on our lives – we need to re-embrace things and pleasures we ’ d previously took for granted before the iron curtain covered us whole for several months .
But we also need to re-evaluate the political ineptitude we have abided by and accepted for so long .
We need adults at the helm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First Minister who has the attention span to not even read legislation she introduces to the Assembly , or a Deputy First Minister who does not reach for any policy reform beyond ‘ border poll ’ .
Their ineptitude will exasperate the pain Northern Ireland will suffered from this crisis ; I am trying to assure myself that at least in our post-virus future , we ’ ll finally shepherd in the change we ’ ve deserve for so long .
Finally , some words from John Hewitt , as we face what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I just want to say , as scary as all this is , we are an exceptional place and people – we will overcome this , and the light that was lightly dimmed by the darkness that ambushes it now will shine all the brighter once we ’ ve carried ourselves through .
Photo by Markus Spiske is licensed under CC0

Coming hot on the deals of the release of the RHI Report, if ever affirmation were needed of the sickly nature of our politics in Northern Ireland it was its reaction to the global virus pandemic, engulfing every aspect of living across the world. How quickly local political responses to the pandemic became an orange and green issue is the greatest indication of how deeply unwell our politics has become.
As businesses wrestle with when and how to let staff go, to abate its entire ship from sinking, and those within the vulnerable brackets for the virus frett whether or not they will be driven into the pit of ever-growing statistics before the summer is out, and loved ones are consumed with concern about how best to protect them, politicians and political commentators responded by slopping their orange or green paint across the issue.
The fact that when confronted with this level of gravity that is some people’s first response is beyond bewildering and utterly and abjectly depressing. But the sheer raw childishness of it is awe-inspiring.
The problem with voting in hecklers to take the stage is we then need to listen to them for the whole set; the problem with handing your car keys to a child is the whiplash that comes after the inevitable crash. The problem of consistently giving the levers of power for our entire country – the NHS, taxation, the economy, and schools – to some who only entered politics on a green and orange basis is they have nothing to contribute beyond that. They have neither the wavelength nor the capacity.
I have confidence in individuals like Robin Swann and Conor Murphy to act like adults and advocates for their areas and listen constantly to experts. However, the wider political apparatus and other departments in Northern Ireland are heaving under the weight of the deadwood, who are only motivated by the muck of tribalism.
The casualties that we face in Northern Ireland will be significant and made all the more significant due to what our politics has done for the last 4 years. This – DUP and Sinn Fein – is why you do not refuse to create a government for three years. The wreckage that it inherently wreaks on the State means if a crisis like this occurs, you are far less capable of absorbing it. Northern Ireland was already on the verge of a recession, if not already beginning to become submerged in one; we already had the worst waiting lists in the UK; we already had the highest portion of people with less than £100 of savings out of any region in the UK (over 56.8% of all adults).
We already had an unreformed justice, health, and education system, which was slow and inefficient. We already had a political institution that was incapable of providing rigorous debate, analysis, and accountability or passing any reform.
When we emerge from this pandemic, in many ways, each of us needs to take a stock check on our lives – we need to re-embrace things and pleasures we’d previously took for granted before the iron curtain covered us whole for several months. But we also need to re-evaluate the political ineptitude we have abided by and accepted for so long.
We need adults at the helm for moments like this; not a First Minister who has the attention span to not even read legislation she introduces to the Assembly, or a Deputy First Minister who does not reach for any policy reform beyond ‘border poll’. Their ineptitude will exasperate the pain Northern Ireland will suffered from this crisis; I am trying to assure myself that at least in our post-virus future, we’ll finally shepherd in the change we’ve deserve for so long.
Finally, some words from John Hewitt, as we face what we face together:
I thought when the grave was sodded And the carriage came back to the door And the sick man’s bed was empty, I could endure no more. But the heart is a tougher metal. It can carry beyond belief A proud and ancient escutcheon Etched by the acid of grief.
And lastly, I just want to say, as scary as all this is, we are an exceptional place and people – we will overcome this, and the light that was lightly dimmed by the darkness that ambushes it now will shine all the brighter once we’ve carried ourselves through.
Photo by Markus Spiske is licensed under CC0


sluggerotoole--2020-03-23--New Virtual Festival Launched in Northern Ireland as a Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic

