Michael Clifford: Give us the story with testing, warts and all

The first week has gone well. The latest restrictions introduced eight days ago by Leo Varadkar appear to have been borne stoically by nearly everybody. It’s not life as we know it but duty calls at this point in an existential crisis.

We now have the evidence that restrictions work. During the week it was revealed that the initial measures have elicited positive results in terms of “flattening the curve”. Lives have been saved. That is not to at all minimise the loss of those whole loved ones have been taken by the virus, but the reality is that it could have been a lot worse. The news that drastically curtailing lifestyles and work has actually saved lives is enough to provide a shot in the arm to the national mood for solidarity.