Anti-lockdown vigil aiming to highlight negative impact of restrictions
THE Government’s decision to keep the nation in lockdown until at least April 5 was called into question by a group of protestors in Wexford town on Saturday afternoon.
Described as a ‘vigil’ in honour of ‘loved ones lost to lockdown’ this peaceful protest was organised in an attempt to highlight the negative impact of government restrictions. Those present chose not to reveal their names and spoke under the promise of anonymity.
‘Where is the reasoning behind this?’ one asked. ‘Then, if you speak out or say anything all of a sudden you’re labelled as some toxic, conspiracy theorist. It’s nonsense, since when were we not allowed to speak up?
‘We’re all suffering, my son is outside of the country, he’s abroad, he’s suffering with his mental health, I’m extremely concerned, I’m despairing because I can’t travel out there and he can’t get back at the moment.’
The biggest concern among those protesting was the impact lockdown is having on our mental health, particularly that of Wexford’s older people who are perhaps living alone or in isolation.
‘They talk about zero Covid, we want zero mental health (issues), zero hospital appointments,’ said another. ‘Where is the logic behind zero Covid? Zero doesn’t happen.
‘There is a section of society which is vulnerable and that is the older folk, protect them in a logical way, don’t just abandon them.’
Other protestors said their own family members were being denied access to services
they relied upon because of Covid-restrictions.
‘It’s really a crisis situation, not only in Wexford but all across the country, I think the lockdown is causing more harm than anything else,’ said one mother.
‘It’s way too severe at this stage, my daughter is suffering, she can’t even meet up with her friends, the class she used to go to every week gave her a little bit of relief but she’s literally housebound at the moment.
‘You might be struggling with your mental health anyway, and then you layer other things on top of it, financial issues, it doesn’t take a lot for people to lose hope.’
One of those in attendance said she was unable to open her business and provide a valuable service for her clients.
‘I’m a holistic practitioner, I do massage, and I have clients desperate to see me that I can’t take. No matter which side of the debate you’re on I don’t think I’ve heard a single person say they’re impressed and happy to hear about the amount of suicides that are happening right now.’