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

Look like it's mass protest time in quite a few Italian cities tonight and a National protest coming up in France on Saturday. Interesting few weeks ahead.

The reason for the rejection of using antigen tests is to coerce more younger people to get the vaccines. So I wouldn't expect we will see antigen tests accepted here for hospitality etc until a satisfactory number of people accept the vaccine they must take.

Ok from reading back on the last few pages of this thread this seems to be a bit of a ses-pit of anti-vax, anti-lockdown, etc. So for my perspective, I live in a rural area of Co. Limerick, just myself and better half, both in our 40's, been careful the past year and a half because of having elderly parents, etc, both of us working from home since the beginning and kept contacts to a minimum. We were invited to a 40th birthday party tonight for a member of our extended family about 12 miles away, got chatting to a couple at the party, aged early 30s, to be told by them they believe both of them got Covid 4 days ago but symthoms were very mild so they didn't bother getting tested and they were both after one shot of the vaccine so it would be fine. Jesus christ if this is the attitude of people what hope have we of getting out of this situation.

I respectfully disagree with you. I do not believe that the Covid-19 passport will be a temporary measure. This state has a history of retaining emergency powers long after the emergency has passed - look at the special criminal courts. I believe there will be booster vaccines shots required this side of Christmas. That young people and children will be targeted for the vaccine. And that receipt of such booster shots will be a requirement for the "digital passport". I believe there is a strong possibility of it's use being extended to access others areas of normal life, such as concerts, museums, possibly even sporting events and shopping. And perhaps ultimately, even work. Unless there is massive public resistance and protest against it. This Saturdays protest will be a good measure of the publics appetite for such protest. However, I do not anticipate much resistance. I would love to be wrong (and will happily admit it if I am).

Will you do the same?

They weren't vaccinated though, it's because of people like them that there is still high case numbers. All they so they could go to a party ffs,

I was glancing through the vaccine stats around the EU. Looks like most countries will get to around 60odd percent and then they'll hit a wall. Of course some countries are a lot lower. It's all well and good the Irish government having forever restrictions for 10-15% but it won't wash for 40% on the continent.

So what are the EU going to do? Covid Passports forever? In effect ending free travel. It won't go down well in the eastern block who don't want to be in the EU but feel it's a necessary evil.

We know full well booster shots will be on their "passport" next year. If we don't stop this now, we're locked into it for life.

they are false comparisons.

a drivers license is a proof that you achieved a skill or competency - there is a metric involved. I'm not sure that is an apt comparison to getting a vaccine.

The other things mentioned are things chosen by choice , nobody is excluded from parts of society by choosing not to smoke fags. are they?

In the case of this vaccine, the state is removing rights that people had before and in the case of indoor dining they are dictating when and with whom consenting adults can meet so yes it is very much segregation .

I know it's not the state but we had a professor on one of the irish sh1tehawk media earlier this week suggesting that welfare be denied to those who refuse the vaccine as an "incentive" - maybe not segregation in that case but definitely discrimination for the sole aim of coercion.

It's mental in a way how people don't have any issue how easy stuff like this rolled out and not challenge it but cheerlead it .

you forget the option (to quote our glorious leader michael martin) - let it rip.

its clear from the RTE journo of yesterday on her twitter , there are not that many people in hospital for covid, they are in for other things and testing positive. The vulnerable are vaccinated - if they choose to be. Only healthy young people left and people who aren't taking the vaccine anyway.

if they are some final vulnerable cases left they are a v small amount of people - maybe they can take one for the team if they are worried about covid and avoid crowds till they feel comfortable. As an aside I believe many people are worried they are vulnerable and they aren't such is the fear porn out there. The young people left unvaccinated are statistically at greater risk from side effects of vaccine than covid so I don't see why the upset they aren't vaccinated.

Positives mean nothing , hospitalisations and death are the metrics that matter and even they are skewed af (see above) and don't get me started on the outright lies that "deaths with covid" are.

You didn't give that option. odd that

Maybe someone who cheerleads it simply thinks its a smart move. Those against things aren't the only critical thinkers out there.

I hate new board too :-)

It's completely ridiculous. I know a lad I work with went out one Friday night and got called by contact tracing on the Sunday, turns out one of his buddies was waiting his PCR results but decided he didn't want to miss out on a night out

The mentality off some people beggars belief

Pulling welfare for the unvaccinated would help to drive our numbers up... It's been suggested previously for MMR vaccines, I don't think it's needed though for COVID, as is evidenced by our crazy busy MVC's

Pulling welfare for the unvaccinated, are you for real? Literally starve people into compliance. I despair that I have to live in a world with people who think this way. What a disgusting idea, well done.

Think you're on the mark, interesting times on the horizon for Europe. Mostly French on my current job abroad, few from Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia also. French are not at all happy with current goings on, the others, mostly over 40, even less so, point out that they grew up under authoritarian rule and see this as heading back to that that direction.

Think last weeks Spanish Constitutional Court ruling that Spain’s first Covid-19 lockdown was unconstitutional, albeit by a small margin, is a step in the right direction as to this tread OP. Maybe because its not so long since they too were an authoritarian state also, that they still respect basic human rights?