Irish Rugby star Keith Earls has tweeted a strong message this morning pleading with the public to adhere to HSE advice around the Coronavirus.
The Munster winger, who has two young daughters, says "the actions of some people are really starting to worry me", echoing messages from the HSE and the government around social distancing.
On Saturday, it was announced that a second person had died due to the Coronavirus in Ireland. Whilst there was also another 39 confirmed cases of the virus, bringing the total in the Republic to 129.
Earls tweeted: "As a father of a child with a serious respiratory lung condition and many others like her, I urge the public to please listen to the professionals. I will do everything I can to protect her. Everyone has a part to play. I'm usually a private person but the actions of some people are really starting to worry me. This is an extremely worrying and scary time and we all need to take immediate action. Please."
— Keith Earls (@KEITHEARLS87) March 15, 2020
Tony Holohan, the Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health, implored people yesterday evening to reduce their social activity; "There are a lot of anecdotal reports of pubs that are busy, restaurants that are busy, and it’s important that we get the message out that individuals must listen.”
Holohan made it clear that it was particularly important the message was shared amongst young adults. He also said today that there has been clear "non-compliance in some sectors." particularly the 20-40 age bracket."
Whilst some pubs closed their doors temporarily last night, many of us will wake up to Snapchat and Instagram stories of people we know, still mingling in restaurants and bars around the country.
Twitter may have been aghast by the scenes in Temple Bar yesterday afternoon, but it's clear this morning that similar scenes were played out across the country.
Not far from here, nurses & doctors are working to prepare for the impact of a global pandemic. Everyone is working 24/7. This is an insult to their efforts. There is very clear public health advice. Follow it. All options will be kept under constant review #CoronaVirusUpdates https://t.co/XQvJ7tC13D
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) March 14, 2020
If you do know people who are refusing to listen to public health advice, ask them to wake up, and forward them that message from Keith Earls.
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