Sir, – It is disappointing to see the Taoiseach and other politicians stating that they do not want to “go backwards” in terms of Covid restrictions.
The response to the pandemic should be dynamic. Escalation and de-escalation of public health measures should be responsive and data-driven, rather than characterised as regressive or progressive.
If our public health measures are to minimise harm then they must be adaptable based on the reality of the situation. The current reality is that the Covid incidence rate is causing a crisis within our health service which is affecting both patients suffering from Covid and also many patients whose scheduled care is being cancelled.
The Government should be less concerned with rhetoric and optics about “progress” and more concerned with its mandate, which is to act in the best interest of citizens. Nothing could be more backwards than insisting on a linear response to a non-linear crisis.
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– Yours, etc,
Dr MARGUERITE CARTER,
Ringsend,
Dublin 4.