Sir, – It’s interesting that from 2020 to 2022, the mantra from Government and health advisers was that we all had to take “personal responsibility”.
Now, with talk turning to a Covid inquiry, they don’t seem as keen on that idea. – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN BRUCE,
Blackrock,
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Co Dublin.
Sir, – I was disappointed with the letters last Saturday (March 4th), all more or less supporting the Government’s position and claiming it had saved thousands of lives.
There was no mention of Sweden which didn’t lockdown with the same outcome, nor of the impact on the diagnosis and treatment of other conditions, nor the long-term impact of the unnecessary closure of schools. Nor the cruelty of people denied visitors when seriously ill.
Some of the rules were frankly ridiculous.
The media of course, egged politicians on, and whipped up further hysteria.
The treatment of lockdown sceptics was appalling. People in positions of power hid behind claims that actions were based on science when they weren’t.
I can understand the initial panic when so much was still unknown, but once it became clear that only older people (I’m one) and the immune compromised, were at serious risk (and even then the mortality was generally less than 5 per cent), the continuing draconian measures were not just unnecessary but pointless and harmful.
None of the above issues are trivial, and we shouldn’t gloss over them. And it’s damaging that trust has been lost in claims about science.
We need rigorous analysis and honesty not a glib “everyone did their best”. – Yours, etc,
HEATHER WOOD,
Cliffoney,
Sligo.