Relaxation of Restrictions, Part XII Read OP For Mod Warnings

Captain_Crash · 26-01-2022 9:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118537480#Comment_118537480

Literally in the pub here and one of the regulars beside me at the bar got up to go to the jacks and asked if he had to wear a mask and the barman said no and he replied… “are you suuuureee”. He’s a nice guy but one of those who’ll introduce you to his mask he loves it so much.

km79 · 26-01-2022 9:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118537555#Comment_118537555

Which is fine as it’s his choice

Being told you have to wear one or won’t be served is another story

Captain_Crash · 26-01-2022 9:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118537621#Comment_118537621

Absolutley, his choice…. But wanted to hear that he had to… that’s what’s funny! He’s almost upset that he can walk bare faced to the jacks! Lot of them about! I’d say half the people where I am now are wearing masks when walking about

Red Silurian · 26-01-2022 10:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118537480#Comment_118537480

In fairness, pubs are entitled to run their business as they see fit and at least if you don't like the rules of a particular establishment you can go to another one, until proper closing hours 😁😁😁

kirk. · 26-01-2022 11:30pm

What's the thinking on masks will they be dropped

The most annoying things ever

bear1 · 26-01-2022 11:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118538040#Comment_118538040

With the way the numbers are dropping then there won't be much of a justification at the end of Feb. Too early to say though as of now.

mcsean2163 · 27-01-2022 12:10am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118532729#Comment_118532729

The main poster talks about feeling like crying because he has to go back to the office because restrictions are ending. He's not overjoyed restrictions are ending, he's crying they are ending.

If you don't think that's pro lockdown....

MilkyToast · 27-01-2022 1:59am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118538215#Comment_118538215

Eh, I dunno about that. I know a few people who are glad the restrictions are ending and it looks like the pandemic is coming to an end, but who also had a huge increase in quality of life this last couple of years because of more time with kids, less money/time on commuting/food etc. They are mostly pissed off at their employers for forcing them back into the office when it seems unnecessary rather than actually wanting restrictions to continue.

And you have to remember, it's been nearly two years. That's a long time to get out of the swing of being in a corporate environment for 8 hours a day. It's not surprising that some people are feeling anxious about going back. It doesn't mean they want everyone else to keep being restricted.

martingriff · 27-01-2022 2:11am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118538215#Comment_118538215

They are not pro lockdown they are pro WFH or at least only a day in the office

moonage · 27-01-2022 5:57am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118534033#Comment_118534033

(Sorry for the multi-quotes.)

I don't think Boris's actions in England had much effect on Ireland's lifting of restrictions.

We're not really a free, independent country that can come to our own decisions. We're part of the EU and it's our masters in Brussels who ultimately call the shots. Most restrictions were lifted here because the EU granted us permission to lift them.

27-01-2022 7:08am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118536017#Comment_118536017

I asked for evidence as to why excess deaths were a multiple of actual globally. You posted a response with a handful of reports of issues that had pretty marginal impacts on overall death rate. Eg An increase of 1700 home deaths in a country with 170,000 Covid deaths, a country that actually was pretty aligned between excess deaths and Covid deaths compared to much of the world. If we had been talking mismatches between Covid and excess deaths in the region of 5-10%, then yes your links would have provided an explanation. But it wasn’t, it was more like 200%, so as I said previously- no evidence then, got it.

is_that_so · 27-01-2022 9:18am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118537471#Comment_118537471

In the context of COVID, short-term is very understandable and even desirable with potential changes every 2-3 weeks. The housing problem is very complex, despite claims by the Opposition that even more money will do the trick and in a lot of ways goes back to way before any of the current Dail even thought about politics. Slaintecare is long-term, despite currently being stalled, and Reid seemed to have started on a HSE plan before all of this hit.

Backstreet Moyes · 27-01-2022 9:29am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118537284#Comment_118537284

Right so England were the main drivers of those results and led by Boris.

So your comment that Boris had nothing to do with it is nonsense, based on your own response.

JRant · 27-01-2022 9:39am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118538782#Comment_118538782

I think we are saying the same thing really. Covid reinforced all the natural bad habits of short-term thinking that is common in Irish politics. Completely agree with you on the housing issue and it really has its root in the celtic tiger years where house properties were allowed run out of control because it was fueling bumper tax returns. It requires a long term strategy and making unpopular political decisions.

The health service is the same. When all the local health authorities were rebounded under the HSE umbrella we were promised reform. That never happened. The same way having centres of excellence and more step down facilities while closing regional hospitals was on paper a good idea. They forgot about the first part and just ploughed on with closing facilities before their alternatives were up and running.

Slaintecare looks dead in the water if you ask me and judging by Reid track record, even before his HSE role, I have zero faith he can deliver the reform that is needed.

