Relaxation of Restrictions, Part XII *Read OP For Mod Warnings*

MilkyToast

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118486486#Comment_118486486

Yep. I know plenty of people who will give out about how unethical the passes are, but who will gladly use them to get into a restaurant or take a flight while the (according to them) unethical treatment of the unvaccinated continues.

Floppybits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118486537#Comment_118486537

That can't be true I thought everyone was getting vaccinated so that they could protect granny and everyone else and had nothing to do with themselves.😀

noraos

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118486465#Comment_118486465

It's amazing how much covid filled a void in so many peoples lives..I also find some people are actually JEALOUS of non vaccinated people getting recover passes...as if they still don't deserve to be a part of society ..cos they didn't get vaccinated.. its all so bizarre...alot of people wont let go of this.. and this encourages NPHET too unfortunately..Its a very toxic situation..

MilkyToast

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118486683#Comment_118486683

A lot of double-vaccinated-and-boosted people have said they felt guilty about contracting covid over the last month or so, as though there is any moral value to be attributed in the course of infectious disease.

There's definitely a degree of psychosis going on. The propaganda mongers have a LOT to answer for.

noraos

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118486752#Comment_118486752

100%...its almost as if they feel 'unclean' and that's how it has been drilled into people's minds..if you caught it, it's because you clearly didnt follow the rules...🙄

Most people are no longer afraid of the virus..but they don't want to be responsible or to be known as the 'one who passed it on'..and this is the core of why the restrictions will stay alot longer than anyone wants..in my opinion..its the fear of judgement now, not actual illness..

BuildTheWall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118486537#Comment_118486537

What do you want people to do? I try my best to support businesses that don’t discriminate based on a persons vaccine status but unfortunately there’s little or nothing I can do about it. If I want to get in somewhere or get on a flight I have to use the cert.

Blut2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118486034#Comment_118486034

9,400 deaths with no underlying condition in the UK would be the population adjusted equivalent of 700 deaths in Ireland, total. Across almost 2 years, so 350 or so a year. With a median age of 82.

Given our similar population profiles, and it being the same disease, thats likely a roughly accurate figure for Ireland. NPHET will do their damnest to delay releasing that figure.

We have 150-200 road deaths a year every year in the country, of people with a much much lower average age, in much better health, and nobody demands society shut down completely to prevent that.

DLink

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118486537#Comment_118486537

I complain about the passes, they're a slippery slope to god knows where. I've rarely used the pass within Ireland, but when I do I always cause a queue to form behind me....

As for using it to get away from here, well, I make no apologies about doing that.

I hate the whole theatre around the passes for travel, but I'm sorry, I'll do whatever it takes for hassle & testing free travel, my head needs regular breaks from the absolute covid misery that pervades Ireland... they even have covid distancing stickers in the tiny shitter at work FFS.

MilkyToast

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118486804#Comment_118486804

I don't really have "wants" about other people's behaviour. It seems like a pointless and unavoidably frustrating endeavour. But I do know a handful of people who take the position that they will not use the domestic covid pass and will take whatever consequences for that there are (not going to places that require them, testing before flights rather than showing them, giving more business to places that refuse to be complicit, etc.). I respect those people.

deholleboom

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118486683#Comment_118486683

I happened to go for tea in a hotel lobby w a friend who was staying there. Didnt have my ID but manager settled f my Covid pass. Some friends of his joined and i just expressed my hope these irrelevant Covid passes would go soon. That they were a relic from the times when we hoped they would help somehow, to keep Covid from spreading, to make society saver.

Alas, it is now so normalised that people dont even question them, their efficacy and purpose.'Ah sure, we are all jabbed anyway, whats your problem?' They actually dont see the issue. I am afraid that will be the reason they might stay. It contradicts my other thinking, that the diminishing fear of Covid will lessen over time and hotels etc not bothered asking for them. But It might turn into a standard bureaucratic procedure. Pubs are likely to stop using the certs at some point but in hotels, music venues, theatres etc they might continue to be used. Maybe that is the real reason authorities are so against pubs.

With Omicron any social distancing, mask wearing, certification has become completely obsolete, yet it is the same routine applied now. Everybody is so used to it it has become...normal, new normal, sensible, acceptable behaviour.Terrifying, really!

