A lot of opinions informed and otherwise currently surrounding #NPHET recommendations are doing the rounds – and I see distinct discordance between the economists and the doctors I follow. So, as an albeit junior who sits in the middle – my thoughts.

1.Working in Covid ICU is horrific, regardless of the number of patients. We should not be using the fact that they are not stuffed to the gills (yet) as a reason to delay appropriate public health interventions

2.Working in the health service is challenging throughout the year, adding in winter, and a pandemic, creates an almost indescribable feeling of foreboding

3.Public health advice is not meant as punishment, but as prevention of further harm

4.This is an unprecedented exogenous shock to the market, not a burst bubble based on overinflated assests (although that may yet be uncovered) – economics like medicine is an art not a science, everyone is trying to find a solution

5.This is a global problem which international organisations have risen to – including the ECBs €1,350 billion PEPP to lower borrowing costs – the purpose of this is to facilitate recovery while allowing for necessary restrictions

6.Nobody wants an economic downturn – poverty is an independent risk factor for poor health. But now we are looking at a possibly new chronic condition - Lost QALYs are expensive too

7.Please #holdfirm, and be grateful that if you’re reading this, you’re not in the 2/3rd of the world’s population that lives on less than $10 a day