No detail and even less hope on offer in the latest ‘plan’ to live with Covid

THE Government’s latest plan for ‘ living’ with Covid lacks details, lacks conviction and most of all it lacks even a shred of hope for most people. Ever since it took office, the coalition Government’s communications strategy has been roundly lambasted, but last week it reached its nadir with Micheál Martin’s woefully tone deaf address to the nation.

More than two months into a strict lock-down that now looks certain to last well into the summer, and maybe beyond, the people are tired, beaten down, frustrated and increasingly angry.

They’re not angry at the lock-down per se – most reasonable people understand that it’s necessary – but angry that Micheál Martin and his Government continue to treat us all like recalcitrant children.

When the Taoiseach stepped up to his podium last week, noone expected much good news – that the lock-down would be extended was generally accepted – but most will have been hoping for even a hint of positivity.

Covid cases and hospitalisations are still worryingly high but we have a vaccine and case numbers have fallen massively since their post Christmas peak. It surely wasn’t unreasonable to expect some indication as to when this might all end? Was it?

Instead the people got almost nothing. Aside from details about schools reopening – which was very welcome news – there was precious little.

The situation will be reviewed in early April, we heard, and some, limited, loosening of the lock-down rules might follow. Or restrictions might last until May. Or June. Or July. Or even longer.

Most bafflingly of all, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar – and subsequently several other Ministers – added that the Government wasn’t entirely sure what metrics to use in deciding how and when the country can be opened up once more.

After a year of Covid-19, the dogs on the street are familiar with every Covid metric imaginable. How can it be that our leaders’ still don’t know what they’re looking for?

That all this came so soon after Boris Johnson unveiled his plan to reopen the UK – extremely slow and cautious but clearly explained and targeted – made it all the more frustrating to watch our chaotic coalition’s latest shambolic PR exercise.

In recent weeks the Taoiseach has been repeatedly asked if there is a problem with the Government’s Covid communications strategy. He thinks it’s fine and the message is clear.

Here’s a free PR tip for Mr Martin. If people are asking about your poor communications strategy then you either don’t have one or it’s woefully inadequate. Denying there’s a problem will not help you fix it.

The people know the Government don’t have all the answers to Covid – nobody does – they just want to be reassured and to know their leaders have some sort of handle on the crisis and are doing the very best they can.

Instead, we’re left feeling like children, cocking our ears outside a cracked kitchen door, while mammy and daddy talk about the big issues.