And So it begins again.
Lockdown part 2. @MlMcNamaraTD @ciarakellydoc @SusanMitchell_ @MichealMartinTD @jenoconnell
1/ I feel a genuine fear that much of the fabric of society will come apart in various shapes and forms in the coming weeks.

2/ There is already such anger, much of which I worry will not simply settle as the days pass. Obviously there is the shock of the much leaked news of the level 5 announcement.

3/So many parts of society now live with real concern as to whether or not they will have a job or a business to go back to/open in 6 weeks time. I sense a lot of anger about what is considered essential to remain open during lockdown (GAA) vs non-essential.

4/The backlash is already happening, with equally forceful counter arguments. More division. We are all in this together, but that doesn’t seem to resonate this time. All day I have listened to peoples’ views on “who” is to blame for the rising cases.

5/It’s the young, its the schools, it’s those who travelled and didn’t quarantine, it’s those in the border counties travelling down south, it’s the lock ins following the GAA finals, its the teenagers hanging around in large groups without social distancing or masks,

6/ Its the play dates, it’s the house parties, it’s the restaurants, it’s the meat factories, it’s the direct provision centres, it’s the neighbours who had a party.

7/Personally I have no idea who is to blame, if anyone is to blame, or if we are all to blame. But that’s my sense in recent days. It’s anger. It’s a Covid exhaustion in all of us.

8/It’s a anger in many of us who have done all we can to follow the simple guidelines, it’s an anger amongst so many small businesses that spent months ensuring their premises were made exceptionally safe to reopen in June. Months of time and at huge cost.

9/And anger when we watch social media clips of small groups completely ignoring the guidelines. The next 6 weeks will be a real test of a nation. And what will happen when we reopen? A party of “relief” for Christmas, and then lockdown again towards the end of January??

10/ I continue to worry and genuinely believe that we are risking far greater losses due to non-Covid health issues. Many may disagree with me. And they are fully entitled to. But that just the way I see things at the mo.