People have taken a lot, but they won’t take lies

the truth. It took them to yesterday to finally answer some simple testing and protective equipment questions.

Better late than never I suppose since the people are making massive sacrifices, they have given up their liberty so they deserve to be told the truth.

If mistakes have been made, please tell us. Don’t hide it, don’t cover it up.

Our brave doctors and nurses are putting their lives on the line and they need to be protected.

That means when the surge comes – hopefully sooner rather than later – they have the means to cope.

There is no doubt the current restrictions which mean you stay at home will be extended to the end of April.

The Government then hopes to move away from lockdown on a transitional basis with the restrictions lifted bit by bit across the country.

However, there is no specific plan B or exit strategy. Some suggest doing it on a county basis depending on the level of infection in different areas.

Ministers will find it very difficult to persuade the people to stay locked up until the end of May or June especially if a testing failure is to blame.

Then the other issue is finances and families caught in a poverty trap because they have lost their jobs.

Stress levels will be increasing in many economically damaged homes across the nation.

So either way there is no easy solution.

The priority is to get as many people tested as possible and then we will see where we are going.

At the moment we are in the business of saving lives – saving jobs will have to wait.

But Leo Varadkar knows no matter what happens they have to bring the people with them otherwise it will be a catastrophe.