The end is in sight in Covid battle, so let’s stop playing blame game
ITHINK we should put off finding people to blame for the rising Covid-19 numbers unti l spring. Seriously, let’s just give it a rest for the next three months.
And then, once it’s clear that the hospitals are coping and the vaccines have reached our most vulnerable, we can turn the tap back on – really go for anyone who we feel made a stupid decision or wilfully ignored the expert advice that was given to them.
This lockdown is different. Not just because it’s in the depths of winter and there are new strains of the virus, but because the solidarity and unity we experienced in mid-March doesn’t seem as strong. That’s worrying because this time round, we need it to be even stronger. Back then, Opposition parties wisely faded into the background and let the then government get on with things. The consensus was that very little was known about this virus. Every day, new information was coming to light, and the country did its best to react accordingly.
Now we seem to have a legion of new experts – people who know exactly what we should and shouldn’t be doing to stop the spread of Covid-19 while ensuring the fallout is kept to a minimum. It’s amazing really.
But perhaps the most irritating of this critical cohort are the ones who think they’ve spied an opportunity to further their own aims.
T he journalists or commentators intent on making a name f or themselves, who harangue those who are making difficult decisions day in and day out. Barely allowing them a chance to answer their aggressively put questions, al most delighting in their attempts to humiliate.
Or, even worse, the politicians who think now is an appropriate time to sow the seeds for a leadership push, or a chance to promote their own political party by constantly bashing every step taken by those currently in charge.
I don’t think I could ever trust men like Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen or Jim O’Callaghan to put the country first. Could you? And as for
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín ... Well, it’s just extraordinary that one man apparently knows so much about everything. Of course hard questions have to be asked – and that is the job of both the media and the Opposition. For instance, the U-turn taken on Leaving Cert students this week needed to be examined. But there is a difference between questioning the decisions taken during t his pandemic, and denouncing every move as a complete and irreversible disaster.
Yes, the figures are frightening. Yes, there were undoubtedly mistakes made. There will probably be more mistakes made before this is over.
But I believe the vast majority of us recognise that this is an evolving situation. We understand that the next three months are vital. So we’re willing to bed in and do whatever we can to help l essen t he burden f or our courageous and exhausted frontline health workers.
We will probably never recapture the sense of solidarity we shared in those first weeks and months of the pandemic. Too many people have died, too many businesses have been destroyed, and most of us are too shattered.
But all of us do still need to play our part – and that includes those who have access to public forums. By all means, take note of who you think has messed up. But, instead of attacking now, save it up, and come back to it when we’re ready to take stock of what we’ve been going through.
Emotions are heightened right now. We’re tired and scared. The more you bang on now, the more chance you have of polarising people even further, and where does that get you? Well, look at what happened in Washington DC on Wednesday.
The vaccine is here; the roll-out has started. Perhaps it’s not being delivered as quickly as we’d like, but it’s coming.
One of the stark realities to emerge from this pandemic is that while a lot of people will be left truly devastated by death, illness or loss of jobs, there are many more of us who will come out of it relatively unscathed.
So, for the moment, instead of wasting energy on blame and anger, maybe think about what the more fortunate of us can do for those who are really suffering.
This week I spoke to the l andlord of George’s Street Arcade, Gwen Layden ( see Pages 26-27). For the duration of every lockdown, her family have halted collecting rent f rom the 42 businesses at the indoor market in Dublin city centre.
Just think of the difference that has made to those people’s lives. It’s at the dramatic end of the scale as far as benevolent gestures go, but even the smallest act of kindness can help someone get through another day.
And, for the moment, let’s be thankful that there are experts who are working tirelessly to try to keep us safe. People like Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn who gave a measured and thoughtful interview to RTÉ’s Six One News on Sunday.
‘It is within our power to turn this around but we all need to act as one,’ he said.
‘Sticking to the letter of the guidance will not be enough at this point. We need everyone once again to stick to the spirit of the guidance. To stay at home.’
He added: ‘We all need to act as if it’s March 2020 once again.’
It’s the final push; the end is in sight. We’ll be ready for spring and able to deal with those who may have failed in their duties. But, until then, block out the noise, and let’s stick together rather than fall apart.