Covid 19 Part XXXV-956,720 ROI (5,952 deaths) 452,946 NI (3,002 deaths) (08/01) Read OP

Having a wobble today methinks. When will this end. The last % that aren't vaccinated (aside from the kids but NIAC are quiet) probably won't get vaccinated and tbh, I'm too jaded to even care about that %.

The health service won't be fixed overnight, so does this mean the restrictions that are in place to protect said health service will remain indefinitely?

We were so so so close, and in the final hour the government reneged.

Trust. The. Science. No not that science, the other one. The one on Twitter.

Agree with comments on the article. More generally, i personally think this article points to the need for more antigen testing, not PCR testing. The article itself says "children could have between six to eight respiratory tract infections over the course of the winter". in a family of 3 kids, taking the median figure of 7 infections, that's 21 occasions PCR tests would be needed over the next 4 months. Every time you get a PCR test you are looking at 2 days of staying at home for the kid (and the parent) even if the result turns out to be negative. That's 42 days a working parent of 3 kids would have to stay at home (maybe reduce it to 30 to allow for weekends) in 4 months. That's not viable folks and that is why there is an increased reluctance to get a PCR test for your kid (certainly if they've just a runny nose - perhaps different if they have one or more of a quick onset persistent cough, a temperature, breathing difficulties, etc).

NPHET to me are looking for perfection here in lieu of the best practical practice. To my mind, if a kid (or anyone) only has a runny nose then an antigen test is the way to go. Its not as good as a PCR test but this isn't a case of a PCR test or an Antigen test. In truth, in most cases its an Antigen test or no test at all.

Time for us to change the advice I think and make PCR tests mandatory only for the "classic" covid syptoms and for people with positive antigen tests. Everyone else should be encouraged to take antigen tests - and I mean encouraged, free tests posted to everyone, ad campaigns asking you to take a test if you have any respiratory symptoms at all, ads showing how to properly administer antigen tests and so on and so forth. I reckon this would stop spread, notwithstanding the limitations of Antigen tests, far better than the current regime which is increasingly being ignored as it is unworkable in winter.

Absolutely spot on!

I cannot help but think the government/media are priming us for another lockdown come December. As per usual I hope I’m wrong.

We might get reform if/when there is a major decline in people applying for nursing.

Why would the youth want to work beside people who kept on blaming them and forced restrictions on their lives?

I don’t know much about modelling but don’t see how it would peak by December - again I’m no expert but I presume it just gets worse the more we get into winter, the more indoors we are etc…..

In saying all that I don’t think NPHET know much about modelling either as they tend to get it very wrong (even taking into consideration it is very hard to predict)….

Just hope for the best I suppose as you said :)

So, apart from needing to book a ticket for a nightclub, and perhaps needing boosters to maintain vaccine status (I'll grab that thank you), what are the remaining restrictions? (I'm not being facetious, just asking what people in general think the main obstacles outstanding are).

Most people will likely put up with covid passes (not that troublesome once you have it on the phone) and majority that choose not to get vaccinated (their absolute right) are, effectively, choosing not to attend venues at this time. With 92% vaccinated, it's probably unlikely that a significant proportion of vaccinated people will go out of their way to support unvaccinated entry to such establishment. Perhaps when further information on whether vaccination helps prevent transmission is available they might re-assess. (Luke etc. saying 63% prevents transmission, CDC being much more coy about it with 'potentially', 'more tests' etc).

What totality of information am I ignoring? Be specific instead of resorting to juvenile insults

Slight correction on hospitality. You can order at the bar and there aren't any curfews

'Dr Martin Daly, a GP based near Ballygar in Co Galway, also said there has been an increased presentation of young children with respiratory illnesses over the last number of weeks.

Speaking on the same programme, he said he and his colleagues have noticed an increase of "Covid fatigue" among parents who are becoming more hesitant to have their children tested because of the logistical difficulties that arise if a test is positive.

Dr Daly said it is a very difficult situation, but warned that "there is a price to this" if cases are not identified, and urged parents to act if their children have symptoms.'

Given that, for most children, the symptoms of Covid are only the equivalent of, at the very worst, the normal flu, then what price could there be for not seeking a test if symptoms of what might only be the common cold or some other infection that has always been around? Regarding this story, ignorance is bliss.