Varadkar says a ‘short and hard block may be needed to hit the virus on the head again’

TANNAISTE LEO VARADKAR has suggested that in the near future the government could consider and implement a “short and hard blockade to hit the virus on the head again”, or a circuit interruption.

Writing in today’s Sunday Independent, the Fine Gael leader warned that any second lockdown would have far-reaching impacts that would have to be considered before such an option is chosen.

Last Sunday, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) held an emergency meeting amid a rapidly deteriorating situation with Covid-19 and recommended that the government move to Level 5. At Level 5, circumstances reflect the first lockdown earlier this year in many respects. .

However, the government chose not to advance to Level 5 and opted for Level 3, which itself carries stricter restrictions than those experienced by much of the country. Speaking on RTÉ’s Claire Byrne Live on Monday night, Varadkar said he didn’t think NPHET’s recommendation had been “well thought out.”

Yesterday 1,012 new cases were confirmed in Ireland. The 14-day incidence rate has increased by 39% to 150 per 100,000 in the last week.

In a statement last night, medical director Dr. Tony Holohan said he was “very concerned about the numbers and how quickly they are deteriorating.”

In today’s Sunday Independent, the Tánaiste said the NPHET advice was taken seriously and that no one was left in doubt about the worsening track record.

“So when politicians and senior officials sat around the table the next day, we had to consider the big picture: what a sudden shift to Level 5 would mean for employment, livelihoods, mental health and health. family life, ”he said.

“We were unanimous in our opinion that the country was not ready for a second blockade and that we should move to Level 3 restrictions first, with the option of applying more restrictions if necessary.”

Varadkar then referenced a circuit breaker, as he also did last Monday on Claire Byrne Live.

The idea of ​​a ‘circuit breaker’ is a short, sharp period of tighter restrictions aimed at curbing the rise in coronavirus cases.

Some see the temporary lockdown in New Zealand as a circuit breaker that gave contact trackers time to keep up with case numbers.

In his letter recommending the move to Level 5, Dr. Holohan made no specific reference to this concept, but Varadkar mentioned it again in his article today.

“This would represent a short and hard block to hitting the virus back on the head and reducing the number of cases to a manageable level. Similar to a second lock, but not as long.

It may well be necessary at some point. No other country in Europe has tried. It would be an experiment, but it could work. In Israel it seems to be paying off.

I know some say a circuit break could save Christmas. I am not that sure. The problem is that when you are completely blocked it is difficult to get out of it. As we have already learned, reopening is much more difficult than blocking.

Varadkar said it was important to have a clear goal in mind in terms of what such a lockdown would want to achieve in terms of case numbers and other important indicators.

He said the government had to ensure that there is support for those who lose their jobs again, as well as for companies that would have to close. He also emphasized the importance of having a plan to reopen the country again, as well as the impact on non-Covid medical and mental health care.

In closing, the Tánaiste said that the government is constantly grappling with these issues that will frame any decision made in the future. He added that the government would work with NPHET and HSE to make sure the correct calls are made.