Covid? How are you? We are now almost a year living with Covid19 and no nearer an end as far as we can see. It has been a tough year for many for many reasons – the death of loved ones, especially those who died because of Covid; the pain and suffering caused by the virus to so many; the loss of a business; the difficulty of surviving in the hope of building up again; the loss of employment; the loss of education; the loss to families not able to meet each other; the loss of being able to meet friends; the loss of so many things in life, which we took for granted and we still cannot see the time when life will return to ’normal’ but we can hope. There are lots of things we can do to give us protection from catching the virus. There are lots of things we shouldn’t do for fear of catching the virus but all of us are tempted now and again to take a chance. For some that chance has led to a positive result which in turn was passed on to others who in turn passed it on again. It seems to have a different effect on people and there is no guarantee that you will be the one who gets the mild dose irrespective of your age or medical condition. The best we can do is obey the restrictions imposed by our Government. That is where the big questions starts. Are they making the right decisions? Some of those decision must be questioned but the big problem is – no one knows what decisions are the right ones as this is all new to everyone – Doctors, Professors, experts, -ologists of all descriptions and politicians. However if everyone did what is expected of them, I think we would certainly have a major impact on the spread of the virus. Let’s not waste our energies on trying to blame someone for the spread as each person will pick it up from a decision they themselves made. Stay apart at least 2 metres, wear a mask, wash hands, stay at home, stay away from crowded areas – these are the safety measures. Years ago when we were attempting to save Monaghan General Hospital we told the Governments that we needed more beds in the system and we needed more nurses and doctors to look after the patients in those beds but we were ignored and they reduced the number of beds, they halted recruitment of nurses and doctors, and the crammed patients into hospitals that were unable to cope. So bad did it become that the Health Minister at a time called it an ’emergency’ but still nothing positive was done and patients suffered and patients died needlessly. Coronaviirus arrives and they discover they don’t have enough beds and they don’t have enough nurse and they don’t have enough doctors!!!! Who is to blame? Having said all that there are now a number of areas where we could question. Why did Government promise people when they would get the vaccine when they were not sure of when they would get it into the country, Why do they try to appease us by telling us that 70,000 have been vaccinated when there are nearly 5 million people in the country who need to get the vaccine? Why have the frontline staff of Monaghan General Hospital not been vaccinated and will have to travel to Cavan to get it? This vaccine is not being distributed fairly by the look of things. We knew that there would be a vaccine from early Autumn and that all citizens would be offered it and at least 70% would accept it. Why then was all the planning not done and dusted by the time the vaccine was ready to arrive? Why were the people not trained up to administer the vaccine, decisions made as to where it would be located fairly, who would actually perform the vaccination and how many trained personnel would be needed and have them standing by. How are the 60 to 69 year olds in Northern Ireland able to tell us that they have already got the first vaccine? Why do they call the vaccine a ‘game changer’? I am told that this vaccine only reduces the severity of the medical condition for those who get the virus. It seems it does not protect people from getting the virus and does not prevent the person passing it on to others. It will, hopefully, reduce the number of deaths and relieve the pressure on hospitals and staff, who are exhausted. Are our politicians afraid to let the Medical people make the decisions. Are they afraid that the people will ask – ‘who is running this country’. Now we discover that a huge order of vaccine is not now available and is only suitable for a limited number of citizens but promises were made on the assumption that we would have hundreds of thousands at our disposal. It certainly is a ‘game changer’!. The lives of our citizens must have top priority and all, that can be done, should be done to prevent deaths. Let’s have a strict lockdown if that is what the medics advise. Let them deal with those caught flouting the rules but make sure that the rules are fair for everyone. Is it fair that a 5k limit be put on the whole country? Is 5k in the rural parts of Ireland similar to 5k in our cities and towns? A person from Clara will meet a much smaller number of people if they walk 5k than a person going for a 5k walk if the live in any part of Dublin or any town. Some shops are closed and others open and it is difficult to work out what ‘essential’ means. It is difficult to understand how Rugby and Soccer etc games can go ahead and not other types of sport. I cannot see how the Taoiseach can go to America just to hand a bowl of Shamrock to the President there and not have to quarantine when he comes back? I don’t see why the Government, has to pay €15,000 to use the National Concert Hall and only a few TDs in attendance, while teachers are expected to go into a small classroom with up to 30 young adults, from various parts of the hinterland, changing every hour each day? However we live on hopefully and we will come out the other side but the new normal will be different as this virus has cost us dearly and money doesn’t grow on trees – so, to get our economy up and running again, we will have to stump up and realise it is the pain we have to suffer because of the virus.