Derry & Strabane Council To Hear Alternative Zero Covid Strategy

People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin said:

“Following from my proposal in October, representatives Prof. Anthony Staines-Dublin City University and Prof. Helen Dolk-Ulster University from the Zero Covid Group (Independent Scientific Advocacy Group) will present their alternative all-Ireland strategy to the Derry & Strabane Council Health Committee on Thursday at 4pm. 

The incoherent pandemic response strategies of the Stormont Executive and the Coalition Government in the South have plunged health services into a crisis across the entire island. A rising covid infection rate at this time of year that would overwhelm health services and unnecessarily threaten many lives was predicted based on Stormont’s and the Dáil’s chaotic approach.

Zero Covid is a strategy that’s been utilised effectively in many other countries, including but not limited to New Zealand. Instead, parties here have blamed each other or attempted to blame ‘the public’ for rising infection rates and unsustainable pressure on the health service. At every turn Stormont and the Dáil’s approach has been inadequate, last minute and aimed at appeasing big corporations. 

This is a crucial moment to hear an alternative proposal. The political establishment North and South has wasted a year with strategies tailing the Tories rather than implement a roadmap that has elsewhere saved lives, avoided restrictive lockdowns and avoided overburdening the health services.