SURPRISED...& DISAPPOINTED
Distancing& good hygiene ‘more effective’ 24hr testing ‘absolute goal’ to defeat bug
CORONA CRISIS: EXPERT SLAMS ‘SMALL EFFECT’ OF LOCKDOWN
A LEADING immunologist has questioned whether Ireland’s lockdown has been necessary in the fight against Covid-19.
Prof Paul Moynagh claimed yesterday that social distancing and good hygiene etiquette is proving more effective in preventing the spread of the coronavirus.
And he said a 24-hour turnaround for testing must be an “absolute goal” if we are to effectively combat the bug.
Prof Moynagh, an immunologist at NUI Maynooth, said the roadmap announced by the Government on Friday is to be welcomed for the public’s sake.
But he questioned whether lockdown was ever necessary, adding he was “surprised and disappointed” by the ineffectiveness of it.
Prof Moynagh told RTE Radio One’s Saturday With Cormac O headhra: “I think the public needed clarity in terms of where we are going so I think that’s very positive.
“But I would like to have seen a roadmap around testing and tracing. I think that is absolutely needed.”
Prof Moynagh said he would “strongly contend” the two-week extension of the lockdown “is due to testing”.
He added: “Testing is a major, major issue that needs to be addressed and as we move out of lockdown, it’s one of the only other defences we have and it needs to be much more effective.
“When I look at the effects of lockdown – I’m surprised and disappointed in terms of the relatively small effect that lockdown has had – and that is surprising from an immunological point of view.
“But when I look internationally, it seems the most dramatic effects are due to social distancing, good hygiene etiquette and probably the wearing of masks as well.”
Recent reports from Wuhan and Shanghai show distancing probably would have been enough to get the cities below the crucial R1 virus reproduction rate.
Prof Moynagh added: “So in terms of the effectiveness of lockdown, and it being justified to close down the entire
economy – I think there has to be a discussion.” The expert’s comments came as the Department of Health announced last night that 25 more people have died from Covid-19. It brings the total number of fatalities to 1,286, which includes the denotification of four deaths. A total of 343 newly-confirmed cases were also announced last night, bringing the total to 21,176.
Of these, 5,973 have been healthcare workers.
The latest information also shows that of those who have contracted Covid-19, 58% are female and 42% are male, while the median age is 49 years. A total of 2,785 cases, or 13%, have been hospitalised. Of those hospitalised, 368 cases in total have been admitted to ICU.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has previously said ICU numbers are crucial as his team considers the easing of restrictions such as social distancing.
On Friday, the number of Covidrelated patients in ICU fell below 100 for the first time, with 99 patients in the units across the country.
Prof Moynagh also blasted our current testing system and said waiting times are rendering them “essentially useless”.
He added: “I think the numbers we have at the moment are creating concern.
“One of the reasons we have those high numbers is because our testing has been ineffective.
“If we’re waiting for tests for five, six, seven, 10 days, they’re essentially useless.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said testing is up to speed, pointing to the fact Ireland will soon have the capacity to do 100,000 a week.
But Prof Moynagh claimed capacity is not what’s important – instead, he insisted it is the ability to get test results quickly and to trace contacts from there.
He added: “In terms of timing, we should be aiming for a return time from request of test to a result to tracing in 24 hours.
“If we can do that, it will be really effective.
“At the very, very latest, 48 hours.
“As it goes beyond 48 hours, the effectiveness of testing and tracing most of it is
lost.
“We have to focus on achieving that and that should be our absolute goal.”
Speaking on the Late Late Show on Friday evening, Mr Varadkar said we might soon be able to reduce the social distancing criteria.
He added: “One thing that may change in the future, depending on how the science develops, is that the two metres might become one-anda-half or one metre.
“Already some countries have gone for one or one-and-a-half… it’s a possibility.”
From an immunological point of view, the lockdown has had a relatively small effect PROF PAUL MOYNAGH RTE RADIO ONE YESTERDAY