‘Clear criteria’ needed to extend CHO’s pandemic powers, advocates urge

The council’s president, Michael Cope, said while it supports the current extension, the government needs to spell out a clear set of criteria that would justify extending the CHO’s powers beyond September.

“These are the most draconian measures ever put in place during the state,” Mr Cope said. “It didn’t happen during any war, it didn’t happen during the Spanish Flu outbreak.

“There needs to be a clear criteria laid down as to what would cause a further extension to these powers.“

Mr Cope said if the powers continued to be rolled over again and again without appropriate justification, there was a risk they could be stretched out indefinitely.

During her own submission to the hearing, Dr Young said the fact that the virus…