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

In my first reply I wrote "secondary schools" but dropped the qualifier in the second.

Yes, I know what happens in primary schools. They're a lot like pubs, apart from the obvious purpose of the kids being there.

I honestly think there are people who think that adult's desire to socialise in pubs is somehow equivalent to the need of small children to learn and socialize in school, as if school is just a bit of craic. It's bizarre.

w.r.t. secondary schools, last year no kids got their junior cert. Was there a 2021 drinking cert equivalent?

For the record, I love boozy socialising, I'm just not thick enough to put it before schooling.

If you're an alcoholic I suppose.

I dont think people are putting it before boozing though, thats the thing.

People have been preached at to "follow the science" when it comes to COVID but when following the science means closing schools ahead of pubs then "actually follow the science but just not that bit" science has gone out the window.

And it isnt just about having a booze, i thought people had gone beyond that thinking at this stage, its peoples livelihoods, it the ancillary industries and workers around that thats affected.

It isnt about boozing, people are still going to go boozing now this Christmas, but now rather than having say 50 to 60 people sitting in a controlled environment in a pub or restaurant we will have numerous groups of people all meeting up in enclosed houses all over the Christmas period sitting on top of one another etc etc and thats going to make things better because "Science"

I'd say a few have already started judging by this thread this morning.

Looking forward to calm day of reasonable discussion.

Indeed it is. They're both places where people spend a lot of time together in close quarters and often involve a lot of talking.

One is essential, the other is not. Therefore logically when making choices, the essential one should be prioritised above the non-essential one.

Any road, FWIW I don't think closing is a solution right now. People will mix one way or another. Better in an aerated pub than all crammed into someone's sitting room, which is what will just happen.

But then it's easy for me to say when I don't actually have to make the decision. All of the decisions cost lives and/or money and/or livelihoods and/or mental health. There's not really a "right" choice, just the least horrible one.

The important part on this will be the reason - if they decide to shut pubs "just in case", then it needs to come with a solid commitment to act quickly and decisively when we know more about Omicron. No fvcking dilly-dallying over it until March. If hospital numbers stay under control, you get everything back open asap.

There is an argument as to whether the couple of days next week in schools when theres practically zero education happening is essential mind.

We have decided to take our kids out and finish today as are a few others in our area.

So we will probably see closing times of 8pm , 9pm or 10pm going forward. The Government are obviously instructing someone on NPHET to leak 5 O'Clock with an aim to softening people up. That's what's going on here. An all out lockdown would make more sense than 5 o'clock but then again we have no money left to fund the PUP etc so any further draconian restrictions won't be called a lockdown.

We have 93 percent of people double jabbed and here we are. Back to telling people to stay in. Boosters won't change this.

There’s some logic to that, but on the other hand you could just as easily argue that schools can go online, hospitality can’t, so it’s logical to take the option that doesn’t leave people out of work. It’s not as straightforward as essential vs nonessential.

For what it’s worth I don’t think any further restrictions should be put in place. We have a very high level of vaccination and hospitalisations are moving the right way.

Hospital cases at 420, down 23 on yesterday.

Yeah, I'm thinking they'll do something softer like indoor dining only after 5pm, drinking outside. You know, something bullsh1t so they can do what NPHET asked without having to actually close pubs.

Well, there is a reason, that's undeniable. Omicron is a reason. The question is whether the reaction is proportionate or even effective.