Coalition must unite to defeat ongoing threat of Covid-19

IT CAN be concluded from the data on Covid19 cases and deaths over the last four weeks that the relaxation of measures to “save” Christmas was a grave mistake.

We have had a divided Government since it was formed and the divisions have become more obvious. One party is attempting to deal with the pandemic taking on board the advice of Nphet and the chief medical officer.

Another party’s leader still believes he is Taoiseach and is still promoting the party, himself and ministers whilst frustrating the attempts to implement the necessary measures. The third party in Government is lost between the two larger factions.

The general public needs leadership and the majority of citizens are in favour of whatever measures are needed to reduce the number of cases and deaths.

There are three data measures needed to be arrived at in order to be relatively clear of this virus and its variants. Firstly, the number of cases needs to be at 100 or less for 14 consecutive days; concomitant with that, the percentage of cases from testing needs to be below 3pc and deaths from Covid below three per day of 14 consecutive days. It is necessary to arrive at these points, together with effective tracking and tracing, to ensure the virus is brought under control.

We need a unified Government to put party politics aside and implement all the measures, including the politically difficult ones. The majority of citizens are willing, so has this Government the will to take the advice of the experts and act on it?

Hugh McDermott

Dromahair, Co Leitrim