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

I fail to see the point your making. If 100% of the population was vaccinated, 100% of the deaths would be among vaccinated people.

Ah just seen you edit - I see what you mean the numbers don't add up. Good spot.

I'd echo these sentiments. I live in England, have done for 4 and a half years now, I got my degree and moved over within 6 months as Ireland couldn't offer me what I needed to start my career in my chosen industry. England has its own problems but I haven't once looked back. I'd encourage any other young person back home in a similar position, whos entertaining the idea of emigrating to do it.

As you said, covid is not even a topic people talk about anymore here. One of the lads in work said recently, "you remember at the start when someone had covid it was a shock, now it's just "for **** sake" because of the inconvenience of it" which says alot about the general attitude to covid here.

Other than when I've had to get an Uber, I've not worn a mask since July when I flew home to Ireland for the first time since 2019. I don't need to show my vaccine status to any business, I can go in and out of bars, restaurants, cafes, shops etc without needing to book anything. When I landed in Dublin Airport in July, I was bombarded with covid information over the intercom all the way until I left the terminal. It was a bit jarring to hear it on repeat. Radio on in the car, covid ads sandwiched between vaccine ads. It's all just shoved down your throat.

My mother is coming to visit next month, she's the only person I know who actively likes wearing masks and said to me recently that it's basically back to normal back home which frightens me as she's just been conditioned into thinking this is how we're supposed to live. I'm hoping her visit to England will make her remember what normal actually is like.

Really?

MM has spoken, seems a sensible approach, Hospitality Sector won't be please at the "wink & nod" perception re covid cert checking/ inspections.

I honesty can't ever see a return to lockdowns but I'm sensing a delay or perhaps slowing of full reopening and Certs here to stay for the foreseeable future.

No Doubt Leo will have something to say later

That's a good post because it means we learned to accept people dying from covid and hopefully we can start moving on: we just need to explain this to MM and Nphet

I would expect that whoever died from covid, was at least hospitalized or in ICU and hence counted on the spot. Unless of course, they died with covid

I don't think we'll honestly see lockdowns again, nothing would be achieved by taking such measures given the high Vacination rates. I do get a sense we will see a further delay in fully reopening and a greater emphasis on Covid Cert checking & verifications ( being objective, it's been pretty poor in relation to venues checking certs, I've seen it myself)

I know there are those who solely focus on the fact serious illness is avoided by Vacination and this is clearly very true, but equally its known, Vacination does not stop transmission, so the real questions are, can we actually reduce transmission or reduce case numbers and I think not. The next question is can the health system cope and I think we all know the answer , whatever side of the argument your on, is a definite No.

Can we live with Covid, perhaps we've no choice, I remain concerned the real crux of the issue is Vacinne protection waning and whilst a booster program seemingly the next step in governments approach, I just get a sense of a merry go round approach. I'm not blaming government or Health professionals, but a few things that really annoy me is lack of transparency, HSE blaming everything on a really small percentage of un vacinated (a lot of whom can't be) , Shocking mixed messages. Yesterday a perfect example, one minister saying one thing, Medical expert saying another, NPHET members saying something different, it's just bizzare. There's too many expert and not so expert opinions, is it any wonder people so vexed and confused.

I for one sensed an almost complete erasing of the Pandemic by main news outlets from their main programs, Government turned to a nothing to see here mode for the past 3 months, HSE deflection in over drive, Basic measures like contact tracing abandoned, NPHET seemingly banished and silenced, an almost obsessional refusal to accept there was outbreaks and issues in schools as examples.

Now, we're back to a frenzy of speculation, Number 1 news story on most news outlets, Journalists falling over themselves to get the latest story on Covid, they've even returned to the department of health for evening bulletins. Honestly, the only thing I'm really surprised about is the fact anyone is really surprised about the current situation. Complacency definitely set in, I'm not being critical, it was only natural, but I do think those in charge took the foot off the pedal and I'm sensing a bit of ground hog day.