Tag Archives: Zero Covid

The Independent Science Advisory Group (ISAG) said Ireland must be prepared to do what New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has done and introduce ‘more aggressive suppression measures’

This morning.

Via ‘Zero Covid’ enthusiast The Independent Scientific Advocacy Group (ISAG) in the Irish Times:

‘…as many argue that the end of this pandemic is in sight, we must stay vigilant and our fellow citizens should be warned that there may be scenarios where we have to introduce more aggressive suppression.

We must be prepared to do what New Zealand did and is still doing, if and when needed.

Vaccines and drugs, even new ones, may not be always able to match the speed of change in Covid-19, or other novel pathogenic viruses.

We need plans for this, and the capability, and resources to deliver them.

This is not misplaced zeal, it is scientific common sense.

When faced with a catastrophic pandemic we need to accept that the Darwinian evolution we have all witnessed these past two years does not know about, much less care about, our optimism and we need to be ready and willing to err on the side of keeping society safe, and by doing so, keeping it open.

Yours,

Prof. Anthony Staines; Dr. Tomás Ryan; Prof. Patricia Kearney; Prof. Helen Dolk; Prof. Gerry Killeen; Prof. Ivan Perry; Dr. Philipp Hoevel; Dr. Julien Mercille, of The Independent Scientific Advocacy Group

Irish Times Letters

Getty

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

Last night/this morning.

New Zealand has  abandoned its long-standing strategy of eliminating coronavirus amid a persistent Delta outbreak, and will instead look to live with the virus and control its spread as its vaccination rate rises.

The Pacific nation was among just a handful of countries to bring COVID-19 cases down to zero last year and largely stayed virus-free until an outbreak of the highly infectious Delta variant in mid-August frustrated efforts to stamp out transmission.

“With this outbreak and Delta the return to zero is incredibly difficult,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told a news conference in a major policy shift.

“This is a change in approach we were always going to make over time. Our Delta outbreak has accelerated this transition. Vaccines will support it,” she said.

New Zealand drops COVID-19 elimination strategy under pressure from Delta (Reuters)

Getty

Meanwhile, in Australia…

The second domino.

FIGHT!

Friday: Gladys All Over

This morning.

Leinster House, Dublin 2.

People Before Profit TDs Richard Boyd Barret and Paul Murphy hold a press briefing on the planned re-opening of pubs to the vaxxed. The pair have called for a ‘Zero Covid ‘strategy of further, more severe lockdowns and the closure of pubs and restaurants.

Via Irish Times:

The Government’s decision to reopen indoor hospitality in bars and restaurants for people who are vaccinated or who have recent immunity has been described as a “reckless mistake” by an Opposition TD. People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said the Government was “rushing” into the move, which he said was being made at “the behest” of a private business lobby.
The impact of the decision would come at a cost to public health, he told RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland.

Reopening indoor hospitality now a ‘reckless mistake’, Paul Murphy says (Irish Times)

Meanwhile…

Yesterday.

Mr Murphy following his first Covid jab.

Soon he will be free.

Paul Murphy TD (Facebook)

 

Solidarity – People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy

 

This morning.

Zero Covid enthusiast Paul Murphy urges detention for UK travellers.

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

Previously: Just For One Day

Social Democrats co-leader Roisin Shortall and TD Holly Cairns earlier

“People have a misconception about zero-Covid. We achieved it last July when it was down to four people per day.

“Once the numbers are down you have strong border controls and a strong testing and contact tracing system It’s a short sharp lockdown, but the rewards are enormous. The alternative is the Government’s strategy of rolling lockdowns.”

Roisin Shortall, February 10, 2021

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

Follow the science.

Previously: Zero-Covid approach grows in political popularity