[ad_1]
Today’s commuters had to endure kilometer-long setbacks to get to work when Operation Fanacht began across the country, meaning the day for many on Ireland’s roads was severely disrupted.
Here there were widespread reports today of setbacks due to garda checkpoints ensuring public compliance with public health measures.
Gardaí implemented 132 checkpoints across the country as of midnight Tuesday night and the effects are already wreaking havoc on workers’ schedules.
One of those workers was Dr. Anthony Hoban, who commutes from Dun Laoghaire to Wicklow Town to treat patients.
Dr. Hoban explained how he encountered traffic jams on the M7 and that when he got to work he had six patients waiting for him for treatment.
“Usually it’s a 30 minute ride and today it was at least 80 minutes, if not more. I made it to the M7 fine, but just past the Shankill roundabout I encountered a crawling traffic jam. It was like this until about 300 meters before we reached the checkpoint and at that moment the gardaí signaled us to pass. They had stopped arresting people. I’d been in traffic for about 40 minutes or so stopped at that stage.
“There were at least a dozen cars that went to the trouble of stopping to give the gardaí some pity, I think. I think people were exhausted at that stage as they had waited so long and then they were just dragged through the checkpoint.
“The first patient I had booked for this morning was at 9am and they had a translator with them. There were five patients and a translator waiting for me when I got to work, and that adds to the people calling for Covid ”, he emphasized.
Dr. Hoban explained how his commute is now a logistical nightmare, as it is for many, who have no choice but to sit back and suffer from traffic jams.
“My first patient each morning would be at 9am, but I am also in charge of dropping the kids off at school and that is now staggered due to Covid-19 so it’s really impossible. We cannot leave earlier.
“It will not be enough; cannot start work at 9:45. There are five patients who would receive treatment in the time lost in a traffic jam at a checkpoint.
“It is badly thought out. It is a huge obstacle. It is a commuter belt and people travel to work; On weekday mornings, I don’t think many people are fleeing the city, ”he said.
Online editors
[ad_2]