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A thread: I’ve grown up inspired by Greece’s most enduring contribution to civilisation - democracy. A bust of the great Athenian statesman, Pericles, who built the Parthenon and governed during its golden age of educational and cultural achievement sits proudly in my office.
Sadly, this great man succumbed to the plague of Athens in 430 BC, with his society increasingly failing to abide by the laws at that time as the plague spread.
In 2020, it’s easy to forget that pandemics have shaped world history for millenia.
In 2020, it’s easy to forget that pandemics have shaped world history for millenia.
When we have to look back 100 years to the Spanish flu to find a pandemic of comparable global magnitude, it’s outside all of our collective experiences. It means there’s no detailed go-to manual of how to respond to these pandemics.
Responses need to be calibrated and adjusted, continually evolving to changing circumstances.
Since the first case in January, a huge effort by thousands of health care workers and many others has seen a huge amount of good work achieved in preparing our health system.
Since the first case in January, a huge effort by thousands of health care workers and many others has seen a huge amount of good work achieved in preparing our health system.
It was work that needed to be done quickly and nimbly because the virus would not wait and no doubt, mistakes were made along the way, because humans are flawed yet contagious viruses are unforgiving.
And to our collective frustration we find ourselves in a second wave, like many other parts of the world, this one more deadly than the first. And our collective heartache is enormous for every grieving family, every unemployed worker, every person not coping at home alone.
Since that fateful day on 25 January, when we had our first-ever case, I’ve worked every day to keep everyone safe. I have put every ounce of energy I’ve had into that effort. If it wasn’t enough, then I’m deeply sorry.
I’ve always striven to be upfront and measured about the challenges facing us.
So it pains me to see the incorrect assumption made that somehow I can single-handedly report on the actions of countless individuals and many agencies involved in our pandemic response.
So it pains me to see the incorrect assumption made that somehow I can single-handedly report on the actions of countless individuals and many agencies involved in our pandemic response.
Let the independent judge do her job, let the cards fall where they may. I believe there is nothing to fear in seeking the truth. The truth will set you free.
History like the plague in ancient Athens shows us that civil disorder puts a society facing a pandemic at greater risk. Our own democracy is not at any risk, but our health is. The strategy will only work if everyone follows the health advice. We all have a role to play in this.
