Editorial - Do You REALLY Need To Get Out?
Covid 19 - Time to Step up to the Mark!
Editorial from John Quigley, Webmaster, Cork Athletics County Board
Last night, at midnight, new, and updated, Covid-19 restrictions came into force, including a limit, of 2km from home, on the distance one may go for individual exercise.
We are at a critical stage in a time of unprecedented danger to all our lives. It is ABSOLUTELY VITAL that we ALL play our part in fighting this danger. How we behave WILL have an impact.
As a community, all athletes and runners must ask ourselves, individually and collectively: "Do I really need to get that run in today?"
If you are honest, the answer is an emphatic NO!
Which is more important? Getting out for your "daily fix", or preserving your own health and that of your family and other loved ones?
Since the announcement last night, I have seen lots of comments on social media asking/stating "How will they police it? Sure, how can they enforce that? etc...
If you're thinking about "They", then you just don't get it.
Look in the mirror! "They" is YOU!
YOU are going to police this. And...without YOU policing and enforcing this, it isn't going to work.
The front line services, including Health and Emergency Services, along with many, many more, are literally putting their lives on the line! They have probably not yet faced the worst of the surge, but are working to the bone, in a highly stressful environment. They will become tired and fatigued, a stage where slips, accidents and errors happen. Please don't add to their load.
Updated Restrictrions Synopsised (Unedited extract from Gov.ie website)
The main rule is to STAY AT HOME. The only times you can leave your home are:
- to travel to or from work if you are providing an essential service. [external-link https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/625292-updated-list-of-essential-retail-outlets-27th-march-2020/ | The full list of essential retail services is available here. A full list of essential workers will be published on Saturday morning]
- to shop for food
- to collect medical prescriptions and medical supplies and attend medical appointments
- to carry out vital services like caring (including family carers)
- for brief individual exercise - within 2 kilometres of your house. (You can bring children but must keep 2 metres away from others for social distancing)
- for farming