The Imagine !
Belfast Festival , forced to abandon over 90 public events because of the Covid-19 pandemic , is going virtual layer this week with much of its programme going online to ensure that audiences don ’ t miss out .
In an imaginative response to the crisis , the popular event has been re-organised as a digital offering with over 25 events streamed during 25-27 March .
The virtual festival , the first of its kind in Northern Ireland , will be free to view on the Imagine !
Belfast website – imaginebelfast.com – and associated social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also convene a special panel to discuss the political response to COVID-19 .
“ Due to concerns associated with Covid-19 , we had to withdraw all our audience events taking place next week .
We ’ re adapting to the rapidly unfolding events and have taken an entirely new approach to the Imagine !
festival for this year .
So , for everyone staying safe at home , we ’ ll be presenting an online schedule of live-streamed and specially recorded webcasts on the imaginebelfast.com website during 25 – 27 March.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events was a difficult decision for everyone involved with the festival , but it pales into insignificance when considering the threats to life presented by the virus .
However , by acting quickly to take events online , we believe that transforming Imagine !
into Northern Ireland ’ s first virtual festival will help keep culture alive during what is likely to be an extremely anxious and life-threatening period .
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported us in our decision to convert to a virtual festival.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25-27 , March includes the award-winning journalist and writer Paul Mason ; best-selling author and journalist Sam McBride ( in conversation with Alan Meban , from this parish ) ; and open Democracy editor Adam Ramsay talking about the current threats to democracy across the world .
As well as talks , the wide-ranging programme also includes poetry , film reviews , comedy and panel discussions on the big issues of our time .
Keynote topics that will be addressed in the webcasts include climate extinction ; how to combat the Coronavirus ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arts sector , and ‘ Is more economic growth the answer ?
’ .
Other speakers include Neil Jameson , the founder of Citizens UK ; Grainne Walsh , Director of Stratagem public affairs consultancy ; Professor John Barry responding to the planetary emergency ; and Robin McAlpine on the future of the UK .
Leading local film-maker Nicky Larkin will preview the world première of his documentary exploring the creation of The Belfast Ensemble ’ s provocative Abomination : A DUP Opera .
Other events in the diverse festival focus on community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Basic Income ; the legacy of the ‘ Troubles ’ ; and the need for more participatory politics .
In addition , the festival has a number of events interrogating aspects of local history with a talk by leading historian , Barry Sheppard , on Bicycles and Protest ; a book launch by Fergus Whelan on Belfast United Irishman William Drennan and the history of Whiskey and politics in Belfast with Martin McAuley .
Poetry is well represented with a special reading by the award-winning local poet , Chris Agee , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Spoke team .
As well as live and recorded events , the festival also showcases work from artists in a special online gallery ‘ Art as Therapy ’ , organised with Framewerk Gallery and the Take Up Space .
The funders for this year ’ s festival include VSB Foundation ; Queen ’ s University Belfast ; Community Relations Council ; Ulster University and the Open University but the organisers hope donations will be received to support the additional costs involved in organising this unique cultural response to the Coronavirus crisis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : //imaginebelfast.com

The Imagine! Belfast Festival, forced to abandon over 90 public events because of the Covid-19 pandemic, is going virtual layer this week with much of its programme going online to ensure that audiences don’t miss out. In an imaginative response to the crisis, the popular event has been re-organised as a digital offering with over 25 events streamed during 25-27 March. The virtual festival, the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, will be free to view on the Imagine! Belfast website – imaginebelfast.com – and associated social media platforms. Slugger O’Toole will also convene a special panel to discuss the political response to COVID-19.
Festival director Peter O’Neill said:
“Due to concerns associated with Covid-19, we had to withdraw all our audience events taking place next week. We’re adapting to the rapidly unfolding events and have taken an entirely new approach to the Imagine! festival for this year. So, for everyone staying safe at home, we’ll be presenting an online schedule of live-streamed and specially recorded webcasts on the imaginebelfast.com website during 25 – 27 March.” “We know the cancellation of our audience events was a difficult decision for everyone involved with the festival, but it pales into insignificance when considering the threats to life presented by the virus. However, by acting quickly to take events online, we believe that transforming Imagine! into Northern Ireland’s first virtual festival will help keep culture alive during what is likely to be an extremely anxious and life-threatening period. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported us in our decision to convert to a virtual festival.”
The webcasting programme, broadcast over 25-27, March includes the award-winning journalist and writer Paul Mason; best-selling author and journalist Sam McBride (in conversation with Alan Meban, from this parish); and open Democracy editor Adam Ramsay talking about the current threats to democracy across the world. As well as talks, the wide-ranging programme also includes poetry, film reviews, comedy and panel discussions on the big issues of our time.
Keynote topics that will be addressed in the webcasts include climate extinction; how to combat the Coronavirus; the impact of this crisis on the arts sector, and ‘Is more economic growth the answer?’. Other speakers include Neil Jameson, the founder of Citizens UK; Grainne Walsh, Director of Stratagem public affairs consultancy; Professor John Barry responding to the planetary emergency; and Robin McAlpine on the future of the UK.
Leading local film-maker Nicky Larkin will preview the world première of his documentary exploring the creation of The Belfast Ensemble’s provocative Abomination: A DUP Opera.
Other events in the diverse festival focus on community banks; the need for a Universal Basic Income; the legacy of the ‘Troubles’; and the need for more participatory politics. In addition, the festival has a number of events interrogating aspects of local history with a talk by leading historian, Barry Sheppard, on Bicycles and Protest; a book launch by Fergus Whelan on Belfast United Irishman William Drennan and the history of Whiskey and politics in Belfast with Martin McAuley.
Poetry is well represented with a special reading by the award-winning local poet, Chris Agee, and a special edition on politics from the Queer as Spoke team.
As well as live and recorded events, the festival also showcases work from artists in a special online gallery ‘Art as Therapy’, organised with Framewerk Gallery and the Take Up Space.
The funders for this year’s festival include VSB Foundation; Queen’s University Belfast; Community Relations Council; Ulster University and the Open University but the organisers hope donations will be received to support the additional costs involved in organising this unique cultural response to the Coronavirus crisis.
For full programme details go to https://imaginebelfast.com