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

This is it, vaccinated developed countries is pointless if the virus can thrive in third world countries, and produce even more deadly variants.

If the road ahead is one of dodging and diving outbreaks using tailored boosters for varients emerging from elsewhere, we may as well come to terms with the fact that our quality of life will never be the same again. That road is an expensive mess as the majority of the world's population are yet to see a needle, so hiding away in a booster bubble is madness.

That approach may sound great when we get to have a steak in chips out of the rain but we need to understand that Ireland relies on global connectivity more than most and if the global issue isn't sorted, we'll feel the pain. It's also the decent thing to do and as Mike Ryan put it, we're essentially putting on two life jackets while other people are drowning.

Fuk NPHET at this point dead srs

To be fair to the vaccine producers, the materials needed in the manufacture of vaccines are not cheap, the expertise required for R&D isn't cheap either and the EC has been building vaccine manufacturing plants in Africa such as the one in the below article

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_21_3845

...and I'm saying it again now regarding requiring a vaccine pass to shop for food and go outside for exercise...because that's just ridiculous.

You'd have been better to direct your comment at 'crooked cockney villain'. I agree with your take.

The vaccines are working as req. I think things will be a lot clearer when the Delta wave subsides.... which it will however it is providing different to estimate when.

If it wasn't for the vaccines, Ireland would be at level 6 restrictions with 1000's in hospital. Ireland has one of the highest rates of COVID-19 in Europe now, the main reasons being a young population and proximity to the UK.

I do think come the end of September our numbers will decline. I don't think the government can realistically loosen an restrictions until this delta wave subsides somewhat.

it’s not a matter of hiding, it’s a matter of being realistic. A normal pre covid winter would result in the hospitals being overrun. I can’t see that being accepted by the population this winter. Add covid to that and we could have a big problem.

it will take a lot of planning and preparation to deal with that. There is every chance the preparation won’t be done and we will end up with restrictions again.

By the end of September, 90+% of people over the age of 12 will be fully vaccinated with the standard 1/2 weeks waiting for the vaccine to become fully effective so that will help. All waves of COVID-19 eventually subside so the expectation is that one should start to do so too.

As I said, this wave has been difficult to mathematically calculate due to the extra contagious of delta and various rates of vaccination amoung populations both in Ireland and other countries. It's just my gut feeling that numbers will start to subside in late September

Ireland already has a critical mass vaccinated and is firmly at the point of diminishing returns from that programme.

People need to cop on and stop pinning their hopes on that particular moving target.

So where do those hopes lie?

Now is really the time for strong leadership and to tell NPHET nicely to **** off but neither of that is happening

Yep, not great but it's also the weekend. Mon-Tues will show just how things are. ICU remains the same.