[ad_1]
There has been a lot of debate recently about “circuit breaker locks” and “circuit breaker restrictions”, but what are they and where do they come from?
The circuit breakers involve the introduction of measures similar to the “lockdown” imposed in Ireland at the end of March.
They are designed to bring large reductions in transmission in a short period of time. However, this has not always been the case.
Where did the circuit breaker come from?
The term circuit breaker generally refers to the use of a brief but strict lockout to dramatically reduce the transmission of Covid-19.
The approach is named after devices that are used to shut down electrical circuits when too much current is flowing.
In the context of the pandemic, the term was first used to refer to actions taken by the Singapore government in April.
While the virus had been detected in the country in January, the state took until April to implement a widespread lockdown measure, including restrictions on movement and meetings, as well as the closure of schools and non-essential businesses.
The circuit breaker was only supposed to last about a month, but it was extended because the number of “unrelated cases”, in which the source of transmission could not be identified, did not drop. As a result, it only officially ended almost two months later.
Although the measures were in place for longer than expected, since Singapore has not entered a second wave, the extended circuit breaker appears to have been successful.
However, the blocking elements of the plan should not be considered in isolation. The state also introduced mandatory wearing of masks in public in April, had sufficient hospital bed capacity, and deployed a robust testing and contact tracing regime.
It is also important to note that Singapore is still in the process of easing the measures and has not yet entered the third phase of its reopening.
Time frames
The term “circuit breaker” has come to mean different things in different jurisdictions with different time frames and measurements.
Like Singapore, other countries that have imposed strict measures for a short planned period have not met their initial deadlines.
In some reports, a 12-day extension of a lockdown in Auckland, New Zealand, on August 12 was described as a circuit breaker, but the government determined that it was not appropriate to lift the measures until September 23.
The strict restrictions imposed on the Australian city of Melbourne on August 2 have also been called a circuit breaker. While the curfew has been lifted and schools have reopened, many other restrictions have been in place for more than ten weeks.
In mid-September, Israel imposed circuit breaker-type measures as part of a planned three-week shutdown. However, these measures have also been extended and remain in force today and have faced protests.
Not all circuit breakers involve generalized lockouts. Last Wednesday, pubs in central Scotland were ordered to close for just over two weeks as part of a circuit breaker measure.
Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the limited measures were a “short and sharp action” to reduce the spread of the virus. The Welsh Minister of Health is reported to be considering such circuit breaker measures as well.
Island-wide circuit breaker
On October 4, NPHET recommended that the government apply Level 5 restrictions for a period of four weeks. The term circuit breaker was not used and the Government decided to move the entire country to Level 3.
While Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said a circuit breaker might be necessary, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said it is not being considered.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has expressed doubts about the efficacy of a two-week blocking action.
These restrictions are also being debated in Northern Ireland. With a dramatic increase in cases, its top medical and scientific advisers have warned residents to prepare for a possible circuit breaker lockout.
However, one of the main concerns around the implementation of a circuit breaker is the financing of supports for thousands of companies and employees that should be compensated.
Politicians in the North have also questioned whether such a closure would be effective if it was not taken on both sides of the border.
The Taoiseach has said that the idea of an island-wide circuit breaker was not discussed during talks with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week.
[ad_2]