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

Masks are compulsory in shops in the north.

That's as may be. It's a fact though.

Oh, you're back to thinking it's forever again?

Head to Denmark then?

In Austria FFP2 masks are mandatory for all public transport and supermarkets, chemists etc. Should we follow Austria's science or Denmark's science ? And maybe claim that typical of Ireland we're paddy last with the FFP2 masks 😀

Of course every country will adopt different approaches depending on their unique circumstances. If there was a one size fits all "correct" approach to this we'd all do it. How else can we reconcile the New Zealand approach with the European approach, with the UK approach, with the southern US states approach, with the democrat US states approach etc ? Judgement and nuance have to come into it. Most people will only think the correct approach is the one that impacts them personally, the least.

I get your point and to be honest kind of agree with it. I just think that with all of this, since the very start, there has been an element of professional judgement by each country's experts. I've no idea who's right and who's wrong, maybe both can be right. Similarly I doubt there's a number of vaccinations that definitely make doing something safe Vs not safe, like, if we said you need 92% of adults done, I can't imagine that things aren't safe with 91% done but when it hits 92% its ok. I think its a case of safER as the percentages go up and its then down to each country's appetite for risk. Even in the US the medics want kids wearing masks in schools and NPHET here have said its not necessary - who's right ?

Meh, I dunno, personally speaking if someone had offered back in January that by October we'd be vaccinated and the only thing left would be masks in shops and public transport, I'd have taken it. Others might differ. I kind of take the view that a global pandemic is going to leave some things different to what they once were, at least for a while anyway. I honestly don't think we'll ever be absolutely 100% back to 2019 again.

You're right in that it is mandatory on TFL services but its not enforced at all. When I was there in September, it was probably 50-60%. I was the only one in an FFP2, partly because any mask below that level protects others not you, and secondly because of panicky parents back at home thank you very much RTE for turning them into jelly.

So the reasoning for sticking to a date that has clearly been redundant for months already, is to avoid a few people making snarky comments about bringing it forward?

Funny, they aren't so concerned about snarky comments whenever extending restrictions, but god forbid they ever bring a date forward.

But like I say, there are those that will never admit it but they know full well that we should have fully reopened months ago. Not days, not weeks, months ago.

The 22nd date was set on the condition that numbers remain stable until then. You can't bring it forward and ALSO claim numbers remain stable until October 22nd. When you commit to relaxation proviso on the state of public health then you absolutely cannot bring the date forward otherwise you undermine the science that required the period of observation in the first place. We set out a phased set of relaxation with ample time between them to allow for the impact of each phase to be understood. You need about a month after relaxation of rules to see any significant change in trend.

I am shocked that you are spinning this in favour of the NPHET government, I could never have predicted that.

Sorry if it’s been asked haven’t been keeping up with the thread lately, but on the 22nd are saunas/steam rooms allowed to reopen in swimming pools again?