The Times have been the only media outlet in recent times that are questioning the official line, McDowell, Ferriter, Lambert, etc. Hopefully it represents a shift in critical thinking.
There was almost universal âbuy inâ back in March and April. When you saw the horrible pictures of hospitals in Italy being overwhelmed all sane people understood the gravity of the situation and were willing to put up with a lockdown and 2k/5k travel restrictions.
Now, though, the mood music has changed. 80% of people who pick this killer virus up are asymptomsyic, as per NPHETâs Colm Henry. The vast, vast majority of people who pass away from it are elderly and already have serious underlying conditions. That doesnât mean itâs grand for those people to be killed off but death is part and parcel of life and society. Protect these people, by all means, and that should be the number one priority but as we saw in the nursing home in Galway yesterday we canât even manage that adequately.
Weâve had 7 months to prepare for the inevitable rise in cases this winter. And the net result? A minimal increase in hospital beds and staffing levels, the complete breakdown of the tracing system.
All the while small and medium businesses are going down the swanny. Those in the public sector - myself included - are probably better off than ever as salaries are recession and bomb proof. âWeâre all in this togetherâ - we are in me bollix.
I honestly think weâll look back on this in years to come as a huge, huge economic mistake. Bar glib statements from our leaders about âsaving livesâ there is no direction.
Itâs not an exaggeration to say the fabric of society is breaking down. Canât go to the gym, canât visit family, canât visit friends, canât do most social activities, canât pay your respects to the deceased and their family, canât go to weddings, canât go for a drink or indoor meal.
I just think itâs crazy. Perfectly reasonably people like Dr Martin Feeley are ostracised when they question this madness. Any dissent, however constructive, is shouted down.
Fair play to him, Michael McNamara has been the only public representative Iâve heard to calmly and rationally question this farce.
When we broke up last March, we were told on a Thursday we were closing. The day before we were told everything was fine. Lots of teachers and students got caught on the hop so to speak.