News
Coronavirus: ‘Act now or lose entire tourist season’ says Councillor
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EXCLUSIVE
By Michelle Crean and Sean Moriarty
With one case of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) confirmed in Northern Ireland, a local councillor has warned the Government to take immediate action to prevent its spread - saying it could potentially have far-reaching effects on the tourist industry in the town.
Cllr Donal Grady has also warned that patients would need to be quarantined - and with the current overcrowding situation in Irish hospitals alternative accommodation would have to be sought.
He warned that Killarney could be used as a quarantine centre given the large number of hotels in the town and that many of them have yet to re-open for the upcoming tourist season.
“We need to do what we did in the year of the Foot and Mouth and stop all gatherings of people until this blows over,” he said. “Yes, we will all lose money in the short-term, but if we take action now, we can be open properly in a month’s time.”
Grady was also reacting to the news the Ireland and Italy Six Nations rugby match, scheduled for next weekend, has been postponed. So far, this is the only decisive action taken by a Government agency after the Department for Transport, Tourism and Sport officials met with Irish Rugby Union officials this week.
Public information is very unclear and while the Department of Health has issued guidelines there seems to no clear plan, and Grady questioned why other agencies were not taking the same level of action.
“I was with my pharmacist and he has not been advised by the HSE,” added the veteran councillor.
Members of the public are concerned about their own travel plans but when the Killarney Advertiser contacted a number of different Killarney-based travel agencies they declined to comment about the current situation.
A group of 35 from St Brendan’s College returned from a trip to Borneo in Italy near infected region Lombardi, on February 15.
School Principal Sean Coffey told the Killarney Advertiser that as soon as they became aware of the outbreak, they contacted the HSE who put them in touch with the Department of Public Health of specific notifiable diseases.
“The incubation period is between seven and 14 days – the last day is today. We were back the 15th and the first case was the 21st. The department advised us what to look for. All parents are aware of where their sons were, and we asked people to report any concerns.”
Local tourism bosses were also reluctant to comment on the situation when asked by the Killarney Advertiser, including members of the Kerry Branch of the Irish Hotel Federation.
However, the national press office for the IHF issued the following statement.
“We are putting in place measures for our members to mitigate the potential risks posed to public health. It is too early to determine the economic impact that the global outbreak will have on our sector.”
Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise
Dr Crokes GAA Club hosted a special day out for its senior members on Monday, this week, taking a group aged between 70 and 90 on a cruise across the Lakes of Killarney.
Organised by the Dr Crokes Healthy Club committee under its Crokes Cruisers initiative, the event was held to recognise the lifetime contribution made by long-standing members who continue to support club activities behind the scenes.
The group travelled on two vessels, including An Cathal, an open boat operated by local brothers Tony and Mike Fleming. Built to preserve the traditional Killarney lake boat style, it is the only purpose-built, fully accessible boat on the lakes, allowing members with mobility issues and wheelchair users to safely join the two-hour trip.
Following the lake tour, the party gathered on shore for coffee and refreshments provided by Derric McMahon and Harry Clifton of the Ross Castle Garden Cafe.
The initiative forms part of the club’s ongoing community work as a Gold Award winner in the GAA Healthy Club programme.
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