Ireland reflects on five years since first Covid cases

Five years ago, the first cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Ireland. Back then, the country faced lockdowns and strict health measures. Today, many of those terms, like social distancing and lockdowns, are no longer part of daily life. Most restrictions were lifted by February 2022. Despite this return to normality, some people still experience Long Covid, dealing with symptoms months or even years after infection. There are also families mourning the loss of loved ones, as Ireland recorded over 9,500 Covid-related deaths. The first Irish case was confirmed on February 29, 2020, involving a man who traveled from Italy, where a severe outbreak was occurring. Just days later, on March 11, the first death was reported. The World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a global pandemic that same day. Ireland quickly established a public health team, known as NPHET, to manage the crisis. It recommended measures that sparked controversy but aimed to protect public health. Vaccinations began in December 2020, and research suggests about 14,000 to 15,000 deaths were prevented because of the vaccination program. Long Covid continues to be a concern. A recent survey indicated that around 16% of the population sampled experienced Long Covid symptoms, with fatigue, cognitive issues, and breathlessness being the most common complaints. Access to healthcare for Long Covid patients remains a challenge. Throughout the pandemic, Ireland faced several variants of the virus, including Alpha, Delta, and Omicron. While new variants are still emerging, there are currently no new variants of concern. The country still sees around 130 Covid cases weekly. The pandemic highlighted issues in the healthcare system, particularly the lack of intensive care unit (ICU) beds. The number of ICU beds has increased, but experts say at least 600 beds are needed to adequately support the population. As the pandemic response is evaluated, many questions remain about the effectiveness of lockdowns and measures taken. Lessons learned from this experience will be essential for managing any future health crises. Health experts urge preparedness for potential future pandemics, emphasizing the need for robust public health systems.