With the nation's health again in peril, now is not the time for misplaced deference to Nphet

My piece in today's Indo👇

 https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/with-the-nations-health-in-peril-now-is-not-the-time-for-misplaced-deference-to-nphet-41086873.html

"Public health measures underpinned by flawed modelling has brought us to the brink of yet another preventable lockdown. The louder the scientists clamour for ventilation mitigations such as HEPA air purifiers and upgrading masks to N95/FFP2, the more Tony Holohan doubles down on “wash your hands”, despite evidence showing the risk of transmission from surfaces is low.

With the nation’s health again in peril, now is not the time for misplaced deference. The country’s Chief Medical Officer should be accountable for his dogged denial of the scientific consensus within the WHO, ECDC and others, that: children can catch and spread Covid as effectively as adults, Covid is an airborne disease, asymptomatic transmission is common and Long-Covid exists which can cause multi-organ damage".

...."It’s not too late for Dr Holohan to take responsibility instead of blaming individuals for NPHET’s doomed deployment of hand sanitiser as our primary defence against a deadly airborne disease".

Covid safe Halloween party mentioned in article👇

Pre-Covid, my kids' Halloween parties were legendary. The whole neighborhood was 'round our house. This year, with Covid rampant in the community & health care professionals on their knees with exhaustion, I had 3 & made sure they a) were all safe & b) had great craic. Mission was accomplished 👻💀

Masked up for indoor horror filim in conservatory: windows open either end for cross breeze, Hepa air purifier in shot & blankets provided for extra snugness 😎

"Den of doom" (ramshackle doorless polytunnel) for unmasked hijinks & eating (all kids fully vaccinated 👍)