Sir, – Orla Tinsley hit the nail with mighty hammer regarding her comments on ableism (“Society tilts towards ableism in every instance. The only way to change this is to resist”, Health + Family, October 18th).
Having endured myalgic encephalomyelitis for almost 11 years and having cocooned since February 2020, it certainly seems Irish policy, and policymaking worldwide, regarding mask wearing and Covid-19 are designed for the able-bodied 100 per cent fit persons of our nations.
The rest of us, those of us still highly vulnerable to Covid-19, have been deemed second-class citizens.
If I attempt to enter my local pharmacy, the one with the very visible sign on the door reminding people it’s a healthcare setting and masks are advised, I soon discover I’m the only customer wearing a mask, and if I book a tradesperson to enter my own home, the one with the door and window open, and the box of masks and hand sanitiser on the table by the door, I find my FFP2 masked face greeted by a person who stares at the box and walks right past, maskless, into the heart of what is supposed to be my sanctuary.
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Has the time come for me to not only wear some sort of neon sign as I enter my local pharmacy but as I also greet tradespeople in my own home?
Current policy regarding the wearing of masks is designed for the healthy, and society appears to be at ease with this. A fact I think I find even more disturbing than the policymaking itself.
Through the actions – or inactions – of our Government, society has decided those of us highly vulnerable to Covid-19 should live out our lives in some sort of invisible bubble which we step into the moment we leave our homes to access our GP, pharmacist or hospital.
I’m afraid due to courier staffing issues, or bubble-making failures, I have yet to receive my invisible bubble and instead of stepping into the world, I continually to find myself having to retreat further and further from it. – Yours, etc,
MARIE HANNA CURRAN,
Ballinasloe,
Co Galway.