Lives are being ruined by lockdown so we need Stormont to make decisions

A letter from Gordon McNeill:
By Gordon McNeill
Published 16th Mar 2021, 13:37 BST
Updated 16th Mar 2021, 15:12 BST
A deserted Belfast city centre earlier this year. We are being told that shops in Northern Ireland might not be able to open until the Republic catches up in the vaccine rolloutA deserted Belfast city centre earlier this year. We are being told that shops in Northern Ireland might not be able to open until the Republic catches up in the vaccine rollout
A deserted Belfast city centre earlier this year. We are being told that shops in Northern Ireland might not be able to open until the Republic catches up in the vaccine rollout

After Stormont did not give an answer on Thursday (March 11) regarding return to school for P4-P7 pupils, the first minister Arlene Foster appeared to suggest that the failure was for political reasons – nationalist /republicans against unionists. If so, children are again pawns in the game.

On Saturday (March 13) you had more stories which will cause consternation to parents and business owners.

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We read that Dr Tom Black (who is close to being a columnist in the paper), see link below, says relaxing restrictions may have to be delayed because of slow vaccination progress in the Republic. He envisages visitors to shops (re-opened) in Northern Ireland, from the south and then sees flare-ups of infections in border areas. And because of this our children are to be kept off school, and shops cannot reopen until the Republic catches up!

Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

This the Republic which our own republicans want us united with. This utopia south of the border, part of the wonderful EU. And they are behind on their vaccination programme.

Set up checkpoints on the border if it’s a threat. Protect our own population, and return to some normal.

Dr Black also agrees with the notion that if schools open, businesses will have to wait longer to reopen.

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Mention is made of the R figure. It is reported to be around 0.5. I thought that for so long we were told we need to get R below 1.0.

Lives are being ruined. Our nation’s economy might never recover from this. Who is going to make decisions in this poor excuse for a devolved government?

Gordon McNeill, Portadown

• BMA chair backs Arlene Foster’s calls for vaccine sharing with Irish Republic

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Related topics:Tom BlackArlene Foster