Taoiseach Says Cost of Covid-19 Elimination Strategy Would Be ‘Very Severe’

TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said that the implications of following a Covid-19 elimination strategy in Ireland would be “very severe for workers and for society itself.”

Martin spoke during Questions from the Leaders in response to the co-leader of the Social Democrats Roisín Shortall TD, who had asked the Taoiseach to explain the government’s strategy “in the medium and long term.”

“There has been little or no political or public discussion about this. Basically, there are three strategies; there is herd immunity, there is zero or near elimination, or there is what we are doing, ”said Shortall.

The five-tier plan is a very good framework. It distinguishes rates and responses in different areas but it is not a strategy. What we are doing is a certain level of testing and there are some checks on the flights. We continue with public health messages about wearing masks and social distancing, but that is clearly not enough.

“Our response to a surge is either a lockdown or a shutdown. That may work in the short term, but it is not a sustainable strategy. And that is not a sustainable strategy, even in the medium term, because the price that has been paid for it is simply too high. “

In response, Martin said that he “does not believe in the herd immunity approach,” adding that those who have championed it previously “did not realize the impact of this virus on people and people’s health, even if you survive. “. .

Summarizing the government’s plan, Martin said the strategy is “to suppress the spread of the virus while maintaining the quality of life for as many people as possible.”

He said the cost of following an elimination strategy was too high.

“Let us also accept that the economic and social implications of the elimination strategy would be very, very significant and very severe, for workers and for society itself,” Martin said.

Committee

The co-leader of the Social Democrats Róisín Shortall.

Source: Oireachtas.ie

In an exchange of views with Shortall, who was seeking “more cross-party discussions on handling the virus,” Martin said he “has no difficulty” with this approach and pointed to the Oireachtas committee on Covid-19.

“If you are suggesting that some new forum should be created, perhaps in a non-contentious environment that would perhaps provide a more reasonable time frame to explore these issues, I think it would be a good idea. However, one of the challenges we have is that we have many people on the front line who could usefully contribute to that debate, ”said the Taoiseach.

Also today, an adviser to the World Health Organization told the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee that Ireland should allow Covid-19 to spread in a “controlled” way among people under the age of 60.

Dr Johan Giesecke, a former chief epidemiologist in Sweden, said the government should protect the elderly with frequent testing of nursing home staff and residents.

He warned against building a Covid-19 strategy in the face of the imminent arrival of a vaccine.

“We may have to wait and it may not be very effective for those who need it most,” he said.

– With reporting by Christina Finn