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

In fairness he didn't say what number of weeks it would last for.

It is clear the difference that boosters make. Almost nothing in ICU, very little in severe cases and negligible in contracting the virus... compared to 2 jabbers.

Waning refers to existing antibodies in blood.

Unless Omicron has a very very different profile (i.e. taking weeks longer) then it's looking positive, now is about the time we'd expect to see bad news coming through if it was going to happen.

Boosters certainly will of made a big difference with the older people especially with the Delta part of it. But i think those that only had just the 2 doses have stood up incredibly well against severe disease when you think that data is from May onwards which was basically when Delta started from.

Yep fingers crossed we’re in the endgame now. Ironically enough I think they are seeing how it plays out over the ‘next 2 weeks’ before starting to open up.

By the end of March this place will be like a ghost town!

So just to be clear, you're defending the government's position for most of 2021 - as the only government in the EU against antigen tests - that antigen tests are "snake oil" and shouldn't be used in Ireland? That they would have been of no benefit to the country? Why have they done a complete 180 on this since so?

The government repeatedly claimed covid doesn't spread in schools. It very clearly does. It doesn't matter what other people said, the point is the Irish government was either outright lying or was completely incompetent. Either/or, neither is a good look or our leaders.

I've no idea why you're ranting about Sweden in response to a post listing multiple times the Irish government was caught lying within the past few months.

From an economic perspective open everything up in the one go tomorrow morning

I assume that all NPHET communications are recorded and that their online meetings are also recorded? Surely they must be subject to freedom of information requests?

It's not like its the Garda or department of defense where they may have sensitive information on criminal or international relations. Surely nothing can possibly be redacted from the NPHET communications or meetings?

It was called by many, very early on that they were very selective on the statistics that they used to reinforce the call for restrictions. Changing the death reporting from daily to weekly, was an obvious ploy.

Indeed in the real world in the meantime...

COVID vaccines prolong menstrual cycles by 19 hours, study reveals | Daily Mail Online

Premium article in the Indo this morning with the header

If Nphet’s weak appetite for lockdown isn’t sure sign of a turning point, I don’t know what is

She's raises a good point actually and whilst NPHET and government clearly on the same page now re lockdowns, I'm not getting a sense current restrictions will not be removed quickly. NPHET still clutching at straws, all the finger wagging, childish dictates re personal decisions fell on deaf ears and clearly no amount of social distancing was going to stop Omicron in its track's.

Thankfully its proven not to be as severe as Delta, thankfully ICU numbers low and steady but I'm left wondering what's the next move, it would seem at this stage, Government and NPHET have run out of people to Blame.

Agreed, the real question, perhaps is where do they go with decisions, clearly to late to fix the health service in the short term, I actually think they really don't know what to do next 🤔😏

I think the overall view is that infections will continue to rise rapidly and hospitalisations moderately for the next 2 weeks and peak there following London's trajectory. If there is a change to restrictions it likely wont happen on 29 january as the numbers wont be down as much. Then the 'another 2 weeks' line will be used to push the decision forwards to mid february. That looks like the first possible date for changes. Will hospitality be allowed to move to lets say 11pm? Not if it is up to Nphet and MM. Though perhaps restaurants under certain conditions..

here is the link to London. The R rate will indicate when infection numbers will start to go down, under 1. At the moment it is hovering just above it. It varies between areas of course hence the vertical line.

When this drops to under 1 infections will go (or have gone)down, possibly next week. Then rest of UK and Ireland approx.2 weeks from then.

Watch this space...

To add: patients admitted and in hospital numbers in London are going down already..good news!