Dr Niamh Lynch: Hope will not get us through these critical weeks

"We have learned from tragic experience that Nphet are seldom wrong. Hope will not keep us afloat in a fourth wave of Covid-19"

Taoiseach Micheál Martin addressing the nation on Tuesday. It was almost impossible to suppress a creeping sense of optimism. Picture: Julien Behal

A hopeful looking Taoiseach addressed the nation on Tuesday. After setting out a calendar of sorts for the gradual reopening of the country and the economy, he concluded on an optimistic note.

"Most importantly, the worst of this awful pandemic will be behind us."