This Pandemic could and should be the catalyst for reform. It shone a bright light at the major failings of the HSE over the past 10 years. More voters need to keep this fresh in their minds and not forget how easily the hospital system came under pressure and the disgraceful waiting lists that we have now.

kirk. · 27-01-2022 11:34am

It's not looking good for the masks to go as retailers in UK are keeping them

kirk. · 27-01-2022 11:38am

The PC war will probably start up now on masks

# do the right thing protect your fellow citizen

The sort of world were living in

is_that_so · 27-01-2022 11:39am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118539351#Comment_118539351

We won't know here whether good or bad as a decision is not for another 4 weeks anyway.

Lumen · 27-01-2022 12:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118539351#Comment_118539351

Details are important though. The Guardian reports (my emphasis)

England drops compulsory mask wearing in shops, vaccine certificates and work from home guidance

Today is the day that England drops all the Plan B restrictions which were put in place ahead of the expected wave of Omicron infections.

The move means compulsory mask wearing in shops and on public transport, guidance to work from home and vaccine certificates will be scrapped in England. Last week the government changed guidance to remove face mask wearing in classrooms in secondary schools.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the success of the vaccine programme, coupled with a better understanding of treatment for the virus, is “allowing us to cautiously return to plan A, restoring more freedoms to this country”.

The move comes as the UK as a whole recorded 102,292 new daily Covid cases, with the week-on-week average being slightly down. There were 346 deaths recorded yesterday.

Public health guidance urging people to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces if coming into contact strangers will remain in place, the Government said. It also said organisations will be able to choose if they will require Covid passes from those visiting their venues.

While the scrapping of measures have been welcomed by some, others have urged people to “be considerate to those around them” when it comes to choosing to wear a face covering, and to “be respectful” of policies in certain settings.

Both Sainsbury’s and John Lewis said their customers will be asked to wear masks, though the latter acknowledged it will ultimately come down to “personal choice”.

PA Media quote the British Retail Consortium saying the changes “will enable shopping to return to a more normal experience for customers, employees and businesses”.

But their chief executive Helen Dickinson added: “Retailers ask customers to be considerate to those around them when choosing whether to wear a face covering and to respect the decision of other customers.”

kirk. · 27-01-2022 12:45pm

I know the legal side is dropped

My fear now is that the corporates and the pc mob will now take over and keep this restriction going indefinitely

Night owl gal · 27-01-2022 12:53pm

Are the gp surgeries back to normal yet, ie no phone consultations?

freshpopcorn · 27-01-2022 1:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118539834#Comment_118539834

I think it depends on what's up with you and they might see you but it will take a while to get an appointment.

However I think the phone calls are handy for them and will continue.

growleaves · 27-01-2022 1:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118539375#Comment_118539375

Mask not what your country can do for you, mask what you can do for your country.

Lumen · 27-01-2022 1:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118539787#Comment_118539787

But there is no such "restriction" in the UK. The retailers aren't requiring masks.

_Kaiser_ · 27-01-2022 1:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118539787#Comment_118539787

As long as the legal requirements is removed, anyone who wants to keep wearing a mask can and will do so. Anyone who doesn't, won't.

Any retailer who tries to retain it for entry to their stores will likely lose custom to those who don't.

freshpopcorn · 27-01-2022 1:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118539787#Comment_118539787

Look around at mask usage in general.

Masks are pulled out of a handbag, pocket, car door and are reused several times.

People can even take them off coming out of Tesco and put them on the other way round going into Lidl.

They are put on by a lot in my experience for the shortest period of time.

Then people don't wear them correctly.(Nose out)

Look at the mask interest on the thread here for example.(Very little)

If the government scrapped masks in the morning some will install stop wearing them and others would follow then after a while.

Those who want to can of course continue to do so.

People in real life aren't like they are on Twitter.

Similar those who'd be renting on Facebook about x not wearing a mask in a queue or shop. Would generally be the local curtain twitcher. Who'd always want to be seen as the Ms/Mr Perfect.

DLink · 27-01-2022 2:18pm

I've been going maskless, or wearing my mask very inappropriately, both at work and in shops, since Mehole declared the pandemic was over last week, and no one has said a word to me.

If shops expect me to wear a mask after the legal requirement is lifted, then I'll be shopping elsewhere.

However, the company I work for is run by covid worriers, and they are carrying on with restrictions regardless of what happens in the real world....

They pay minimum wage and can't attract extra staff, so they can't afford for anyone to go sick or have to quarantine.

I think even after masks are no longer a legal requirement, they'll still be a part of our lives, whether it be at work, or just having to look at covid worriers wearing them out in the fresh air.