No quick fixes, we are in this for the long haul

TOUGH MEASURES Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announcing the stringent new measures on Friday. Pic: merrionst.ie

But in these trying times, try to focus on the positives

Today is the last day of March 2020, and the month will be remembered for a long time to come as the month when the Covid-19 pandemic took a hold of our country and tried to squeeze the life out of it.
The last fortnight has seen people’s way of life changed utterly, and the decision made by the powers that be to impose further restrictions last Friday means that even more people are now faced with the fact that they must stay at home, inside their own four walls, for the foreseeable future.
Last Friday’s announcement by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his team caught most people by surprise. While he refused to call the measures ‘lockdown’, they have moved the goalposts completely and really put the onus on all individuals to act responsibly and follow the Government’s stringent set of guidelines.
With cases of community transmission continuing to rise, and good weather promised over last weekend, the Taoiseach and Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan were forced to introducing the tighter set of restrictions.
The previous weekend, large crowds had congregated at beauty spots around the country. No one went to these areas with the intention of flouting the measures introduced by the Government; it was merely human nature taking over.
But the Government could not let that scenario develop again for a second weekend in a row, and imposing a 2km zone around everyone’s house for exercise removed the temptation to take to the road and explore. Those over 70 and people who are extremely vulnerable to the virus due to their underlying health conditions have been told to ‘cocoon’ – which means they cannot leave their home at all.
What this really does show is that without the strict implementation of guidelines, people will still push the envelope and try to take chances. Thankfully, those temptations have now been removed. We all know what we can and cannot do, and anyone blatantly ignoring the recommendations can be taken to task and face the rigours of the law.
Adhering to the restrictions in place is not easy. Daily life is now a struggle for everyone, and many are finding it difficult to think this way of life will be the norm for at least another month, and possibly much, much longer.
Thankfully, the spread of the virus is not as rampant here on this island as it is in many other parts of the world, and as a result, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
The most optimistic among us feel that if the curve begins to flatten by the start of May, then measures will have to be put in place, gradually, to try to allow some semblance of normality to return for certain sectors of society.
But the harsh reality of the situation is that the Government will not make any such decisions until they are 100 percent sure they are on top of the situation, and that type of scenario seems a million miles away at present.
Already, we all crave a time when we can hug our grandparents, bring our children to the playground or order a pint of plain down the local, but these actions pale into significance when we are trying to make sure that as few people as possible are infected with the deadly coronavirus.
We must be realistic about the timeframe and not create false hope that things will be back to normal in no time. Not even the experts are willing to speculate about a timeframe, so the best approach by everyone to it take this week on week and not make plans that are unrealistic.
We must focus on the positives. We know the Irish weather is unpredictable, but we are heading into the time of the year when the days are getting longer, the sun is higher in the sky and we have the potential for warm temperatures and balmy evenings.
Be thankful that we are not having to deal with the spread of a deadly virus in the depth of winter, when even at the best of times, the Irish climate can smother positivity.
Be thankful also that we live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country and most of us can, even with a 2km restriction zone in place, take outdoor walks and suck in the clean, crisp air. Sure, the May Bank Holiday weekend seems a long time away, but by the end of next month, the picture will be a lot clearer, and we can set more realistic goals.
For now, we just need to be there for each other, try to focus on the positives, and see the light at the end of the tunnel.

For clear guidance on cocooning and the latest restrictions, see www.gov.ie and www.hse.ie.