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On my way from school recently, I turned on the radio and the voice of Dr Catherine Motherway filled the car. The intensive care unit (ICU) consultant, who heads up the ICU at University Hospital Limerick, was a voice I trusted in the early days of the pandemic.
She was on the radio often as she held the position of president of the Intensive Care Society of Ireland at that time. She was a competent and charismatic medical advocate during the early COVID-19 crisis.
I was thrilled to hear her back on the airways. I had an immediate flashback of listening to her when I was in the calf shed, way back at the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Calving was well underway and I remember looking down the lime coated shed; it looked impressive – even clinical.
Though worlds apart I could empathise with the stresses she and her team were experiencing.
It’s quite a number of years now since our vet at that time, Vincent Lynch, suggested we use lime to dry up the calf shed. Before that, I regularly hosed down the wide passage in front of the calf pens. It was clean, but not healthy for calves as it created a humid environment. I was assisting the spread of infection rather than controlling it.
Now, we begin the season with a clean shed and work hard to prevent any moisture falling on our carpet of lime. We sweep up rather than wash and then spread a new coat of lime.
In March 2020, we were terrified of the virus and happily stocked up and locked up and were ready to stay away
We’ve been years learning about calf rearing and continue to hone our knowledge. There are parallels in what we are experiencing with the pandemic.
In March 2020, we were terrified of the virus and happily stocked up and locked up and were ready to stay away and stay safe for as long as it took. Given that we co-operated wholeheartedly for the cause of protecting the vulnerable people in our society, it is hard to countenance the opposition that some people now have to the reintroduction of some measures.
In 20 months, scientists have discovered that the transmission is through the airborne particles that infected people breathe out and others breathe in
Back then, we thought the virus was on surfaces and packages. We washed our hands frequently. We scrubbed surfaces. In 20 months, scientists have discovered that the transmission is through the airborne particles that infected people breathe out and others breathe in.
So we now know that masks and ventilation are key preventers of infection. So why is there uproar in some quarters to children wearing masks? Furthermore, why are we still scrubbing surfaces when that has been proven to be of little or no risk?
Common sense approach
The other day, a student in my class was wearing a mask. It was annoying him and I made a passing reference to it. He duly burst into tears. I asked if he’d like to take it off. He immediately cheered up.
Common sense will prevail in classrooms
The following day he was wearing a neck gaiter instead. I commended his parents in my head. Common sense will prevail in classrooms and teachers will know the pupils that are unable to tolerate masks.
Children also want to be like the adults in their lives, particularly the ones from whom they take guidance. I took my grandson, Ricky to see Santa. Diarmuid and I put on our masks as we got to the door of the shop. I noticed that Ricky kept his arm across his mouth as we crossed the shop and made our way to the third floor.
He did forget himself while he was with Santa. But the arm was back again as soon as we left. Children are guided by the significant adults in their lives.
Everyone will get the virus
In her interview, Dr Catherine Motherway said that she believed that, in time, every single one of us will get the virus.
She also said that the best way to be ready for the event was to take every vaccine that was offered and, with any bit of luck the infection would turn out to be a minor hiccup in our lives.
She spoke with such confidence that I immediately felt better about the prospect of getting the virus. The longer I can go without getting the virus then the better my chances of it being a minor event in my life. Who knows how things will be after Christmas? Meanwhile let’s keep the positive vibes going.
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