Prioritising business reopening is root of latest spike in infections, says People Before Profit
Calls for serious examination of schools’ policy
People Before Profit have said the latest lockdown measures were the inevitable result of previous Government decisions that reopened non-essential businesses while infection rates were still too high in early December.
Reacting to the latest measures Bríd Smith TD said that the attempt to deflect the blame for the latest rise in infections on a new variant or on people’s personal behaviour would not wash with people.
She said: “The general public have shown enormous willingness to support the harshest measures to combat this virus but consistently they have been let down by Government failure to pursue a Zero-Covid strategy”.
The party is calling for the continued support for workers affected but also said the school strategy of reopening schools on the 11th January is a mistake and doesn’t take account of the latest evidence from other jurisdictions.
The party believes schools must remain closed during Level 5 and increased resources made available for online learning across primary and secondary levels.
Facing the huge demands this latest wave will place on our public health system the party is calling for the immediate take over by the state of private facilities on a permanent basis.