Mr. Michael Sheahan:

If the Chairman will facilitate me for a minute or two, what happened in Hong Kong is an apt explanation of what I mean when I say the protocol is not the problem. Hong Kong, which has a population of 7.5 million, of whom 20% are over 65 years of age, has been proposed as a model of what to do in respect of nursing homes. Up until 16 July, Hong Kong saw zero Covid deaths in nursing homes. The reason put forward for this internationally was that Hong Kong had an excellent protocol. The Deputy could find many articles on what a great protocol Hong Kong had and asserting that this was the way do things. Since 16 July, Hong Kong has seen 50 deaths in nursing homes, but its protocols have not changed. What has changed in Hong Kong? The rate of infection in the community has increased considerably. On 2 July, the rate in the community was 1.5 per 100,000 population. On 16 July, it was 5.6 per 100,000. On 30 July, it was 19 per 100,000.