Two Dublin football clubs suspend activity as NPHET describe viral TikTok video as 'disappointing'

Both Skerries Harps and Skerries Town FC have suspended all club activity as a precaution.

A member of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has described a video on social media showing members of a Dublin sports club speculating on who will get infected with Covid-19 next as disappointing.

The video on TikTok shows the girls talking about sharing drinks and licking faces as they discuss who may get a positive diagnosis.

The video emerged as two football clubs in the area suspended all activity as a precaution after a number of Covid cases.

Both Skerries Harps and Skerries Town FC have suspended all club activity as a precaution.

Posting on social media yesterday, Skerries Harps said: "On Monday, 31st August, the Club Executive met virtually and took the decision to close all sections of the Club pending Covid-19 test results in the town.

"While this is a difficult decision, we believe it is in the interests of our members, our players and the Skerries community as a whole."

In the statement, the club added: "Separately, Skerries Harps are aware of a social media video that went viral on Sunday night. The club does not condone the content of this video.

"The Club have followed all HSE, Government and GAA guidelines in the past few days and will continue to do so in the future."

Skerries Town said that it had decided to postpone all club activities "until further information is made available for the club to further assess".

The club said that it is a precautionary measure and there are no suspected Covid-19 cases in the club.

Dr Cillian De Gascun says everyone needs to take the virus seriously.

"If we don't implement the public health measures that everybody is very familiar with now in the context of distancing and hand hygiene and face coverings then if the virus gets an opportunity it can spread very quickly.

"Obviously we have seen that with large outbreaks in recent weeks and then the large number of outbreaks within the household setting.

"It is disappointing behaviour to see."

He said that the majority of the young people at the event will not be impacted but said their actions can impact other age groups: Tthe concern is that the more virus we have circulating in the community increases the risk of it drifting and bleeding into the vulnerable group and into the older age group".

Local councillor Karen Power says the girls in the video know they should not have done it.

"This video was never meant to be public and I understand people's anger and upset at it.

"When I first saw it myself, I shared people's anger. But the reality is, these are young people and it was a very silly mistake but I don't think that they should be vilified.

The girls themselves are well aware that they shouldn't have done it.

Cllr Karen Power says those in the video are currently self isolating.

Separately, a local pub has closed after a staff member tested positive for the virus last night.

Blue Bar says they do not have to shut down, but are taking no chances.

They said that all staff members had been wearing visors and continual sanitising was undertaken throughout the premises.

"We have contacted the authorities to inform them of the positive test and are following all measures they have asked us to take.

"We have also asked all members of staff who worked with the individual who has contracted Covid-19 to self-isolate and to get tested."

The statement from Blue Bar added: "We would also like to distance ourselves from false reports in circulation, which contain a number of fake and malicious claims about Blue Bar.

"None of the people concerned have ever worked in Blue Bar. We will always put safety first and we will continue to keep our customers and staff informed."