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Over A Quarter Of A HSE Calls For Public To ‘Galvanize’ IRISH

Million Irish Join Facebook’s Young People To Halt Spread

Hobby Groups In Pandemic he head of the HSE has advice from the National their social contacts. EXAMINER
Health
Public
called for the public to
On Saturday, Mr Reid
Emergency
T“galvanize” young peo- Team (NPHET). tweeted: “Young people have
ple to help curb the spread of The restrictions will last for |
Covid-19. three weeks. ter place to live, in my book.
“Marriage equality, climate
Paul Reid said the country The chief medical officers made this country an even bet- September
should avoid knocking down said they were concerned change awareness and much
the youth of Ireland amid con- about the significant propor- more, all enabled by them.
cerns of further restrictions fol- tion of cases in young people in “Again we put a weight on 30th,
lowing a growing number of Donegal and Derry, and asked
Covid-19 cases. teenagers and those in their 20s Covid-19. Let’s not knock, but
It emerged during the week and 30s in particular to reduce galvanize them once again.” C
their shoulders to help us with 2020
that people aged 15 to 34
account for 40% of Covid-19
cases in the past two months,
despite accounting for just a
quarter of the population.
On Friday, acting chief med-
ver a quarter of a million Gardening caters for everyone; ical officer Dr Ronan Glynn
people in Ireland have from people with just a daisy in and his Northern Ireland coun-
Ojoined hobby groups on an eggcup to people who are terpart, Dr Michael McBride,
Facebook since the outbreak of the head gardeners of big estates.” made a specific appeal to
Covid-19pandemic,figuresshow. People also started to create teenagers and people in their
This is in addition to the new daily routines to keep 20s and 30s in Co Donegal and
more than 120,000 people in active at home. Londonderry to reduce their
Ireland who also joined fitness From virtual yoga and fit- social contacts.
and wellbeing groups to keep ness classes, to jogging or run- Donegal moved to risk level
active during the health crisis. ning within the restricted 2km three of the Government’s plan
Data shows that as people radius during the most restric- to deal with Covid-19 following
tried to avoid boredom during tive of health measures.
lockdown, they took up new Turning to the internet for
hobbies and activities at home inspiration and motivation,
such as gardening, arts and more than 120,000 people
crafts, music, crochet and cook- joined fitness and wellbeing
ing. Facebook groups since March
Since the initial restrictions this year.
introduced by the Government James McGarry created The
in March, over a quarter of a Runners Support Page on
million enthusiasts joined Facebook back in 2012 to help
hobby and interest groups on all levels of runners share advice
Facebook. with fellow running enthusi-
These include online com- asts.
munities such as Beekeepers of James said: “The Runners
Ireland and Wild Camping Support Page shone through-
Ireland, bringing membership out Covid-19.
of these types of groups to “When runners had to train
more than 650,000, showing alone, they had a community of
how important community is like-minded people to turn to
to so many people. for help and support so that
Irish Gardening, a Facebook they never felt isolated.
Group founded by Kevin “Our interactions on the
Begley, initially had 4,000 mem- page increased by almost 30%
bers and soared to almost over the six-month Covid peri-
30,000 gardening aficionados od.”
when Covid-19 hit. Gareth Lambe, head of
Mr Begley said: “The Irish Facebook Ireland said:
Gardening Group had a large “Facebook has always been a
increase in membership during place where people connect
lockdown. with friends and family as well
“Many people who had as neighbors, colleagues and
never gardened before, took up others who share common
this satisfying hobby. interests and experiences.
“From pots on the win- “It’s fantastic to see those
dowsill to taming unruly fields who might be feeling isolated
of grass, there was a great or lonely, or missing events and
upsurge of people wanting to gatherings, can still get involved
garden. and connect with their commu-
“We were delighted with the nities online by joining
new members as Irish Facebook Groups.” C