Drink is in and sense goes out
resumption of cervical screen checks
IT’S often the actions of a few which end up having repercussions for the many.
Now we’re faced with the real prospect of pubs remaining shut until July 20 following scenes of revellers ignoring social distancing in Dublin at the weekend.
Remember the chaos in Temple Bar before lockdown and the shameless singing of Sweet Caroline as punters gleefully belted out the lyrics “Touching me, touching you”?
It’s not so funny 1,741 deaths later.
While last weekend’s antics weren’t quite as stomach churning, there was evidence of crowds outside and not a €9 meal in sight.
The responsible publicans are furious. They are terrified the Government will reverse plans to reawaken the bar industry.
There are already real fears many have been squeezed into extinction by the pandemic with the loss of 22,500 permanent jobs.
The small minority of bar owners who served to punters beyond the 105-minute limit or to those who hadn’t paid for a sit-down meal are recklessly flouting the guidelines.
But what about personal responsibility, which asks all of us to do our bit to prevent further transmission of Covid-19?
Taoiseach Micheal Martin sounded patronising yesterday when he warned the re-opening may not happen if people don’t behave.
Do the isolated breaches of the rules warrant punishing the rest of us?
Dr Colm Henry
VITAL screening programme Cervicalcheck was back yesterday but up to 80,000 will be waiting until October for Breastcheck to resume.
Up to 100,000 women had cervical smear tests stalled because of coronavirus.
Now two priority groups will be seen first, including women who require annual checks and those first entering the programme.
Dr Colm Henry, the HSE’S chief clinical officer, told RTE he is concerned about delays in restoring the schemes.
He added: “But I am equally if not more concerned about recreating conditions that could lead to an outbreak of Covid in a healthcare environment.
“So in opening any service, we need to protect people.”