Thread by @Orla_Hegarty

🇮🇪 Covid Inquiry- my comments didn’t all make it into @Independent_ie today 🧵 1/

“Over 9,600 people have died from Covid-19 in Ireland, including one hundred & forty one in the weeks since Christmas…
independent.ie/irish-news/pub…

..involving 31 residents. The pandemic is not over. An estimated 10% of those infected suffer long-term effects, & this burden of illness continues to grow.

Therefore, it is likely too soon to evaluate much of Ireland’s response. Decision-making is in the same hands… 2/

However there are meaningful questions that can be asked to improve current response & future-proof Ireland against repeat of this crisis.
Firstly the scientific failure –then & now– to acknowledge how the disease spreads.

Covid-19 is airborne & no amount of hand-washing.. 3/

..will suppress it. This basic fact was used to control meat factory outbreaks in 2020 & mitigate spread in schools in 2021. Yet while the expertise & knowledge are available, still in 2024 this is not communicated in public health information 4/

A balanced multi-disciplinary approach is needed to overcome silos & dogmas, just as in the past with clean drinking water and hand hygiene were resisted by doctors.

Secondly, the question of human & disability rights & rights of children… 5/

In 1989 Ireland ratified to the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) including steps for “prevention, treatment & control of epidemic, endemic and occupational diseases”.

Yet, there is an ongoing failure to ensure that schools, hospitals.. 6/

.. workplaces & transport have the clean air that is now mandated in law.

This is a barrier to people accessing education, work and healthcare.

Thirdly, information is our most powerful tool. Yet, data gathering has been wound down & we are flying almost blind. 7/

The inquiry needs to be transparent & evidence-based to give the political impetus to finally take the actions needed to move forward from this time. We have the tools”

/end