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

They now do a lottery for entries so they'd know well in advance how many they have, probably since last November in fact. There were no guarantees available from anyone so they had really no choice.

Yes, MM is scared of his own shadow.

My opinion of last Christmas is that NPHET decisions actually made our situation worse and it was entirely predictable. They (sorry, Tony) insisted that we go into a heavy lockdown for end of October and all of November. We were told by Government to do this and enjoy Christmas.

This meant that the usual social, dining and shopping experiences over this period were then all squashed into a few weeks in December. All happening indoors, during the normal peak flu season. What did they think would happen?

I bet if they left the restrictions alone our case numbers would not have risen so dramatically.

Yes not everyone will be vaccinated but the vast majority will. I guess we will have to wait and see what this comprehensive plan as its being called holds in store . We are being promised clarity . We will see

How was it a rash decision?

Consider this, if they had to make that decision today they still would not have any firm guarantees from the cowardly NPHET government, so how were they supposed to commit to anything weeks and months ago?

I'll take it

The govt would like to open things up (gradually) but are waiting to see what NPHET say. So same as always then I suppose.

Also this??

Why is a professor of architecture being quoted on infectious disease matters?

Have some friends from the continent coming stay, they were looking forward to some proper sessions in Dublin's pubs. Thry were dumbfounded when I told them last orders would be 11pm.

Remember the NPHET modelling that was done back in June about case numbers, Hospital admissions, ICU admissions and deaths?

Looks like we're somewhere around Central 1 on case numbers and optimistic on Hospital/ICU admissions at this stage on average

Except that is not what Professor Nolan actually said. It`s just another example of the many things that were not said on this thread.He did not say that the requirement for mask-wear would be long-term or permanent or even remain at the present level. What he actually said was "We are going to be living with some level of mask-wearing. Easing of restrictions is going to happen...but the advice or requirement to take some of those simple measures - which cost very little but protect us greatly - is going to remain." The one example he did give was mask-wearing on public transport where he said it was "more than good manners". Where the primary aim of mask-wearing is to protect others I can not see any reason to disagree with him. No more than I would disagree that during a flu season it is only good manners to cough or sneeze into a handkerchief or tissue in a crowded area.

I don`t get from that article where you get the idea he somehow doesn`t believe that vaccines work. He made it clear that as far as he is concerned the easing of restriction is directly linked to vaccinations.

What I fail to get though is that a few short months ago nobody had the slightest idea on how to even attempt to control the spread of this virus. Many on these threads dismissing vaccines as either being a waste of time, the uptake would be so low as to male little difference or the HSE would make a complete mess of the roll-out. Now we have many of the same people complaining that vaccines are not some magic bullet that will eradicate the virus. The vaccines were never promised as a magic bullet. Their efficacy was primarily listed as reducing the level of serious illness and deaths. The have done exactly as promised in both those areas and are continuing to do so with a variant they were not even developed to do so with. The other thing I find difficult to believe is that with a virus that has shown how easily it is able to mutate if it has large numbers free to play with, how some apparently believed booster shots, especially for those most vulnerable would not be required. Influenza alone should at least have given them the hint that was highly likely.

So i assume you think there should never be a marathon held ever again ?

Considering next years and every year after will be no different to this years.

That's big brain stuff my man