Morning Focus – March 6th, 2020

Coronavirus particles

Today’s Morning Focus was, again, dominated by the fallout from the diagnoses of the Coronavirus here in Clare.

On Wednesday night, it emerged that four people here had been confirmed as having COVID-19 and on Thursday, the HSE announced a total of seven new cases, including two that were connected with the patients here in Clare.

Another case saw confirmation of the first community transmission of the disease, in a patient in Cork. Officials admit they don’t know how that person got the disease, and this development in the progression of the illness has prompted fears that the outbreak could be here for some time.

CONTINUE READING BELOW

With that in mind, we began today’s show with a focus on the economic fallout that could be associated with the coronavirus. Gavin spoke with Will Cahir of Ennis Chamber, hotellier of Michael Vaughan of Lahinch and Ennis publican Darragh McAllister

Next, NASRA representative Brendan Flynn discussed how tests for COVID-19 are being carried out by paramedics, before Mick Carrick joined us to preview the West Clare Drama Fesitval in Doonbeg. The event is still going ahead, we heard, and runs from Saturday, March 7th to Monday, March 16th. Full details on the plays and performers are available on www.westclaredramadoonbeg.com

The second hour of the programme then saw our Friday Panel review the week, including – of course – the response of officialdom to the coronavirus. However, Theresa O’Donohoe, Ciana Campbell and Gabriella Hanrahan also gave us their thought-provoking insights into feminism, the role of women, and the battles they still have to win in Ireland in 2020. This came ahead of International Women’s Day, which will be marked this coming Sunday, March 8th.

You can hear that discussion below: