Row Erupts Over Headlines About HSE Action Following Blindboy Podcast in Ennis

A row has erupted over the reporting of news about a HSE letter, which required some attendees at a Blindboy Podcast gig to self-isolate for a period of two weeks.

The background is that a number of people who attended a performance of The Blindboy Podcast at the Glór Theatre in Co. Clare on February 29 were subsequently contacted by the HSE and asked to self-isolate, after it emerged that an individual, who had attended the concert, was later confirmed to have the Covid-19 virus.

As is standard practice in situations of this kind, those who were identified as having been in what might be considered close contact with the individual who had contracted the virus were contacted by the HSE's Department of Public Health, on March 5.

According to The Journal, the letter read: "A case of Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) has been identified in a person who attended the Glór theatre on Saturday 29 February, 2020. As a result, you have been identified as a close contact of the case. To prevent the possible spread of infection, you are required to self-isolate until 14 March, 2020."

In response to the reporting of the story, Blindboy himself Tweeted about the situation. His tweet made it clear that he was angry that some headlines had misled other attendees into believing that they would be required to self-isolate as well. The official position is that all of those who were identified as being at risk have already been contacted – and, in his tweet, the Rubberbandits man assured other attendees that there is no requirement to self-isolate.

"Disappointed with headlines around this," he said. "Key facts are omitted. Some people were contacted early last week by HSE and asked to self isolate. Based on where they were sitting. IF YOU WERE NOT contacted by HSE then it means they felt you were not a close contact with virus.

"I have no issue with these articles," he continued. "Which state facts. Just the headlines, and I’m saying this because I’ve being contacted by worried gig attendees who are wondering why the HSE didn’t contact them

"It was a theatre," he added. "Everybody’s seats, location and contact details were on hand. Which is a positive thing in a situation like this. If you didn’t get contacted, then you haven’t been asked to self isolate."

It was a theatre. Everybody’s seats, location and contact details were on hand. Which is a positive thing in a situation like this. If you didn’t get contacted, then you haven’t been asked to self isolate. I myself was not contacted by HSE to self isolate

— The Blindboy Podcast (@Rubberbandits) March 10, 2020

"And absolutely fuck off to all the media ringing me for comment or to go on radio. Talk to an expert please and not me. This is too important."

And at the end of a final tweet in the thread he said: "Awful stuff."

Operations at the Glór theatre are continuing as normal, according to a statement from hte theatre management. It reads: "Operations at glór continue as normal after management sought advice from the HSE, additional hygiene measures and handwashing advice are in place at the arts centre, and we ask all our staff and customers to follow HSE guidelines on handwashing and respiratory etiquette."

The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland is currently 24.