‘This is the calm before the storm’
:: Rallying cry to support ‘heroes’ in health service :: Virus crisis could go on for months, says Taoiseach :: Older people will be asked to ‘cocoon’ for weeks
ON A St Patrick’s Day like no other, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar issued a historic rallying cry for the nation to help slow down an unstoppable virus.
Mr Varadkar called for community spirit to prevail but also warned that this is just “the calm before the storm – before the surge”.
“And when it comes – and it will come – never will so many ask so much of so few,” he said. Staring down a television camera placed outside his office in Government Buildings, the Taoiseach said it could take months for the coronavirus to be brought under control.
The clear implication was that unprecedented restrictions already placed on our daily lives will extend far beyond March 29. The emergency “could go on for months into the summer so we need to be sensible in the approach we take”.
The Government is preparing to ask the elderly and people who have a long-term illness to stay at home for several weeks.
“We call this ‘cocooning’ and it will save many lives… particularly the most vulnerable… the most precious in our society,” Mr Varadkar said.
He had a message for young people too who are less affected by the virus, saying they need to be patient and give their grandparents moral support by phoning them.
Mr Varadkar paid tribute to the thousands of healthcare workers on the front lines, saying: “Not all superheroes wear capes… some wear scrubs and gowns.”
And he warned families that even when the health threat passes, the country must then fight an economic battle before life returns to normal.
“The bill will be enormous and it may take years to pay it,” he said.
The Taoiseach addressed the fear in society.
“I know many of you are feeling scared and overwhelmed. That is a normal reaction, but we will get through this and we will prevail.
“We need to halt the spread of the virus but we also need to halt the spread of fear.”
He urged people to only rely on information from trusted sources and spoke of the devastation that will be caused to the economy.
“We went into this crisis with a strong economy and the public finances in good order.
“We have the capacity and credit rating to borrow billions if we need to,” he said.
“I am confident that our economy will bounce back… but the damage will be significant and lasting.”
His message for young people was to keep up their school work and offer to help their parents. “Call your grandparents and try not to fight with your brothers and sisters.”
Mr Varadkar’s address came as the Government also issued a dramatic call to arms in the fight against the coronavirus after launching a massive recruitment drive for doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff. Health Minister Simon Harris said the “health service can hire everybody and anybody who is suitably qualified”.
Meanwhile, it emerged a large backlog of patients suspected of having the virus after contacting their GP are enduring delays of several days before being tested due to a dwindling number of swabs.
The HSE admitted it could run out of the swabs, which are taken from the patient and sent to a lab, but said it was confident of getting a batch of around 30,000 tomorrow.
The HSE said it could run out of the swabs used in the tests
The escalating human toll of the coronavirus and growing demands it is putting on the health service was starkly highlighted in figures showing 69 more people were found to have the infection yesterday, bringing to 292 the number of people here who have tested positive.
HSE chief Paul Reid said the recruitment campaign was aimed at qualified healthcare workers including medical, nursing and therapy staff who would go on a panel and be hired as the crisis escalates leaving more full-time employees at risk or self-isolating. of patients suspected of having the coronavirus are waiting days for tests despite having potential symptoms.
The patients may be at risk of infecting others if they do not self-isolate while waiting for the result as instructed.
A shortage of suitable viral swabs is causing the delay .
Dr Colm Henry of the HSE said the delay would not affect the persons outcome but it can cause anxiety.
He appealed to the public to be patients and said the backlog would be cleared shortly.
Nursing Homes Ireland representing private nursing homes appealed to people within our hospitality and retail sectors to look for opportunities that will present in providing care to older people during the emergency.
A spokesman said staffing needs will arise for nursing homes in meeting the care needs of older people, with the disciplines in nursing homes being wide-ranging.
“Roles on a temporary basis that may interest people could include those of healthcare professionals including nurses and physios, healthcare assistants, catering, activities, ancillary or administrative support.”