Ireland's Pandemic Prep: Still Failing

0:00It's March 31st. Europe news today starts now, AI-powered and pan-European. I'm Cori with the story. Ireland's experts just dropped a harsh truth bomb at the COVID-19 evaluation panel. The country's no better prepare for a pandemic than it was six. Years ago, health pros praised some solid moves during the crisis, but everyone's agreeing the big failures weren't fixed. Panel chair professor Anne Scott nailed it, saying folks did their best under pressure, yet the lack of prep was glaring and can't happen again. Earlier this week, discussions highlighted busted IT systems in the health service executive outdated slow with one platform capping weekly case. Reports. Professor Anthony Staines called it insane to find that mid crisis. He slammed the National Public Health Emergency Team 2, saying it's built for disasters like floods, not pandemics, lacking early-epi experts and ballooning to 50 members which kills decision-making. Meanwhile, the human toll hit hard in care homes, a major blind spot.

1:03Professor Mary Cod pointed out substandard infection control training there led to mortality rates 21 times higher than for over 70s. Cocooning at home, waiting lists exploded post-pandemic, staff morale tanked amid cost of living squeezes and experts like Steve Thomas Warren, these could spark the next. Crisis, if ignored, professors like Steve Thomas and Dr. Ryan stressed trusting communities more. They managed their own risks daily, yet got sidelined with top-down rules. Lockdowns weren't even WHO advice, and future prep can't just chase tech. It needs beefed up public health workers, labs, info systems and community, buy-in, especially as climate change ramps up pandemic risks. Bottom line, Ireland's got the blueprint from these lessons, time to rebuild smarter and power locals and gear up before the next wave hits, or will. Be ramen the same old regrets.