BuildTheWall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118486465#Comment_118486465

For some people I think following the pandemic is akin to following a soap like Fair City or Coronation Street. They absolutely love analysing graphs and case numbers, the efficacy of one vaccine over another, N95 masks vs normal ones etc etc It’s like covid is there hobby and they absolutely love every aspect of the pandemic.

noraos

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118486804#Comment_118486804

Not aimed at you personally, as I fully believe everyone has their own choice and that also includes supporting passes etc..

But people just eat outdoors..noone is sitting under an umbrella getting drenched ..most places are very much set up for outside pints or food..infact some are lot nicer outside..there is a better atmosphere..

Pcr tests for travel, alot of places take antigen and its a quick trip to the chemist for 30 euros and you get a travel cert..

A PCR taken in Ireland will get you to anywhere in the UK and back on the same test for a weekend..so just take one before you go..

It's a little bit of an inconvenience, but it's not like the only option out of the country is a vaccine, however I will agree its the more convenient option.

noraos

noraos

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118486979#Comment_118486979

Exactly! This is my thought on it aswell..which is genuinely frightening..I sometimes feel like the only looney that's trying to highlight a problem that noone else sees! Haha

daydorunrun

was in a restaurant today and after paying the bill got up to leave and walked out without putting my mask on- just slipped my mind. A couple coming in looked at me and took an evasive step sideways with the guy (late 50’s) saying ‘mask’ while gesturing with his fingers around his mouth and nose. He was being polite enough and I’d genuinely forgotten but got me thinking- the nonsense of sitting somewhere for 90 mins without a mask and then putting one on to walk 10 steps to the door Is boll*x and I’m not doing it anymore. It’s up to everyone to start normalising normal things again.

scrips

Dr John Campbell says in his latest video, referring to the spread of Omicron, 'The [recent] restrictions in Scotland PATENTLY have not worked'. He goes on to quote an EU expert who says that there is no evidence that an ongoing booster programme would be beneficial, and he highlights a few UK experts who believe that the end is in sight and we should accept a certain level of deaths from coronaviruses each winter. I wish we had this kind of straight-talking medical figurehead here in Ireland.

Specialists now agree on endemic ending - YouTube

To add - I ate out today in a restaurant which did not ask for my contact details or covid cert - I didn't even notice at the time but it would seem to be a promising sign.

Richard Hillman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118487081#Comment_118487081

The while thing with the UK was the experiment that England were going without any heavy restrictions and Wales & Scotland going with heavy restrictions. Turns out it made about no difference at all.

We went with heavy Level 5 restrictions last winter and this year the government stood off a bit and let things pan out. It looks like we will have the exact same looking spike and drop on the charts.

Apart from the original Spring 2020 lockdown, I don't think restrictions/lockdowns have done anything. And we are starting to see the real life data to say that it was all in vain.

DLink

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118486994#Comment_118486994

No offence, but this is part of the problem... You shouldn't settle for any of what you just said.

Indoors with no cert, or nothing... travel without testing / cert, or nothing.

2019 normal or nothing... anything else is just giving in and feeding the monster.

I complain to anyone who asks for my pass, and I always cause a kerfuffle, yes, I don't care if they are just doing their job, in my eyes they are King Tony's representative, and I'll make it known. Cause enough grief and it makes it's way up the chain eventually.

Yes, I know I use the pass for travel, and I'm a sellout, but my mental health comes first, and I would rather travel with covid, than discover I have it and be grounded.

Floppybits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118487071#Comment_118487071

Did the same yesterday in tesco. Only realised I didn't have the mask on when I was walking out the door. Never bother with the mask when going into the gym or leaving such a stupid rule to wear a mask entering or leaving the gym but not needed when you are working out and sweating and breathing heavily. Mindless stuff.

ceadaoin.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118486752#Comment_118486752

Yes, becoming sick with this particular airborne pathogen has become a moral failing and is akin to punishment from the covid gods for the grave sin of not following "the rules™️" devoutly enough

mcsean2163

This seems to be turning into an anti vax thread and not a relaxing restrictions one.

The doctors said the solution was the vaccine and we were all meant to take. Don't understand the strange reaction to defy doctors advise. Take that **** elsewhere please.

