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

Probably retail settings as well... Personally I'd wear 2 of them if it meant going to a full capacity concert or a match, and I find them very uncomfortable but it would be worth it

I know this wasn't directed at me but no, I don't agree with you that mask wearing will be permanent in Ireland. Some will continue to wear them but it won't be mandatory.

Vaccinations are not just to protect those that can take one. They are also to protect those that cannot. That is the theory behind herd immunity. Of course we should be proud of how effective the campaign has been as shown by the high uptake, but we should not confuse adult percentage uptake with the percentage required for herd immunity which is based on total population and for this virus is no generally accepted as 80% - 85%. Presently 90.3% of the adult population has received at least one dose. That is roughly 72% of the total population.

I would not see anything wrong, or any great conspiracy around, attempting to get that figure to as close to herd immunity level as possible.

Have to say I hate the masks. I would prefer to queue outside a shop than having to wear a mask. Mask should be voluntary, let people decide what they want to do. Some of the mask rules are crap like in a pub you have to wear a mask going to a table or the loo but can take it off otherwise like that is going to make a difference, same in the gym, wear it in reception but that's it, petrol stations it takes more time to find a mask and put it on than it does to go in and pay and leave. What I think will happen and you can see it happening a bit is that people will just stop wearing them less and less and that will be it. Look at croke Park yesterday only a few wearing the masks everyone else screaming and shouting without one. Am sure poor Tony at home was in a rage at the tv.

Ya, I think fair enough if you want to keep them longer term for public transport or airplanes, or any very enclosed space like that. I would think most would be fine with masks continuing on those into 2022. But like you said there, there are some scenarios now where it just makes no sense and those ones need to go imo. If you're going in to a large shopping centre like Dundrum, Mahon Point etc, you've high ceilings, large spaces, lots of ventiliation. It's arguably safer without a mask in places like that then some of these semi outdoor bars/restaurants that have been springing up which are pretty much just a tent/gazebo.

Do people wear masks at home? No. Masks are not "popular". If there were no feasible reason to wear them, people wouldn't be wearing them.

The rules to wear masks have ended in the UK, it will end here soon enough. Due to the fact that Covid will likely persist (like the flu) it's likely certain people will choose to wear masks as a precaution, or that certain situations/premises may require them as a precaution.

It's worth noting that your views on this are motivated by your open belief in many far-fetched Covid and global conspiracies

In fairness, they can't really come out with a date. Apart from the fact that no one knows exactly how this will all play out, if they gave a date, whether it be 1st October or 1st February, people would pretty much stop wearing them now, because, sure its only a few weeks away.

I think doing away with the mask wearing will be the last thing, but whenever it does happen, it will be announced "with immediate effect", to avoid some spacer wondering why he has to wear one today but won't have to wear one next week.

Long term =/= permanent

Temporary means permanent in Ireland though so when they say long term, they definitely mean permanent.

As if on cue,"The State" leaps over the fence to prove you correct......not much mention of the 96% ....perhaps they all died ?

https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0822/1242259-school-outbreaks/

In the UK at the moment. Different world really. Nobody wearing masks really. If I was to put a percentage on it I’d say around 2/3% wearing masks indoors. No covid passports, none of the yellow warning signs. It’s just normal to be honest.

I just can’t understand the psychology of it all. Over here it seems they’ve just ploughed on. The fear mongering and restrictions I’ve been subjected to are making me think. Seeing people all around me behaving as if normal, do they worry about it all? Why are we so different across the pond?

UK have dealt with the pandemic extremely poorly from the off but that’s no reflection on where we are now. On what I’ve seen we may never even get to this level of normal.

Also true

Yeah I know I'm only speculating that masks will eventually be gone and will be the last restriction to go but there has also been no statement from NPHET on them needing 100% vaccination to remove these restrictions