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

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!

Maybe you and the other posters could move on by putting that person on ignore and NOT respond? Unless you actually enjoy the spat. Then you are at least part of the problem wouldnt you say? And maybe accept that there are posters who get a kick out of pushing your irritation button. Replying and trying to prove your righteousness wont stop them in any way and more likely keep them coming. It gets rather tiresome for those not involved..

O, I agree , just wondering will it be thrown into a mix of new alleged bright ideas 😏

They will also probably look to stagger it as well. Lift the 8pm closing time first. Then a few weeks later allow events back to full capacity and finally in March allow nightclubs to open again. It'll be slow and painful when there's no reason to just all of them straight away.

Early results on omicron have also been good for vaccines. Do you have any data to the contrary to post?

And a fair point 👌

They're not very effective for air travel now either.

I’ve always thought that the government/NPHET view restrictions as being much easier to extend than reimpose. They seem to be terrified of dropping them entirely, perhaps they think that compliance will never return to previous levels if they need to reintroduce them.

I totally agree, yet just before Christmas, the majority were predicting lockdowns or harsher restrictions that would go on for months.

If it's tiresome for you, scroll on, or put everyone on ignore...see how this works?

Look at those ICU figures. They've never once gotten above where they were in September, and are already declining.

I hate to say it but Boris Johnson has been proven completely right - again - by not locking down in December. England has had full normal life, full nightclubs, full stadiums and very few masks for that entire time and hasn't been remotely close to being overwhelmed. And has been as open as this since mid-July now...

It just shows how completely unneccessary our staying in lockdown until late October, and going back into lockdown, again, in November has been. And how pointless staying in it for January (and possibly longer) will be.

Our media should be screaming from the rooftops about this. Its such very clear real world proof that we don't need to be in lockdown. England has an older population, more at-risk minorities, and a lower vaccination rate than Ireland - yet is just fine fully open, while we need to be in lockdown - why?