Let's get back to discussing end of restrictions.

Any sign of pubs reopening after 8pm. When will mask mandates in primary schools end? (It's an awful thing to do to kids). What about festivals etc.?

growleaves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118487467#Comment_118487467

I see little discussion of vaccines.

Posters are discussing the certs which are a restriction.

DLink

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118487467#Comment_118487467

I'm not an anti-vaxxer, I'm anti forced vaccination.

I'm anti being forced to get a cert to have a coffee indoors, to travel abroad, or do other things that were considered normal 2 years ago.

Doctor's advice is just that, advice, and I can choose to ignore it if I wish, but I shouldn't be locked out of society as a result of that decision....

Certs, coercion & restrictions need to go.

darconio

And that's another aspect of this "new normal". Anything that doesn't follow the mainstream narrative regarding covid cert/mask/vaccine = antivaxxer, anything that doesn't follow the "science" (but only the one that support the above narrative) = conspiracy theorist. Not sure we'll ever get out with this general mindset

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118487071#Comment_118487071

This is one of the more ridiculous rules alright - act like you're a plague carrier when you enter/leave/go to the bathroom, but sit there with friends unmasked as long as you like in between while you eat, drink and chat among others doing the same!

More concerning though is the response from the man you met on the way out as well as some of the other posts on the last page or two - a lot of people see no problem with continuing this theatre of masks, distancing, showing your ID and "pass" for a latte or a burger etc.

It's Stockholm Syndrome on a national level (and some people doubt the mental health impact all this has had!) and given the Irish psyche tends towards servility and virtue signalling, it's something that could linger on for a long time yet if we're not careful.

The effect all this has had on me is a growing disgust with the above and I find myself increasingly frustrated and disappointed with just how little real progress we've made as a society in the last 20/30 years.

Oh sure we have SSM and increased equality and more open discussions on things that were previously taboo and these are certainly good and important steps, but underneath it all is still a "need" among many to show how compliant they are, to attack anyone or anything that stands out, and an acceptance of the status quo and instructions from their "betters" - regardless of how incompetent or involved in scandals these people have been previously, and not forgetting that we still can't address the fundamental problems in housing, health, costs of living, the growing real inequality and loss of opportunity between different parts of society etc etc. If anything those in charge seem to be actively making things worse!

It shouldn't BE accepted that we will wear masks to go shopping or eat, hand over "our papers" for the privilege of paying for an overpriced coffee and not drinking it in the hugely variable Irish weather, or putting up with restrictions every time the HSE cries about problems they themselves have made and haven't addressed for decades despite the fact that they get 20 billion a year to do exactly that!

If this continues into the long term for what is basically a mild dose of the sniffles, I think I will seriously look into moving to the UK - not just because of all this, but the hypocritical nature of our society - great at leading on all the "feel good" twitter campaigns, but absolutely backwards when it comes to mature discussion, political governance and progress (and yes, the UK is not the land of milk and honey either, but they have the more copped on /get on with it attitude to things like this, and when politicians are caught out they seem to generally resign as a result).

I really worry whether we'll ever grow up as a country.

NIMAN

When NPHET and Tony are no longer worried, you really know this thing is coming to an end.

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118488022#Comment_118488022

They're asking permission, or perhaps more cynically, want Tony to make the decision for them because we have been saddled with some of the weakest politicians this country has ever seen in the last decade.

As I've said a few times, for all his many faults, you can't imagine Haughey "leading" like this.

bear1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118488022#Comment_118488022

'The Government will ask chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan to consider whether the 8pm curfew on bars and restaurants can be lifted next month as the current wave of the virus has reached its peak'

That, to me, is asking for permission.

They will ask for advice with regards to working from home..

Floppybits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118488049#Comment_118488049

Nothing but a "Cover your Arse" exercise by the politicians. Our politicians are only focused on one thing and that is keeping their seat so if they can point the finger at someone else when the decisions don't work out all the better. Basically our politicians are nothing but a shower of cowards, afraid to make a decision incase it makes them look bad.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118488070#Comment_118488070

Precisely, and the very reason the attempted gagging of the CMO and NPHET lasted but a few hours.

Yesterday's "Yes Minister" interview with Tanaiste yesterday pretty much confirmed what the approach will be.