Rolling lockdowns and the Government’s ‘scorched earth’ policy has led to lasting economic damage from which many small businesses will never recover, it has been claimed.
Scientists and medical doctors from Covid Recovery Ireland believe that the Government relied too heavily on NPHET’s advice without taking account wider factors.
They say the decision by Government to give a one-dimensional mandate to NPHET without taking into account broader issues impacting on business, society and the economy could have long term implications for the country.
Economist Jim Power conducted a study for the group and he said that his findings show the damage caused by our strict lockdowns will be lasting.
He said: “There is a distinct risk that many retail and hospitality businesses will shut down permanently and this will leave a serious scar on the streets of villages, towns and cities around the country.”
In his report, “The Economic, Social and Health Consequences of the Irish Government’s Approach to Covid 19,” the economist states: “It is worth asking if the cure might actually be worse than the disease in the long run.”
Mr Power said Ireland was an outlier in terms of its “scorched earth policies of rolling lockdowns,” topping the Reuters league table at 163 days, well ahead of Italy in second place at 131.
Mr Power said no attempt had been made to carry out a cost benefit analysis on imposition of severe restrictions and no one from a business background had been appointed to NPHET.
“NPHET was set up as a short-term emergency response team to deal with the virus.
“It was never intended as a longer-term strategy unit, nor does it have the capability to act as such,” the report states.
Mr Power said: “The notion that life can return to normal, that the shut-down businesses will suddenly come back to life; and that Ireland’s international connectivity will return to pre-Covid normality when the restrictions are eventually lifted would appear to be naïve in the extreme.”
He added: “There is a distinct risk that many retail and hospitality businesses will shut down permanently and this will leave a serious scar on the streets of villages, towns and cities around the country.”
Mr Power added: “Ireland is now in a situation of fiscal vulnerability, given the very high level of debt that is accumulating.
“This vulnerability would be exposed by higher debt servicing costs, or a loss of international market confidence.”
The Report was commissioned by Covid Recovery Ireland, a group of medical doctors and scientists who have campaigned against lockdowns as a measure of combating pandemics.
