Blame game creates virus all of its own

SO, it’s back. After weeks of barely paying heed to the updates we’re back to counting down the minutes to 6 p. m., waiting for Simon Harris to appear with the figures, or Tony Holohan - completely forgetting there’s a new fellah now, in both jobs.

It’s not really back though, not unless you live in Kildare, Laois, or Offaly. The rest of us are grand, particularly the people of Leitrim (83 cases), Sligo (153) and Waterford (166).

How pleased with themselves must the residents of those counties feel right now? Strutting up and down their high streets, hands gleaming, masks bet onto their smug pusses.

But I bet the blaas (an affectionate term for Waterford people occasionally used by people from Kilkenny) are also on high alert, ready to pounce on careless coughers, loud talkers or anyone who might cause that remarkably low figure to rise.

Because everyone’s a coronacop now, we’re all guardians of the State. But we’re choosing not to carry out citizens’ arrests, frogmarching the culprits straight into ICU, doing our civic duty to protect the nation.

No, we’re taking to social media, reporting our findings, pointing the virtual finger of blame at the faceless and the nameless, whipping up a storm, and a crowd if we can manage it.

Here in Wexford there’s been a sudden spike in numbers after weeks without cases. On Wednesday it was reported there were 11 new cases, and immediately we looked to our left, to our right, trying to figure out how this had happened.

It couldn’t have been Waterford, sure they’ve been as good as gold. Carlow? Nah, when did anyone ever meet someone from Carlow? Kilkenny? Don’t be silly now.

And so we looked to the usual suspects, the demographics who always shoulder the blame. The first group to feel our wrath were the immigrants. A rumour began to circulate; the new cases were all part of a cluster in one of the county’s two Direct Provision Centres.

That would make sense, wouldn’t it? They’re not like us, and aren’t they arriving in their droves every day of the week, not a bother on them? A couple of difficult phone calls later and that rumour was put to rest - all residents were healthy and well. Shortly thereafter another rumour reached our newsroom. A halting site was the source of the virus. Quelle surprise. More phone calls, more confirmations that the accused were in fact, virus free, and we were 0 for 2.

Can you guess what the next rumour was? Go on, have a try. If you said the Romany community reward yourself with a chocolate biscuit. By the day’s end the only people who hadn’t been blamed were the British, with their big yellow registrations driving round like they own the place.

I shouldn’t complain too much, after all it’s better to be pious than ignorant, better to be vigilant than in complete denial. As a country we’re fully tuned in to the dangers of the virus - save for the few tin-hatters who refuse to wear masks - and put our neighbours across the Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean to shame.

But the blame-culture born out of Covid-19 needs to stop now. It’s tiresome and achieves nothing. Asylum seekers, Travellers and Romanys are already living on the fringes of society, already viewed with suspicion, they can do without any additional torment.

As it goes, no-one is really to blame, not even the Chinese. This virus is just a by-product of our modern existence, the world we’ve created for ourselves. Yes, young people hosting house parties are more culpable than the elderly and the frail, conspiracy theorists more dangerous than the many law-abiders, but we’ve reached the point now where a rise in figures is inevitable. No-one is actively trying to spread this virus, indeed - according to scientists - 80% of those infected aren’t even aware they have it.

There are further measures we could take, the decision to ban travel from the US would certainly appease many, as would the rounding up of all English-looking people on an hourly basis. But giving non-mask wearers dirty looks, reporting rumours as fact, and adopting a holier-than-thou attitude because you haven’t hugged your loved ones in months doesn’t actually help curtail the virus. And in some ways it creates a virus all of its own.